Incandescent Lightbulb

Definition

An incandescent light bulb is an electric light with a wire filament heated until it glows. The heat is generated by an electric current passing through a filament, which then produces visible light.

Analogy

Think of the incandescent light bulb as a mini sun inside your house. Just like the sun heats up and emits light that brightens our world, the filament in the bulb heats up and emits light to brighten your room.

Related terms

Edison's Lamp: This was one of the first practical designs for an incandescent lamp, created by Thomas Edison. It used a carbonized bamboo filament and had a lifespan of over 1200 hours.

Electricity: A form of energy resulting from charged particles such as electrons or protons, typically produced by chemical reactions, physical interactions, or solar radiation.

Filament: The part of an incandescent lamp that emits light when heated by an electrical current.