Lighter facts for kids
A lighter is a small, handy tool that can create a flame whenever you need it. It usually has a container made of plastic or metal. This container holds a special liquid or gas that can easily catch fire. Lighters also have a way to make the flame appear and to put it out safely when you are done.
The First Lighters
Did you know lighters have been around for a long time? One of the very first lighters was invented in 1823. A German chemist named Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner created it. This early lighter was called Döbereiner's lamp. It was made and used until about 1880.
Lighters in Cars
Many cars used to have a special electric lighter. This lighter was built right into the car's dashboard. When you pushed its button, a metal heating element would get very hot. This happened because it connected to the car's 12-volt electricity supply.
Once hot, you could take the lighter out of its socket. The hot tip was then used to light things, like the tip of a cigarette. Today, this socket is often used for other things. You can plug in mobile phone chargers or other electronics. Because of this, the term "cigarette lighter" now often means any 12-volt power socket in a car, even if it's not used for lighting.
Related Pages
Images for kids
-
An ignited lighter
-
Two Zippo lighters, one open, one closed
-
A trench art lighter from the Battle of Verdun (1916)
-
Schematic diagram of a lighter's inside workings
-
Traditional Spanish match lighters.
-
A permanent match lighter with the metal 'match' leaning against the shell
See also
In Spanish: Encendedor para niños
