Question

The average incandescent light bulb is measured at 60 W. An equivalent LED light bulb only requires 12 W for the same amount of light production. Both of them convert electricity into heat and light, but the LED build does it much more efficiently. What makes the unit W (watt) a unit of power?

Answer 1

Watts measure the rate of energy conversion, with one watt equating to one joule per second. LEDs are more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs, providing the same light output with significantly lower power consumption and longer lifespan.

Step-by-step explanation:

The unit watt (W) is a unit of power because it measures the rate at which energy is used or converted. One watt is equivalent to one joule of energy per second. When we discuss light bulbs and their power consumption, we talk about how much energy they're using to produce light and heat. An incandescent bulb that's rated at 60 W uses 60 joules of energy per second, while an LED bulb that produces the same amount of light might only consume 12 W, indicating that it uses energy more efficiently.

Light bulbs' energy efficiency has improved over time with advances in technology. While incandescent bulbs convert a lot of the energy into heat, LEDs and compact fluorescent lights (CFL) convert more into light. This is reflected in their luminous efficacy, which tells us how many lumens of light (light output) are produced for each watt of power consumed. LEDs come out on top as the most efficient, with the highest lumens per watt ratio, and have the added benefits of a longer lifespan and lower environmental impact.