Inductor and bulb in an circuit

In summary, the problem statement is provided in the attached file. The Attempt at a Solution shows how changing the resistance of a variable resistor affects the brightness of three light bulbs. The blue curve is for the case where the resistor increases very quickly (similar to the switch in the problem), the orange curve is for when the resistor increases more slowly, and the green curve is for when the resistor doesn't change at all. The solution agrees with the OP and TSny's solution that the brightness of bulb C should increase and the brightness of the other two bulbs should remain the same.
  • #1
aryan pandey
9
0

Homework Statement


the problem statement is provided in the attached file

Homework Equations


logic based , basic principle of inductors.

The Attempt at a Solution


after switch is opened the more the current passes through the bulb , more will be the brightness .
earlier in the steady state , current through each bulb will be E/R ( assuming power supply of emf E and each bulb of resistance R).
after the switch is opened the inductor will oppose the change in current in its branch and hence same amount of current will flow as it was flowing the inductors earlier ,
so current in bulb B and C would remain same but in Bulb A current flow will be doubled (2E/R).
hence brightness of bulb A should increase and rest should remain same .

BUT in the answer it is given take brightness of bulb C should increase and rest should remain same.
WHAT is wrong in my approach?
 

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  • #2
For convenience, here's the rotated picture.
upload_2017-2-13_22-10-20.png
 
  • #3
oh yeah thank u
 
  • #4
I agree with your answer and reasoning. The brightness of A increases while B and C do not change.
 
  • #5
but why is the answer saying it otherway around
 
  • #6
EDIT: I agree with the OP and TSny.
(Current in A reverses & doubles.)
 
Last edited:
  • #7
I replaced the switch with a variable resistor that has zero resistance at t = 0 but increases fairly rapidly after t = 0. I then used Mathematica to solve the differential equations for the currents. It gives the following graph for the currents as a function of time:
https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/upload_2017-2-14_11-7-47-png.113214/
The blue curve is the current in bulb A, the orange curve is the current in bulb B, and the green one is bulb C. All currents are equal to 1.0 at t = 0.

The current in A rapidly reverses direction and momentarily becomes greater in magnitude than its initial value. The currents in B and C never become greater than their initial values.

When I tried to make the variable resistor increase more rapidly (to better mimic the switch), Mathematica had trouble solving the equations. But the result above does at least show the general behavior.
 
  • #8
that great thank you for the explanation .
 

1. What is an inductor?

An inductor is an electrical component that stores energy in the form of a magnetic field. It consists of a coil of wire, typically made of copper, wrapped around a core material such as iron or ferrite. When an electric current flows through the coil, a magnetic field is created, which allows the inductor to store energy.

2. How does an inductor work in a circuit?

In a circuit, an inductor works by resisting changes in the flow of electrical current. When the current increases, the magnetic field around the inductor also increases, creating an opposing voltage that limits the change in current. Similarly, when the current decreases, the magnetic field decreases, and the inductor produces a voltage that helps maintain the current flow.

3. What is the purpose of an inductor in a circuit?

The primary purpose of an inductor in a circuit is to store and release energy. It can also be used to smooth out variations in current and voltage, reduce electrical noise, and filter out unwanted frequencies.

4. How is an inductor different from a resistor?

An inductor and a resistor are both passive components that resist the flow of electrical current. However, they differ in their ability to store energy. A resistor dissipates energy in the form of heat, while an inductor stores energy in its magnetic field. Additionally, the resistance of a resistor is constant, while the inductance of an inductor can vary with the frequency of the current.

5. What is the role of a bulb in a circuit with an inductor?

A bulb, also known as a lightbulb, is typically used in a circuit with an inductor to demonstrate the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction. When the current from the inductor flows through the bulb's filament, it produces light. As the current changes, the magnetic field of the inductor also changes, causing the bulb's brightness to fluctuate. This demonstrates how an inductor can store and release energy.

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