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Filament Lamp Word Maze
The grid below contains letters that make up the missing words from the paragraphs below. Start at the dark square and trace out the twisting path the answers take. Letter-paths go horizontally and vertically only, but may change direction several times within a word!

 

F

I

L

A

C

I

R

T

N

N

O

G

T

L

A

R

C

S

E

C

I

T

R

R

I

E

M

T

A

R

V

E

E

G

O

A

N

M

E

U

S

E

A

L

N

I

N

S

G

T

N

R

A

P

P

E

P

X

E

R

L

N

G

E

G

M

O

T

E

N

S

O

I

O

E

R

T

E

R

A

E

V

I

T

G

L

T

N

E

M

A

E

H

D

U

C

H

T

E

V

L

A

T

E

S

N

G

Y

A

U

C

A

I

F

I

D

C

O

E

X

T

I

N

T

O

N

O

I

X

O

N

O

E

D

E

R

X

I

D

A

T

I

O

N

 

The Electric Filament Light Bulb

This is the symbol for a -------- lamp.

An electric light bulb contains a coiled filament of metal with a high ------- point such as tungsten. This is designed to work as a heating element and gets very hot as the current flows through it. As it glows it produces ----- energy.

The filament coil is sealed in a glass tube that is either --------- or filled with a mixture of ----- gases such as argon and nitrogen instead of air. This is to prevent --------- of the tungsten. When metals are heated in air they are oxidised (react with the ------ in the air) and produce ------ of the metal, which are often in powder form, and not ---------- of electricity. If an inert gas fill is used, it is usually a mixture of ----- and --------. Argon is used as it is an ----------- inert gas that conducts ---- less than nitrogen does. Pure argon cannot be used as destructive -------- ---- form easily in it, that is why the nitrogen is added.

A gas fill is better than a vacuum as it slows down ----------- of the filament. Gas atoms can "bounce" atoms of evaporated tungsten back onto the --------. So with a gas fill, the filament lasts ------ and can be operated at a higher -----------. This allows it to give off more light.

A --- fill has the disadvantage of conducting heat from the filament but the advantages of a gas fill usually outweigh the disadvantages for power ratings of above 40W.

A few light bulbs are filled with krypton or xenon, which conduct heat less and reduce filament evaporation more than argon does, but these are more expensive and are therefore less common.