How Lighthouses Work

by Emily

Lighthouses use lamps to show their light.  Their light is   shown through special lenses to make it brighter.  The modern lighthouse lens was invented using prisms.   The prisms bend the light making it visible for many miles.  Sometimes, however, you cannot see the light due to fog or bad weather, and because of that lighthouses have bells or other things that make noise to warn ships under such conditions. Some lighthouses use sealed-beam lamps Sealed-beam lamps swing around like a search light.  It can be seen many times if the light is rotating fast.  These lamps can be shown through rain, fog, and snow.

Lighthouse keepers live in or near the lighthouse.  They and their families were kept busy by cleaning the tower windows and the lenses.  They did this so the light could show through brightly.  Today many lighthouses run automatically by electricity.

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