Light Bulb Temperatures: Home vs Office

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of color temperature in light bulbs, specifically comparing the temperatures associated with different types of light bulbs (e.g., 3100K and 5500K) and their implications for lighting in home and office settings. Participants explore the relationship between color temperature and the perceived color of light, as well as its relevance in photography.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether the numbers on light bulbs correspond to blackbody radiation temperatures and seeks clarification on the nature of white light.
  • Another participant provides a link to a chart detailing color temperatures, suggesting it as a resource for understanding the topic.
  • A participant explains that the color temperatures refer to the light emitted and are significant for photographers in selecting appropriate film for accurate color representation.
  • It is noted that higher color temperatures yield bluer light, while lower temperatures correspond to yellowish light, with specific examples given for incandescent and fluorescent bulbs.
  • Some participants engage in light-hearted banter about the relevance of color temperature to unrelated topics, such as the jumping of a coin.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the definition of color temperature and its implications for light quality, but there is no consensus on its relevance to other topics raised in the discussion, such as the coin jumping question.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes various assumptions about the relationship between color temperature and light perception, as well as the potential applications in photography. Some statements may depend on specific definitions or contexts not fully explored in the thread.

Pengwuino
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So i was checking out some lightbulbs a while back and i noticed they had these numbers on it. One type had the number... it was like 3100K and the other was 5500K or so. Are these the temperatures corrposponding to the blackbody radiation associated with those temperatures? I know there's 2 types of lightbulbs generally... the whiteish type (or well, i mean the color of light given off) you see in offices and the yellowish you see at home. Now the thing is... the whiteish type... i thought white light was just the combining of light? How could it have a temperature associated with it? Any help on all this would be .. helpful :D Plus does anyone know which, the 3100K ish or the 5500K ish will produce the normal home-type yellow light?
 
Last edited:
Science news on Phys.org
http://www.bulbman.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=34

Look under "color temperature" there's a nice chart.
 
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sweet thanks
 
The temperatures you have seen refer to the colour temperatures of the light given off.

These values are of particular interest to photographers, who will need to know what sort of film to use such that their pictures look like the original scene did.

The higher the colour temperatures (measured in Kelvin, but nothing to do with the actual bulb temperature), the bluer the light it gives off.

Normal incandescent bulbs operate at around 2900K, which as we know is a kind of yellowish colour. 'Warm white' fluorescent tubes are around 3500K, which are a pale yellowy white. "Cool white" is around 4100K, which is an almost greeny yellow. 'Daylight' bulbs range from 5500K to 6500K; the upper end being bluish. Sunlight is said to be around 5000K, and daylight up to 7500K.

Anyway, that's my knowledge from my photography days, perhaps someone can put some more science into this.


Edit: Dammit, Fred beat me to it...
 
brewnog said:
The temperatures you have seen refer to the colour temperatures of the light given off
But does the colour temperature have anything to do with how far it will make a coin jump? :-p
 
Danger said:
But does the colour temperature have anything to do with how far it will make a coin jump? :-p


Oh, I forgot all about that! We'll have to work on that more when I've finished exams...
 
brewnog said:
Oh, I forgot all about that! We'll have to work on that more when I've finished exams...
Good! I've thought about reviving that thread a couple of times, just to make sure that someone eventually tells me what's going on.
 

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