A lightbulb can heat up to approximately what temperature?

A lightbulb can heat up to approximately what temperature?

• A. 200° C
• B. 1000° C
• C. 3000° C
• D. 2000° C

Answer: (D)

High-temperature glowing is what makes incandescent bulbs emit visible light. The filament, made of tungsten, must reach a few thousand degrees Celsius to radiate enough visible light while staying solid. Tungsten can withstand temperatures well over 2000°C, with its melting point around 3422°C, so operating around 2000°C is a typical and reasonable approximation for the filament’s temperature. If it were only about 1000°C, the glow would be far dimmer and redder, not the bright white visible light we associate with a lit bulb, and 3000°C would push toward the melting point and isn’t how bulbs are run in practice.

High-temperature glowing is what makes incandescent bulbs emit visible light. The filament, made of tungsten, must reach a few thousand degrees Celsius to radiate enough visible light while staying solid. Tungsten can withstand temperatures well over 2000°C, with its melting point around 3422°C, so operating around 2000°C is a typical and reasonable approximation for the filament’s temperature. If it were only about 1000°C, the glow would be far dimmer and redder, not the bright white visible light we associate with a lit bulb, and 3000°C would push toward the melting point and isn’t how bulbs are run in practice.