Final answer:
The useful energy of a lamp is transmitted in the form of electromagnetic radiation, specifically light composed of photons, which upon interaction with surfaces, typically converts to heat energy. The light is produced by a heated filament in the bulb from electrical energy, with shorter wavelength radiation carrying the most energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The useful energy of a lamp that carries light to its surroundings is in the form of electromagnetic radiation, which is composed of photons. In an incandescent lamp, an electric current flows through a tungsten filament, causing it to heat up due to its high resistance. The heat energy makes the filament glow white-hot, producing light, which is then emitted to the environment. As this light interacts with objects, it exerts a force, and upon absorption, it typically converts back to heat energy, warming the surroundings and illuminating them. This radiation has different wavelengths, and it's the shorter, tight waves that carry the most energy. Despite its primary function to illuminate, much of the energy from a typical lightbulb is also lost as heat, which is one of the reasons why more energy-efficient lamps like LEDs and CFLs are now favored.