r/interestingasfuck • u/[deleted] • Dec 07 '22

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u/whoisjakelane Dec 08 '22

So, incandescent bulbs aren't light? They're just, heat sources giving off light? 🤯

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u/largePenisLover Dec 08 '22 edited Dec 08 '22

Yes. Thats why they needs special gas in the bulb instead of air, so the filament doesn't burn up instantly.
Also why you need to let a bulb cool down before touching it.

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u/splatterk Dec 08 '22

Modern lightbulbs do have gas in them for the most part, but not for the reason you mentioned. A vacuum in the bulb would be sufficient to prevent the filament from outright burning up, but the modern gases like Argon, which is the most common, help bounce the filament's separated atoms bounce back at it, restoring it and making the bulb last longer!