How are lights glowing at very hot temperatures like 5000K and 6500K kept relatively cool to touch?

Question

Also, why do their components and things in close proximity not melt or catch fire?

In: 0

Answer 1

Glowing is from electrons changing energy levels. This always happens in a certain way in hot things, meaning the colors of a hot thing’s glow depends on its temperature.

Electrons can change energy levels by other processes in some materials. In LED’s, electrons change energy levels when electricity is applied.

To describe the color of an LED used for lighting a room, the box it comes in usually lists the temperature of a hot thing that would glow with a similar color.

The LED doesn’t actually get 5000K hot. It makes electrons jump energy levels in a way that gives off similar colors to what you would see from a thing that’s 5000K hot.