Relative Brightness of Light Bulbs in Series & Parallel Connection

[Empire]

Assuming there are five identical light bulbs. Light bulb C and D are in a series connection. C and D are in a parallel connection with E. Light Bulb A and B are in a parallel connection. The two parallel connections are wired in a series connection. What would be their relative brightness? I'm thinking that A=B=E=C+D

********************
|----power---------------|
|*******************|
|*******************|
|**|--A--|***|-C-D-|**|
|---|****|----|****|---|
***|--B--|***|--E--|***
********************


in a parallel connection, It=I1+I2, therefore, A=B. In a seriese connection, The total current equals the individual currents, so C=D. Back to the parallel connection, C+D=E. In a series, they are all equal, so (A+B)=(E+C+D). Therefore...A=B=E=C+D. My friend said that it might be: C^D<A^B<E

Any suggestions?

 

[jdavel]

EDIT: Ignore this post! I misread your diagram; Chi Meson has it right in the next post.

Empire,

Think of it more as an electrical problem first, and then worry about brightness.

Suppose your power source is a voltage of 100V.

What's the voltage across the B-E branch?

So what's the voltage across B? Across E?

What's the voltage across the A-CD branch?

So What's the voltage across A (be careful!)? Across CD ? Across C? Across D?

 

[Chi Meson]

Another way to think of it: The brightest bulb will have the most current going through it.

Obviously,the total current through the entire A/B unit will equal the total current through the C/D/E unit. And the current through A and B is equal, and each gets exactly half the total current.

So ask yourself, where will more current go, through the C-D branch, or the E branch?