Flash bulb

Description

A glass bulb, that produces a single, momentary, high-intensity light flash for taking photographs. Invented in 1930, the flash bulb replaced the use of photographic flash powder. The glass bulb is filled with small pieces of a metal like aluminum, magnesium or zirconium in an oxygen atmosphere. The metal is instantaneously ignited by electricity producing fast but brilliant illumination.

Synonyms and Related Terms

photoflash; flashbulb

Resources and Citations

• T.Brill, Light: Its Interaction with Art and Antiquities. Plenum Press, New York, 1980.

• Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997

• The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998

• Website: www.gelighting.com/na/institute/ul_last100.html