A lightbulb is connected to a battery by two two copper wires of equal lengths but different thicknesses. A thick wire connects one side of the lightbulb to the positive terminal of the battery and a thin wire connects the other side of the bulb to the negative terminal.

a. Which wire carries a greater current? Or is the current the same in both? Explain.

b. If the two wires are switched, will the bulb get brighter, dimmer, or stay the same? Explain.

Question

Cameron Mayer

Physics

20 September, 09:36

A lightbulb is connected to a battery by two two copper wires of equal lengths but different thicknesses. A thick wire connects one side of the lightbulb to the positive terminal of the battery and a thin wire connects the other side of the bulb to the negative terminal.

a. Which wire carries a greater current? Or is the current the same in both? Explain.

b. If the two wires are switched, will the bulb get brighter, dimmer, or stay the same? Explain.

+2

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Laylah Weeks · Answer 1

a) Current remains the same throughout the whole of a closed circuit if all the resistances are in series. So current will remain the same in both these conductors as they are in series.

b) If the two wires are switched or exchanged mutually, there will not be any change in the current are they will still remain in series and total resistance remains the same. so current will remain the same. Hence the current through the bulb will remain unchanged. The brightness too will remain the same.