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Why do bulbs explode?

Why do bulbs explode?

Date:2018-03-15
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A light bulb can explode for several reasons. A light bulb is one of the most common household items. A glass bubble with a filament inside of it, a light bulb accepts an electric current that runs through the filament, causing the metal to heat up and glow brightly.

exploding light bulbs

When an incandescent light bulb is turned on, the gases inside it heat up around the element. As the bulb lights, there may be a negative reaction between the cold gas and the hot element.


A halogen bulb has an outer and inner layer. If the outer layer breaks, the bulb may continue to work. However, if moisture hits the inner layer while the light is on, the layer may explode.

explode light bulbs

Screwing a bulb in too tightly can bend the brass tab inside the light socket, which creates an unstable connection. The unstable connection can create an arch between the bulb and the tab.


An unsteady flow of electric current to the light can cause the bulb to wear out too quickly and may also result in a pop or explosion.


Now on to exploding light bulbs. Light bulbs don’t have internal explosive materials - mostly they have inert gases that cannot burn, much less burn rapidly enough to explode the bulb and make the bulb parts fly apart rapidly.



Now, there are cases where bulbs have caused explosions - bulbs get hot, when broken by physical forces they can spark. If there is a flammable gas nearby - hydrogen, or natural gas of gasoline fumes, this can spark an explosion but the bulb itself does not explode.


There are cases when the filament fails in a flash. Often if air gets in the envelope then the filament will oxidize rapidly and flash as it burns out very brightly. And there are cases where bulbs may have broken when the filament failed in a flash due to the heat. But it would not have thrown pieces at high velocity.



Halogen lamps and discharge lamps (metal halide, mercury vapor, sodium vapor) are all filled with a gas under pressure. When the envelope, or bulb, develops a weak spot, the glass can fail at that point very rapidly—exploding.


Halogen lamps are especially prone to this, as the pressurized portion of the assembly is the part that can be touched. The envelope, by design, gets very hot. As long as the quartz glass is clean, it’s fairly even. However, get a fingerprint on the glass, you now have a hot spot. This spot will gain significantly greater heat, softening the bulb, creating a weak spot, and pop!


You can visit https://www.quora.com/Why-do-bulbs-explode


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