In an electric bulb, the filament must retain as much of the heat generated as possible to get very hot and emit light. Tungsten, a strong metal with a high melting point (3380°C), is commonly used for making bulb filaments. The filament is thermally isolated using insulating support, and the bulb is filled with chemically inactive gases like nitrogen and argon to prolong the filament’s life.
Share
Electric heating is employed to produce light in an electric bulb through incandescence. Inside the bulb, an electric current passes through a tungsten filament. The high resistance of the filament causes it to heat up to extremely high temperatures, reaching incandescence. This intense heat emits visible light and some infrared radiation. The tungsten filament does not burn because it is enclosed in a bulb containing inert gases, usually argon, which prevents oxidation. Though incandescent bulbs are less efficient than some modern alternatives, the process of electric heating to incandescence was historically a common method for producing light in traditional light bulbs.