The lighting equipment and optic at Hirtshals lighthouse, Denmark (2001)

Q: How do lighthouses work?

The technology of lighthouses is now very well developed and all the various aspects are explained in the notes that follow...

We begin with a series of questions about light, brightness and the way we measure them. The level of difficulty here varies. Some of the material is suitable for junior school students. Other pieces are rather more technical. We leave it to tutors to judge the suitability for their students.

Next comes a short set of texts about the sources of light such as coal, wood, candles, vapourised paraffin and acetylene.

The most important light sources are obtained from electricity so the next topics are about this.