My family is constantly replacing lightbulbs in our house. Wouldn't it be amazing if they lasted forever? Well, they used to! There are many examples of everlasting lightbulbs in existence today, but they aren't available to the everyday consumer. Operating in California since 1901, the Centennial Light holds the title of the world's longest-lasting lightbulb.
Why don't lightbulbs last forever? Like many household products, lightbulbs are designed to fail after a relatively predictable timeframe so that consumers will continue to buy them again and again. This is an example of planned obsolescence. Smartphones, cars, textbooks, and fashion are other examples of products that are developed with this business strategy in mind.
Let's move on to brighter matters, shall we? Below are five light-themed things to teach your kids.
1. A silly joke.
Here's some light-hearted humor to get the giggles flowing.
Where does light go when it breaks the law? To prism.
2. A new vocabulary word.
From sconces to chandeliers, pendants to lamps, there are many, many different types of light fixtures. Do you know the name of the lighting commonly used at large sporting events and performing arts theaters?
A floodlight is a broad beam of light used to illuminate a space. As its name suggests, they flood the area with light.
Floodlights aren't just for massive venues. You can often find them on the front of garages as well.
3. A word puzzle.
To solve a rebus, consider not just the words but the placement, size, color, and quantity of everything within the box (and sometimes just outside the box!) when trying to decipher the puzzle.
4. A fun fact.
Light travels 186,000 mi/sec. That's remarkably fast!
If you traveled at the speed of light, you could travel around the Earth 7.5 times every second!
5. Teach a personal discovery.
A little bit of natural light can provide some massive benefits for the human body.
How much time do you spend outside? Spending time outside in natural light provides so many benefits to the human body (and mind!). For starters, exposure to natural light improves sleep, wards off seasonal depression, and boosts vitamin D, an essential nutrient that prevents bone loss and reduces the risk of heart disease.
You can experience the benefits of natural light INSIDE your home as well. Check out a few easy ideas for bringing more natural light into your home from Ecoline Windows.
"Within you is the light of a thousand suns." – Robert Adams.
