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It really shows both but the relationship to the 1st law is a lot more obvious.

The light coming from the glowing wire is an example of energy. By the first law, that energy must have come from somewhere - in this case the electricity passing through the wire with some of that energy being converted to light. As soon as you quit supplying power to it, the wire will cool down and quit glowing - no energy input in the form of electricity means no output of energy in the form of light (and heat).

The wire glows because it is getting hot. The second law dictates that as the energy moves through the wire, some of it will be dissipated in the form of heat. This relates to the 2nd law. The reasons why it has to dissipate as heat go into electron orbitals, inter-molecular forces and a bit of quantum physics which are outside the scope of this answer.

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Q: Is an electric current that flows through a tungsten wire in a light bulb creating a glow an example of the 1st or 2nd law of thermodynamics?
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Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

Which element is used in the filaments in incandescent lamps?

Tungsten.More informationExperiments were made with different materials to use as the filament, including natural fibres, pure metals and alloys of different metals, to find the material which had the longest life whilst glowing brightly enough to give out visible light. The metal Tungsten was found to be the best, because of its high melting point (almost 3700 K) and good resistance to electrical current.


What is the current spot price for tungsten?

$35 for 1 kilogram


Why do you use tungsten in electric bulbs for lighting?

heloooFilaments in incandescent light bulbs in particular need to: - remain solid at high temperatures (2000 ~ 3500K) - glow brightly when heated to the above temperatures through electric current - can do the previous action many times before it fails Tungsten is able to do those things listed above. Moreover, Tungsten has the highest melting temperature of all metals (and the second highest for an element). In this application, tungsten has been shown to outlast other possible filaments, as well as glow brighter than the original carbon filament Edison used


What causes a electric current in a electric circuit?

Voltage causes current to flow in an electric circuit.


Why is a copper wire not used to make filaments of electric bulbs?

Because the filament is in effect a resistor. Copper is too good a conductor to provide resistance to the current, and would simply allow the current to complete the circuit. The light is generated by the filament glowing as it heats up in resistance to the current. Tungsten is a much better resistor.

Related questions

What is the current price of tungsten per gram?

price of tungsten


How does an electric current produce light?

By heating a metal wire called a filament. In a light bulb (lamp) the electric current flows through a tungsten filament which glows white hot giving off light.


What is the current market value of tungsten in India?

The market value for tungsten is NOT $900.


What is a filament resistor?

A filament bulb resistor is the common type of light bulb. It contain a thin coil wire called filament. It produces light as a result. It is made mainly from the element tungsten. The metle tungsten has very high melting point and it is a good conductor of electric current


What actually gives off light in a light bulb?

Electric current through a filament (thin spiral) of tungsten causes it to heat up enough to glow brightly.


How does tungsten help the light bulb work?

An electric current passes through a very thin filament of tungsten, which to some degree resists the current and heats up until it glows brightly. Other substances could be used, but tungsten has the advantage of having an extremely high melting point and staying strong at high temperatures.


How are electrons involved in creating and electric current?

It has negative energy that is higher than any type of energy told.


What is the current price of scrap tungsten carbide?

Current scrap price carbide


Which element is used in the filaments in incandescent lamps?

Tungsten.More informationExperiments were made with different materials to use as the filament, including natural fibres, pure metals and alloys of different metals, to find the material which had the longest life whilst glowing brightly enough to give out visible light. The metal Tungsten was found to be the best, because of its high melting point (almost 3700 K) and good resistance to electrical current.


How much is tungsten worth?

Current Oct 2010, trading price for tungsten is around $US 30 per kg.


What is the current spot price for tungsten?

$35 for 1 kilogram


What is the continuous flow of electric charges through a material?

Yes, an electric current is the flow of charged particles.