Understanding Resistance in Series Circuits

Question:

When the series circuit below is connected, if bulb A is brighter than bulb B: a) Bulb A has higher resistance than bulb B. b) Bulb A has lower resistance than bulb B. c) Bulb A has the same resistance as bulb B. d) There is insufficient information to determine resistance. Final answer:

Answer:

In a series circuit, bulb A is brighter than bulb B because it has lower resistance which allows it to dissipate more power. So, the correct option is b) Bulb A has lower resistance than bulb B.

Explanation:

If bulb A in a series circuit is brighter than bulb B, then bulb A has lower resistance than bulb B.

In a series circuit, the same current flows through all components. As all bulbs receive the same current, the power dissipated by each bulb (which corresponds to its brightness) is determined by the power equation P = I^2 * R, where P is power, I is current, and R is resistance. Given the same current, the bulb with the lower resistance will dissipate more power and thus, be brighter. Hence, if bulb A is brighter, it must have lower resistance to allow more power dissipation, making option b) the correct answer.

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