alt.sci.physics

Dear eric h:
"eric h" wrote in message
news: @ ...
> Hi,
>
> Trying to find this out for a project (not a school one).
>
> I've been looking all over the place for this information
> and it just doesn't seem to exist.
>
> We all know that incandescent lightbulbs get very hot.

The filament is close to the temperature of the surface of the
Sun.

> Most of us know that the Easy-bake oven used to
> use lightbulbs to cook food.
>
> But how hot does a 100 Watt lightbulb actually get,
> if you assume perfect insulation around it?
>
> I've read that the filament "burns" at 1722 F, but that
> doesn't sound right.

Probably is right, when the filament is immersed in a normal
ambient temperature.

> Any ideas?

Infinitely hot, with a perfect insulator, and neglecting any
conduction of heat from the space containing the lamp by the
current carrying wires. And allowing infinite time.

/group/ /browse_frm/thread/25305e73d373ea91/26ea673b9a7c5d7c?lnk=gst&q=100+watt&rnum=7#26ea673b9a7c5d7c

The rate of temperature increase in the space will be a function
of how much mass is being heated, and what its "specific heat
capacity" is.

David A. Smith