Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The standard incandescent light bulb contains a filament and a coil of tungsten. The filament receives enough electricity to heat the metal coil until it emits light. The bulb fastens into a metal holding piece so the glass bulb and vacuum within it are not disturbed. If the flashlight hits the ground, the bulb may break or the filament may break away from the housing. Incandescent bulbs in general are very fragile and don't last a long time.
A gas-filled incandescent bulb differs from the standard incandescent only by harboring a gas inside the vacuum. Halogen-filled bulbs may last longer than most incandescent bulbs, yet they use more electricity. Krypton-filled bulbs, which enhance the amount of light emitted, are perhaps the most widely used forms of flashlight bulbs. Xenon bulbs shine bright white due to the chemical properties of xenon.
Light emitting diode (LED) is a type of light bulb that glows based on the motion of electrons. The material used inside the bulb, such as aluminum, zinc or silicon, determines the LED bulb color. LED lights are used in flashlights because they do not blow out when dropped, unlike the filament of an incandescent bulb. LEDs also are generally less likely than an incandescent bulb to overheat, and they typically have a long, reliable lifespan.