Light bulb from a car headlamp
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Science Photo Library
Light bulb from a car headlamp
Light bulb from a car headlamp. This is a tungsten-iodide bulb, designed to be more reliable and work at higher temperatures than normal light bulbs. In an ordinary light bulb tungsten in the heated filament gradually evaporates, blackening the bulb and causing the filament to thin until it snaps. In a tungsten-iodide bulb the atmosphere is iodine. This combines with evaporated tungsten atoms to form tungsten-iodide, a gas. When this gas is warmed by the filament this molecule decomposes into tungsten and iodine again, redepositing tungsten on the filament
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 6438681
© ANDREW LAMBERT PHOTOGRAPHY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Transport Industry Head Lamp Physical
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases a remarkable piece of technology - a light bulb from a car headlamp. Unlike regular light bulbs, this particular bulb is designed to be more reliable and withstand higher temperatures. The secret lies in its composition: it is made of tungsten-iodide, which offers superior performance and longevity. Ordinary light bulbs suffer from the gradual evaporation of tungsten in their heated filaments, resulting in blackening and eventual filament failure. However, the innovative design of the tungsten-iodide bulb prevents such issues. Within this bulb, iodine fills the atmosphere instead of air or other gases commonly found in traditional bulbs. When tungsten atoms evaporate from the filament, they combine with iodine to form tungsten-iodide gas. The magic happens when this gas warms up due to the heat generated by the filament; it decomposes back into pure tungsten and iodine molecules again. As a result, fresh deposits of tungsten are redeposited onto the filament surface rather than being lost through evaporation like in ordinary bulbs. This fascinating fusion between industrial engineering and chemistry exemplifies how technological advancements can revolutionize even seemingly mundane objects like car headlamps. It highlights our continuous quest for innovation within various industries such as physics and transportation.
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