How does light house work?

Question

I keep reading that lighthouses help sailors 1) be aware of dangers like rocks and reefs, and 2) navigate in the dark. I understand that lighthouses beam a series of flashes that a sailor can see from far away, but I’m not quite sure how seeing a series of flashes in the dark from a single point-source can accomplish point 1 and point 2.

In: 8

Answer 1

Lighthouses essentially mean “stay away from me” to sailors so they don’t run aground in bad weather/low visibility. That’s pretty much it.