Glühbirne

Glühbirne is the German word for incandescent light bulb. An incandescent light bulb is a source of electric light that works by incandescence. A wire filament, usually made of tungsten, is heated to a high temperature by an electric current passing through it. The hot filament emits light, illuminating the surrounding area. The filament is enclosed in a glass bulb, which is typically filled with an inert gas or a vacuum to prevent the filament from oxidizing and burning out too quickly.

The first practical incandescent light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison in 1879. His design involved a carbonized cotton thread as the filament, enclosed in a vacuum-sealed glass bulb. Over time, materials and designs evolved, with tungsten becoming the standard filament material due to its high melting point and durability. Other improvements included the use of inert gases like argon or nitrogen inside the bulb, which further extended the lifespan of the filament.

Incandescent bulbs convert only a small fraction of the electrical energy they consume into visible light, with the majority being released as heat. This inefficiency led to the development of more energy-efficient lighting technologies such as fluorescent lamps and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Due to their low energy efficiency and relatively short lifespan compared to newer technologies, incandescent bulbs are being phased out in many countries. However, they are still appreciated for their warm, pleasant light quality and are sometimes preferred for specific applications where their unique characteristics are desired.