prize8-2, Exercise 2: A coal beacon and an electric light

Model answer (check the details):

The coal beacon (Isle of May, 1636):
- Fuel: coal had to be shipped to the island and carried up to the fire, a heavy and costly task in all weathers.
- Weather: wind blew the fire about, scattered sparks and ash, and rain could weaken it. In a gale the fire might be hard to keep alight, and a strong wind could make it burn too fast.
- Smoke: smoke could hide the light itself, and the bright flame gave poor control, so the beam could not be shaped or directed.
- Labour: someone had to feed the fire all night, every night, and be there at all times.
- Money: owners relied on tolls from passing ships and were often in dispute about collecting them.

The modern electric light:
- Fuel: electricity from the grid, a generator or solar panels, with a back-up; no hand-feeding.
- Weather: enclosed in glass and lens, protected from wind and rain.
- Control: the lens shapes the beam and a timer sets the flash pattern.
- Labour: usually automatic, with maintenance visits.

Conclusion: the main change was from a light that needed constant human effort and gave a crude signal to one that is steady, controlled and largely unattended (Chapters 5 and 9).

Care: the Isle of May details are from general knowledge; check them against a history of the light.