Do light bulbs emit an electrical current?
When different wattages of light bulbs of various kinds are on, do they emit an electrical current or charge?
Observing members:
0
Composing members:
0
25 Answers
They don’t emit anything. they use power, not create it. The different wattages match up to the sockets you have.
@XOIIO
In general, do light bulbs emit an electrical charge that can be absorbed by humans?
No, they emit heat and light.
Not true… they emit light and heat, both of which are measurable forms of energy. An electric current, however… no. They use one, and so there might a measurable electric field coming from the current that is being passed through the bulb, but the bulb itself is not creating an electric charge, and any electric charge which might be emanating from the current being passed through the bulb would be negligable.
@AustieZ
How would you explain electromagnetic field? (of a light bulb)
I would define it as a field of electromagnetic energy which produces and is the result of minute variations in electric currents and charges.
In relation to your question, the power source for the light bulb certainly would create a slight change in the EMF but it would be essentially negligable considering the energy involved; the bulb itself has nothing to do with it.
@AustieZ
When a cell phone creates a spark and can ignite gas vapors (especially talking about a gas station) could you explain why?
While that (if I remember correctly) has been proven a few times to be either impossible or extremely unlikely to happen due to a cell phone, the reason a spark from any source would ignite gas vapors is because of the extremely high temperatures reached in a spark.
@Everyone Why is everyone up so late?
Am I doing your homework…?
Fluther-addiction. And insomnia. Although for some of us it may not be late where we live.
@AustieZ About 4 years ago I saw a guy on video that was using a cell phone and area around him ignited while pumping gas. I also saw something on a show recently about the dangers of static electricity and pumping gas.
What are sparks caused by?
@AustieZ
HaHa
This is not homework what so ever!
@marialisa Never doubt the mythbusters! and the mythbusters say no. last answer…
sparks are when the strength of an electric field exceeds (roughly) 4–30 kV/cm, aka the dielectric field strenght of air. This causes dielectric breakdown, a crazy fast increase in free electrons and ions, causing the air to become an electric conductor for a split second. This is how everything from the tiniest electrostatic spark to megalithic lightning bolts come to be.
Now do your own homework ;)
It was a news story for real!
This is not homework…
By the look of your eyes, I think you’re lying.
That cat’s got something goin on man, damn thing just keeps staring, doesn’t blink. Freaks me the hell out.
Nah… Its cute. In a creepy way.
LOL ditto, it’s pretty cute.
I have never owned a cat and am truly a dog lover. I think I will change it soon…it is creepy.
Aw you gotta use this one!
The cause of the gasoline fires have been traced to static electricity. You can watch videos of it. There is one where the girl gets out of the car straightens her knit top and starts to pump gas. She then goes back into the car to get something, comes back out again, scritches her top again and boom. Fire. She drops the nozzle and runs away.
It is static electricity. If you touch the car body away from the filler nick you will discharge the spark harmlessly.
As for electomagnetic radiation leakage, you can measure it with an oscilloscope and a piece of wire for an antenna. Incandescents put out very little and it is all at 60 Hz. Compact flourescents put out quite a bit. Take an AM radio, set it off channel and hold it near a CFL bulb. You will hear the EMI.
Response moderated (Spam)
Answer this question 
