Final answer:
True, HID lamps require a ballast for their operation. The ballast starts the lamp with a high voltage and then regulates the current to ensure safe and efficient functionality.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, HID lamps require a ballast to function. The ballast is an essential component in HID (High-Intensity Discharge) lamps, which includes CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamp) bulbs. A ballast regulates the current to the lamp and provides sufficient voltage to start the lamp. Without a ballast, the HID lamp would draw too much current and quickly burn out. The ballast initially increases the voltage to start the lamp and then regulates the current for steady light output and efficient performance.
In comparison, an incandescent light bulb does not need a ballast; it operates directly from a variable voltage source. When upgrading from incandescent bulbs to CFL or LED bulbs, the increased efficiency is significant, but other factors, such as the cost and light quality, must also be considered. For example, while LED bulbs also offer high efficiency, they work by manipulating the energy levels of electrons within crystals, which is a different process than that of CFLs.