Know the total resistance of the whole circuit

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of electric circuits, specifically focusing on the brightness of bulbs in a series circuit and the concept of total resistance. Participants explore analogies between electrical flow and water flow to illustrate their points, raising questions about how energy is distributed among components in a circuit.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant observes that in a series circuit with two identical bulbs, both light up equally bright, but a single bulb lights up brighter, questioning why the bulb nearer to the negative end does not light up brighter than the other.
  • Another participant compares the behavior of current in a circuit to the flow of water in a river, suggesting that changes in the circuit do not result in instantaneous adjustments throughout the entire circuit.
  • A different participant argues that the circuit would react quickly to changes, implying that the adjustment in current is not as delayed as suggested.
  • One participant uses a water analogy to explain that the energy loss upstream affects the flow downstream, although they acknowledge the analogy may not be the best fit.
  • Another participant counters that if the current flows at the same rate throughout the circuit, the effects (like erosion in the water analogy) would be uniform along the circuit.
  • There is a suggestion that energy is consumed upstream, leading to a slower flow downstream, which raises questions about energy distribution in the circuit.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the speed of circuit response to changes and the implications of energy distribution in a series circuit. The discussion remains unresolved, with multiple competing analogies and interpretations presented.

Contextual Notes

Participants rely on analogies that may have limitations in accurately representing electrical behavior. The discussion includes assumptions about the nature of current flow and energy distribution that are not fully explored or defined.

ArielGenesis
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please feel free to move this thread as i cannot find the correct place.


in a series (dc), when two bulb of the same resistance is used, the two bulbs lighted up as bright. when one bulb is used instead of two, the bulb ligth up brighter.

if again, two bulb arrange in circuit, why not the bulb nearrer to the negative end light up brighter then the next one. it seems that the electron already know the total resistance of the whole circuit at the first bulb to decide the amount of energy relesed at the bulb.

am i messing up some where?
 
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A circuit can only have one amperage just as a river can only have one flowrate. Tossing a massive rock into a river doesn't make the rest of the river instantly "know" the flowrate has changed, there is a short delay as the flow through the entire river adjusts to the change, starting at the point where the change was made. Same goes for electricity: if you suddenly attached a second light, the circuit would not react instantly to the change.
 
It would react pretty quick though!
 
by using water, for example the brightness of the lamp is equal to the erosion of rock.

in the first place, when there is a boulder at the high land, it slows down current after the river or decreasing it's volume. and so when there is another boulder at the low land, it won't be eroded as much as the high land as it already lost it's energy.

a bad example actuallly, but i couldn't find a better one.
 
If the river flows at the same rate all the way along (as current does in a circuit) the rock erosion would be identical everywhere!
 
no, i meant that it flow slower down stream as the energy had been used upstream
 

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