Does filament size or resistance affect the brightness of a lightbulb?

[southern69]

Does anyone have a clear understanding on the relationship between the filament size of a lightbulb and the wattage? I was under the impression that resistance causes the filament to heat up and glow, so the more resistance the brighter the light bulb. A filament with more resistance, then, would have to be smaller. However I have read that a larger filament causes a bulb to grow brighter. Is this true, and why?
Thanks

 

[cjl]

It is true, because the wall is in essence a constant voltage source. Given a constant voltage and a purely resistive load (a decent approximation), a filament with half the resistance will allow twice the current through. Because power is V*I, for a constant V and twice the I (current), you will have twice the power.

 

[southern69]

Thanks. But are you saying that more current causes the filament to glow brighter? If this is true could you please try and explain it to me. (sorry)

 

[Andy Resnick]

google "resistive heating".