Question

i) A 100 W and 60 W bulb are joined in series and connected to the mains. Which bulb will glow brighter? Why? ii) A 100 W and a 60 W bulb are joined in parallel to the mains. Which bulb will glow brighter? Why?

Answer 1

Answer:

i) 60 W

ii) 100 W

Explanation:

In each case, the bulb that dissipates the most power is the bulb that glows brighter.  Power is voltage times current (P = VI).  Using Ohm's law, we can rewrite this as P = I²R or P = V²/R.

Bulbs are rated at a certain power for a certain voltage.  P = V²/R, so the bulb with the lower resistance will have the higher power rating.  Therefore, the 100 W bulb has a lower resistance than the 60 W bulb.

i) They are in series, so they have the same current.  P = I²R, so the bulb with the higher resistance will glow brighter.  That's the 60 W bulb.

ii) They are in parallel, so they have the same voltage.  P = V²/R, so the bulb with the lower resistance will glow brighter.  That's the 100 W bulb.