A lamp is a support for artificial light.
A lamp is a device that acts as a support for one or more artificial lights . It can be a hanging object or supported on a base or stand. For example: “Yesterday we bought a new lamp for the living room table,” “The bulb in the living room lamp burned out,” “I woke up half asleep and crashed into the nightstand, knocking the lamp to the floor.”
Lamps, therefore, are utensils that allow light -generating devices (known as light bulbs , spotlights , bulbs , bulbs or even lamps ) to be connected to the electrical network. They fulfill, however, other functions, since they distribute the light emitted by the bulb (avoiding glare) and serve as decoration .
Lamp types
It is possible to distinguish between a wide variety of lamps, among which are the following: floor lamps (those that rest on the floor); those from the ceiling (they hang from above, generally from the ceiling); table ones (they are located on different types of tables and desks).
A floor lamp, for example, is made up of said foot (the base or support); an arm (which is flexible on some models); and a screen or lampshade (dims the lighting and diffuses the light). This structure, of course, can change according to the type of lamp and the creativity of the designers .
It is possible to distinguish between ceiling lamps, table lamps and floor lamps.
decorative function
Not all lamps are used specifically to illuminate an environment, and the lava lamp is a clear example, since its main function is decoration. At first glance, it usually shows a shape similar to that of a cone, with a large part of its structure transparent, so that you can see its interior, where drops of wax that form randomly and that appear to be the flow of lava constantly flow. .
The first lava lamp dates back to 1963 and was created by Edward Craven-Walker, a former pilot of English origin, who initially called it "Astro lamp." Two years later, in Hamburg, he presented it at a local fair and there a businessman was so interested in the peculiar device that, together with a partner, he decided to buy the rights to distribute it on the American continent under the name "Lava Lite." » (lava light).
During the 1970s, the lava lamp enjoyed great popularity, and today it is possible to obtain it at very affordable prices in gift shops, bazaars and flea markets, in a wide variety of models and colors.
Lava lamp explosion
In 2004 , a death report tarnished the reputation of the lava lamp: a man from Kent , Washington , was observing his lamp, which had been placed on a lit stove, when suddenly the increase in pressure produced by the heat caused it to explode; One of the many pieces of glass that were thrown in all directions ended up in the heart of its owner, causing a fatal wound.
Two years later, the television series known as "Mythbusters" , also American, attempted to reproduce the tragic scene, and came to the conclusion that pieces of glass cannot cause a fatal injury, although liquid can. cause serious burns to anyone around the lamp. Myth or reality, it is not advisable to leave any appliance on top of a lit stove.
Other meanings of the term
There are other uses of the notion of lamp that have nothing to do with lighting .
A lamp can be a large stain that occurs on clothing or, in some countries (also known as a lamparon ), a cunning person or an untrustworthy subject.