Background and Identification

Light bulbs and light fixtures are a staple in modern society. Without them, businesses, hospitals, and college students wouldn’t be able to operate around the clock, not to mention the difficulty of doing household chores by candlelight. Prior to the invention of the lightbulb, humankind did in fact need to make midnight snacks by candlelight or, if they were fancy, by using an oil lamp.

Modern lighting ranges from bare-bulb fixtures to decorative Christmas lights. There are many different kinds of lightbulbs, including incandescent, halogen, CFL, and LED bulbs. Light bulbs come in a variety of intensity (brightness), as indicated by their wattage or wattage equivalence. Halogen, CFL, and LED bulbs are all more energy-efficient than standard incandescent bulbs, meaning you get more (well, longer) brightness for your buck.

Lighting fixtures don’t have a common structure, but they all have at least two key components: at least one lightbulb of some kind and a power cord. Many light fixtures include a covering around the exterior of the bulb to prevent innocent bystanders from seeing spots for the next two minutes after accidentally looking at a bulb straight on. These coverings often come in the form of lampshades (for table and floor lamps) or glass/ceramic coverings, such as those found in ceiling lights or chandeliers.

Additional Information