Years ago, while on a commuter train, I watched an old-fashioned, hanging light bulb fill up with rain water. I alerted the folks around me and we moved right before it blew up. I have yet to figure this out.
2006-09-21 06:18:53 · 4 answers · asked by Book0602 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Interestingly, I've seen the same thing myself, and was, as you, somewhat perplexed. I knew that the inside of the light bulb was a vacuum, (this allowed the filament to glow without burning immediately). If, however, the seal between the glass bulb and the metal socket is defective or loosens the vacuum is replaced by air and if, it's around, water. Since the bulb has lost the vacuum it would have died at any moment. You witnessed a really freaky and rare coincidence.
2006-09-21 06:42:22 · answer #1 · answered by radar 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have had three incidences of this in outdoor upright light fittings - two just this year. The bulb fails, and when I look the bulb has blown off the top part of the glass, and the rest of the glass is 1/3rd to 1/4 full of water. The fittings are dry, their little drain hole is clear in case they had filled with water. In the most recent case, I know that the height of the water was far greater than the amount of rainfall we had had since I fitted the bulb (it went in 2-3 days). In this most recent case, I had also fitted a clear "heavy duty long life" kind of bulb, just to make sure it lasted!!! Picture attached.
2015-01-21 09:26:27 · answer #2 · answered by In the middle 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. Not likely if the bulb was lit. Any break in the seal would cause the filament to oxidize and blow the bulb out. If it was OFF, then it's possible.
2006-09-21 06:43:09 · answer #3 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the glass was cracked somewhere the water could have gotten in. That's the only thing I can think of.
2006-09-21 06:27:37 · answer #4 · answered by Peapod 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋