What exactly makes an LED light different from, well...?

Question

...a regular light?

Answer 1

The "bulb" called a diode is different in that instead of using a bridge called a filament, it uses a gap. In this image, the second to the right diode clearly shows this gap which creates the arcing effect you see when it's working.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/Verschiedene_LEDs.jpg/800px-Verschiedene_LEDs.jpg

Not only do these diodes last longer than bulbs, they require less energy.

Answer 2

In an incandescent bulb, a very thin wire is fed electricity until it glows white-hot.

In a fluorescent bulb, a tube of gas is fed electricity until it ionizes, and electrons jumping between shells emit photons (little packets of light). Because these photons are ultraviolet, they are not suitable for most lighting applications. To make them suitable, the inside of the bulb is coated with a phosphor mixture. Inside the phosphor, atoms absorb photons, their electrons jumping up several energy layers. Then, the electrons drop back down 1 or 2 layers at a time, emitting lower-energy photons suitable for everyday use.

In an LED, electrons and "holes" (an electron gap) meet at a certain layer in a semiconductor (where P and N layers meet). When the electrons fall into the holes, they drop 1 or more energy layers, emitting photons. To make a white LED, a blue LED is used and coated with a phosphor (see above for explanation).

Answer 3

A LED, Light Emitting Diode, differs from a ordinary incandescent light in several way. One way is that it produces a single color, ie cannot be split by a prism where as an ordinary light will break up into several colors when put though a prism. LEDs also are more efficient, converting more of the input energy into light. I hope that helps.

Answer 4

In a regular light, the filament emits light. In a florescent light, its the gas in the bulb that emits light. LED mean light emitting diode.

Answer 5

a regular light uses filaments..little wires that touch each
other at the top of the bulb...analog
LED..light emitting diode...just what it says..a diode that lights
up..which is why when you see them ..they look like a series
of bright lights...digital
hope this helps a little
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