Final answer:
Incandescent bulbs transform electrical energy into heat and then light, with most energy lost as heat, making them less efficient. CFLs use a ballast to excite argon and mercury vapor, emitting UV light that stimulates a fluorescent coating to produce visible light with less heat and higher efficiency.
Step-by-step explanation:
Incandescent bulbs and Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) perform energy transformations differently. Incandescent bulbs work by passing an electric current through a thin filament, usually made of tungsten, heating it until it glows and emits light.
The energy transformation occurring in incandescent bulbs is primarily electrical energy to heat and then to light, leading to a significant amount of energy lost as heat.
On the other hand, CFLs contain a mixture of argon and mercury vapor within a spiral-shaped tube. The electricity passes through a ballast that increases the voltage, creating an electrical current that excites the gas molecules, which in turn emit ultraviolet (UV) light.
This light then stimulates a fluorescent coating on the inside of the tube to produce visible light. The energy transformation in CFLs is more efficient, with less heat emission, which explains why they melted less water in an experiment comparing the two.
Considering heat transfer and energy efficiency, CFLs are far superior to incandescent bulbs. They require less electrical energy to produce the same amount of light and last much longer. Although initial costs for CFLs might be higher, they are a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly choice in the long term, saving on both energy usage and bulb replacement costs.