

What are sources of light?

There are lots of different sources of light. These are split into two categories: natural and
artificial. Artificial means made by humans, like a light bulb. Natural light means something like
stars or lightning.

Natural Sources of Light

The Sun (and other stars)

The sun is our planet’s major natural source of light. It radiates light and heat, which we
use as energy. Plants use it to grow too! Stars create light via a process called nuclear
fusion. Every second, a star is converting 4 million tons of its material into heat and light
through nuclear fusion. The Sun has been doing this for around 4.5 billion years!

Did you know? We look up at the glowing moon, and think, surely this is a source of
light? However, that isn’t the case! But why is the moon not a source of light? Well, the
answer is: it does not emit its own light. The moon just reflects light from the Sun!

Lightning

Lightning is a powerful natural electrical spark. It is caused by an unbalanced electrical

charge in the atmosphere. An electric charge is produced when raindrops in clouds
freeze into ice particles and start to crash into each other. This charge builds up and
then discharges into the atmosphere. This is the lightning! Lightning is so powerful that
it produces a powerful trail of light, heat, and sound. That sound is known as thunder.

Natural fires (bush fires)

Bush fires can be created when lightning strikes. If the bolt of lightning hits dry leaves,
plants or trees, it can ignite and create fire. These can be very destructive and harmful
(or even fatal) to wildlife. If the fire spreads, it can be very difficult to get under control.
This is considered a natural disaster.

Bioluminescent creatures

Bioluminescence is when light is produced by a chemical process inside a living

organism. The glow occurs when something called luciferin reacts with oxygen. This
releases energy, and light is emitted. To glow on a regular basis, an organism needs to
keep bringing a fresh supply of luciferin into its body. Some get it through their diet, but
other organisms can produce their own luciferin. Not many animals that live on land are
bioluminescent. Fireflies are one of the rare examples. Fireflies are insects found in hot
and tropical regions across the world. They use their light to talk to other fireflies. Each
species has its own flashing pattern, which helps male and female fireflies find mates of
their own species.
Another example is glow-worms. Glow-worms are found across Europe and Asia. Unlike
fireflies, glow-worms can't easily control their supply of oxygen. This means that they
can't flash their lights on and off. Some mushrooms or fungi are bioluminescent too.

However, in the dark depths of the sea, there are lots and lots of bioluminescent
creatures lurking. Anglerfish, jellyfish and even some kinds of squid glow for various
evolutionary reasons. Some animals use it to attract mates. A male sea-firefly will squirt
out a bright dot of light as they move, creating a glowing trail for females to follow. Other
creatures use bioluminescence to detect or lure prey. The anglerfish gets its name as it
dangles a glowing lure in front of its mouth. It can then eat any prey that swim up to
check out the mysterious light. Bioluminescence can also be used for camouflage.
Some types of squid only glow on the underside of their bodies, which can help to hide
their silhouette from predators.

Artificial Sources of Light

Fire

Fire is known as the original source of artificial light. Fire may seem like it could fit in the
natural light category, however, any fires created by humans is in fact a form of artificial
light. If a fire is started by lightning, then it counts as a natural source of light instead.
We can make fire in lots of different ways, including with matches, lighters, and by
creating a spark using flint and kindling. We use fire for many purposes, such as for
burning candles, cooking food, or even just for making bonfires. Some people even use
the smoke from fires as a way of communication. This is called smoke signalling and is
one of the oldest forms of long-distance communication.

Light bulbs
Light bulbs are a common source of light. We use lightbulbs indoor in our homes and
other buildings. They are used outdoors in the form of electric streetlamps. Lightbulbs
work by turning electricity into light. The electric current goes through a thin wire called
a filament. This is usually made from tungsten, as it is quite hard to melt. The resistance
of the filament heats the bulb, to the point it gets so hot that it glows. This produces the
‘light’ of the lightbulb. You can find out more about the invention of the lightbulb by
reading this Teaching Wiki. Lightbulbs aren’t just functional, however. We also use them
for decoration. For example, decorative fairy lights or strings of lights on a Christmas
tree.

Torches

The original meaning of ‘torch’ was a stick with a combustible material at one end. This
could be lit and used as a portable light source. Nowadays, we tend to use the word to
mean electric torches. Some torches contain an incandescent bulb with a tungsten
filament. Others make use of LEDs, or light emitting diodes. Torches contain a circuit
that is completed when you press the on switch of your torch. There is a lens that
protects the bulb or LEDs inside. Many torches are battery powered, however, some
can be charged or even powered by solar power! They are used for camping or
exploring dark places. They are also handy to keep around just in case the power goes
out in your home.

Screens

In the modern world, screens are everywhere. They can be found on your TV, your
phone, your handheld gaming console and even your alarm clock, oven or microwave!
Screens use LEDs, just like torches. An LED display is made up of red, green and blue
LEDs mounted in a fixed pattern. These three colours combine to form a ‘pixel’. By
changing the intensity of the LEDs, billions of colours can be created. When you look at
the LED screen from a certain distance, the coloured pixels combine to make an image.

Fireworks

Fireworks are used all over the world for celebrations. They are made of a gunpowder-
filled shell that holds colour-producing star pellets. Inside this shell, there is a tightly
packed charge that launches the firework into the sky after a spark burns through a
fuse. There are varying types of star pellets which create different colours when they
burn.

Lasers

A laser is a machine that makes an amplified, single-colour source of light. The beam of
light from the laser is concentrated, meaning that it does not get wider or weaker like
torches or light bulbs do. It uses special gases or crystals to make light with just one
colour. Mirrors are used to make that colour of light stronger and to make all the light
travel in one direction. This means that it stays as a narrow beam. When pointed at
something, this beam makes a single point of light.

The word “laser” is an acronym for “light amplification by stimulated emission of

radiation”. Lasers can be used when giving presentations in the form of a laser pointer,
games of laser tag and for laser printing. When your shopping is scanned at the
supermarket, you are using lasers to scan the barcodes. There are also lots of uses for
lasers in manufacturing, scientific research and even some types of surgery. Cats also
love to chase lasers!
Glowsticks

Glowsticks aren’t just used for parties, you know! They can be used when camping, as
emergency lighting and when diving underwater. They work via a process called
chemiluminescence. This is a chemical reaction that causes a release of energy in the
form of light. Glowsticks contain two liquids. These are hydrogen peroxide and tert-butyl
alcohol. Colourful dyes are added to the alcohol too. When mixed together, these two
chemicals glow. One of the liquids inside the glow stick is trapped inside a very thin
glass tube. This is why you need to bend or snap a glowstick to get it to work! You are
breaking the glass tube and freeing the liquid inside so that it can mix with the other and
the chemical reaction can begin.