I heard a trick is it true?

Question

I heard that if you drill a small hole in the side of a lightbulb, and then fill it with gas, you can tape off the hole and put the bulb back in place. Once someone switches the light on ka-boom. Will this really work? I heard lightbulbs have special air inside to keep the tungsten buring, if not it will just mix with the oxygen and meltdown... so will that work? Has anyone ever tried it?

Answer 1

yes it is true.... the gas inside a a regular incandescent lightbulb is not dangerous to humans in any way. but what your talking about is very dangerous.... and also considered arson if it starts a fire...

and whoever say fill it with gun powder.... it wouldnt ignite it... you have to have an explosion or tempatures over 110 degrees C to ignite gunpowder.... and if you filled a lightbulb with gunpowder it would burn up the monfilament and not ignite it...

Answer 2

I did not try it, but it should not cause an explosion.
If you ever accidently hit and burst a working light bulb, the *poof* you heard was actually due to the outside air going in to fill the low pressure argon inside the globe. Then the white hot tungsten filament oxydize and burns off very quickly.

Drill a hole in a light bulb, and you already removed most of the "explosive" factor: that of the pressure differential. The rest of the event is then the same as bursting a working lightbulb.
Now, if you add a gas capable of burning with the air inside, then you could cause it to burn. But how much gas would that be? Very small explosion, probably won't even shatter the globe

Unless you mean gasoline. And then if it is filled with gasoline, there is not air to make it combust, so the filament will boil some gas, which may ignite. Probably not an explosion, but spilling burning gas. Perhaps something to propose to the Mythbusters to try, as NO ONE should play with gasoline next to an ignition source nuless they are expert in the field and thing safety first and foremost.

Answer 3

Lightbulbs have inert gases inside, usually a noble gas, to keep the tungsten from evaporating when it's hot. Your trick would work, though, since the tungsten can still get hot enough to ignite, say, methane. Of course, without any oxygen in there it's not going to explode, so you'd need a mixture of gas and air.

Answer 4

Depends on the gas, Argus. Its not a good idea to drill a hole in a light bulb, the gas in it is meant to have metal in it so it is probably pretty reactive. What it does is that it helps the electricity travel through out the bulb and make it brighter.

Answer 5

It worked in the movie "The Longest Yard" they killed off one of the people in the movie that way. You know the football movie with Burt Reynolds.

I don't really think it would work. Not enough oxygen for an explosion.

Answer 6

Does anyone think you can drill a hole in a light bulb without it shattering?

Answer 7

First, are you Richard Simmon's illegitimate son?
Second, call Iraq, they're looking for guys with minds like yours. They always have a big turn-over of employees in their suicide-bomber unit. They go out on a job, but never seem to come back. H-m-m-m-m.

Answer 8

hmmmmmm.....

I suggest you try it at home. Make sure the light switch is turned ON when you screw the bulb back in.

Answer 9

Whoever who would think of something like this and do it, had a lot of time on their hands. It's kind of like the mentos and soda mix. If something seems dangerous, it probably is. I wouldn't risk it.

Answer 10

I heard about this many years ago. Don't know if it will work, but I'm wondering why you want to know?