Is Bulb A Brighter in a Parallel Circuit Due to Potential Difference?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the brightness of bulbs A and B in a parallel circuit with identical ideal batteries. It is established that bulb A will be less bright than bulb B due to the potential difference created by the circuit configuration. The absence of resistors in bulb A leads to a misunderstanding of current flow, as the identical nature of the batteries and bulbs means that the brightness is determined solely by the potential difference across each bulb. Kirchhoff's Voltage Law is crucial in analyzing the circuit's behavior.

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  • Familiarity with Ohm's Law and its application
  • Knowledge of Kirchhoff's Voltage Law
  • Basic principles of electrical potential difference
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Homework Statement
When the switch is closed, is the brightness of bulb A greater than, less than, or equal to the brightness of bulb B? Why?

When the switch is closed, is the current through battery X greater than, less than, or equal to the current through battery Y? Why?
Relevant Equations
I do not know the equations.
As demonstrated by the figure, bulb A and bulb are in a parallel circuit whose batteries are ideal and identical. I am asking for assistance to see where I am going wrong in my approach and how to better understand and figure out the question!

1. If the switch was closed, the brightness of bulb A would be less than the brightness of bulb B due to the potential difference as a result of the pathway. However, I do not know if this is correct or if there was another reason. I was thinking that because A does not have a resistor that it would have potential flowing more freely.

2. I am not sure about this question, but I am assuming that it bulb A is less bright than bulb b, that would mean that battery X is generating a greater than battery Y. THIS IS THE FIGURE FOR THE PROBLEM. (The lightbulbs are identical, and the batteries are ideal and identical.)

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The bulb with the highest potential difference will be the brightest. Can you identify the potential differences between each component?

Once you found the potential differences, what does Ohm's law say about the current going through the resistances?
 
Resistances ? Don't see no resistances ... :smile:
 
Not needed. Identical batteries, identical bulbs. Throw switch.
 
Have you been taught Kirchhoff's Voltage Law? If so what does it say?
 

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