Final answer:
For close detail work, lamps typically use bulbs with a higher wattage to provide sufficient illumination, measured more accurately by lumens rather than watts. Energy-efficient LED or fluorescent bulbs can offer similar brightness at lower wattages due to their high luminous efficacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The wattage typically desired for a bulb used in lamps for close detail work would be one that provides a high luminous flux, often translating to higher wattage ratings like those of 60 watts (W) for older incandescent bulbs, or their modern energy-efficient equivalents. While wattage used to be a common measure of a bulb's light output, it is now known that luminous efficacy, which measures the light output in lumens per watt, is a more accurate indicator of brightness. For detailed tasks, such as reading or intricate handwork, having a bulb with a relatively high luminous flux is essential to ensure sufficient illuminance.
Modern lighting sources like LED (light-emitting diode) or compact fluorescent lamps offer greater luminous efficacy, providing more lumens per watt, and thereby the same brightness at a lower wattage, compared to traditional incandescent bulbs. This is advantageous as it results in energy savings without compromising on the quality of light for detail-oriented tasks. For these applications, one should focus on the lumens rating to choose a light source that provides adequate task lighting while being energy efficient.