 Source of light:- According to the principle of operation of light source maybe grouped as

follows:
1. Arc lamps: - Electric discharge through air gives intense light. This principle is utilized in arc
lamps.
2. High temperature: - Oil and gas lamps and incandescent filament type lamps, which emit
light when
heated to high temperature.
3. Gaseous discharge lamps: - Under certain conditions it is possible to pass electric current
through a gas
or metal vapour, which is accompanied by visible radiation. Sodium and mercury vapour lamps
operate on
this principle.
4. Fluorescent type lamps:- Certain materials, when exposed to ultra violet rays, the absorbed
energy into
the radiation of longer wave length lying within the visible range. This principle is employed in
fluorescent
lamps.

Usually in a broad sense, based upon the way of producing the light by electricity, the sources of
light are classified into following four types.

Electric arc lamps

The ionization of air present between the two electrodes produces an arc and provides intense
light.

Incandescent lamps
When the filaments of these lamps are heated to high temperature, they emit light that falls in the
visible region of wavelength. Tungsten-filament lamps are operating on this principle.

Gaseous discharge lamps

When an electric current is made to pass through a gas or metal vapor, it produces visible
radiation by discharge takes place in the gas vapor. Sodium and mercury vapor lamps operate on
this principle.

Fluorescent lamps
Certain materials like phosphor powders exposed to ultraviolet rays emits the absorbed energy
into visible radiations fall in the visible range of wavelength. This principle is employed in
fluorescent lamps.

LED Lamps: Use light emitting diodes.

Type of Lamps
 Incandescent Lamps, icandescent
 Tungsten Halogen Lamps, incandescent
 Fluorescent Lamps
 Compact Fluorescent Lamps
 Mercury Vapour Lamps (HID lamp) gas discharge
 Metal Halide Lamps, HID, arc lamp
 High Pressure Sodium Vapour Lamps, HID, gas discharge
 Low Pressure Sodium Vapour Lamps, HID, gas discharge
 LED Lamps