Written by: Sarjan Waiba Tamang - 24009, Grade IX
Posted on: 17 February, 2022
Electricity is an essential part of our modern life. We cannot imagine our life without it. The change or flow of electrons in a body is known as electrical energy. The electrical energy can be transformed into different forms like heat energy, light energy and so on. We use different types of electrical appliances like: electric iron, refrigerator, electric kettle to make our daily life easier. When the electric current passes through the electrical appliances, they convert electric energy to light energy known as lighting effect. Among them the lamp or bulb is the most important appliance for us. If lamps had not been introduced to us, we would still need to use wood. There are two types of lamps: filament lamp and fluorescent Lamp. Fluorescent Lamp is the upgraded version of filament lamp.
Fluorescent Lamp consists of a discharge tube and two electrodes on the end of the tube. It is filled with mercury vapor and it's inner part is coated with a fluorescent lamp. There is a starter used in circuit and lastly there is choke of coil that provides the necessary voltage for the lamp. It is a little bit more expensive than the filament lamp. It's average life is comparatively long, about 7000 to 15000 hours. It is long cylindrical in shape. It works when the high voltage of electric current passes through the electrodes; kept at the end of the tube, the mercury ionizes and the electrons flow inside the lamp through the mercury vapor.
The electrons collide with the mercury and emits the ultraViolet rays which are harmful for human eyes. The fluorescent powder totally absorbs the ultraviolet rays and emits the visible white light. It emits 70% of heat energy and 30% of light energy. It is a lot better than the filament lamp because the filament lamp emits only 10% of light energy which is not sufficient. Fluorescent lamps are more efficient and long lasting than filament lamps. It does not need much electrical energy. It consumes less electrical current and it also lasts longer. But fluorescent lamps also have some disadvantages like frequent switching may shorten the life of it.
Filament lamp consists of a glass bulb, thick and supporting wire, glass stem, pins, terminal and Filament of tungsten. This lamp consists of nitrogen gas to prevent the evaporation of tungsten metal at high temperature. It is worked when the electric current passes through the bulb, the filament of tungsten attains a very high temperature and then it emits both heat and light. It emits only 10% of light energy and 90% of heat energy. It is cheaper than the fluorescent lamp. It consumes high power and it is not long lasting. It's average life is about 750 to 1000 hours.
Electronics devices have become essential to our lives. We cannot live without it. It is making our work easier than before.
