Lighting facts for kids

Lighting is all about using light to create a certain look or feeling. It can be natural light, like sunshine coming through a window. Or it can be artificial light, like the glow from lamps and light fixtures. Lighting is super important in many places, from your home to big movie sets.

Movie lighting silhouette

Natural Light: Using the Sun

Natural light comes from the sun. During the day, the sun gives us lots of light. We can use this light inside buildings. This is called daylighting.

Daylighting uses things like windows, skylights, and special shelves that bounce light. It helps bring sunlight deep into rooms. Using natural light can save a lot of energy. This is because you don't need to turn on as many electric lights.

Artificial Light: Lamps and Fixtures

Artificial light comes from things we make. This includes lamps, light bulbs, and other light fixtures. These lights help us see when it's dark. They also help us see better indoors.

There are many kinds of artificial lights. Some are bright for working. Others are dim for relaxing. They can be used in homes, schools, offices, and even outside.

Why Lighting Matters

Lighting is very important for many reasons. It helps us see clearly and safely. Good lighting can also make a place look nice. It can even change how we feel.

For example, bright lights can make you feel awake. Soft, warm lights can make you feel cozy. Lighting also plays a huge role in safety. Think about streetlights helping drivers at night.

Lighting in Movies and Photos

Lighting is super important in making movies, TV shows, and photos. Filmmakers and photographers use light to tell a story. They can make a scene look happy, scary, or mysterious.

They use different lights to highlight actors or objects. They also create shadows to add drama. The right lighting can make a picture or a movie scene look amazing.

Lighting for Safety and Security

Lighting helps keep us safe. Bright lights in parking lots or on streets make it harder for bad things to happen. They help people see where they are going. They also help people feel more secure.

Inside buildings, good lighting prevents accidents. It helps people see stairs or obstacles. This is especially true in places like factories or construction sites.

Saving Energy with Smart Lighting

Using energy wisely is important for our planet. Lighting uses a lot of electricity. But there are ways to save energy with smart lighting.

One way is to use daylighting more often. Another way is to use energy-efficient light bulbs. LED lights, for example, use much less power than old light bulbs. They also last a lot longer.

Smart lighting systems can also help. These systems can turn lights off when no one is around. They can also dim lights when there is enough natural light. This saves energy and money.

Images for kids

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  Illuminated cherry blossoms, light from the shop windows, and Japanese lantern at night in Ise, Mie, Japan

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  Daylight used at the train station Gare de l'Est Paris

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  Low-intensity lighting and haze in a concert hall allows laser effects to be visible

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  Dim night lighting for the old warehouses along the river in the old town of Porvoo, Finland

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  A demonstration of the effects of different kinds of lighting

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  Wall-mounted light with shadows

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  Animated fountain in Moscow's Square of Europe, lit at night

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  High mast lighting along Highway 401 in Ontario, Canada

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  Floodlights are used to illuminate outdoor playing fields or work zones during nighttime.

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  The decks and gangway of tugboat Samuel de Champlain illuminated at night while docked at a shipyard for the purposes of safety and security.

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  Lighting without windows: The Pantheon in the 18th century, painted by Giovanni Paolo Panini.

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  Lighting and shadows

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  Moving heads in a photo studio set

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  The Leppävaaran Torni building in Leppävaara, Espoo, Finland, illuminated with colorful lights in 2017

See also

In Spanish: Iluminación física para niños