Identical bulbs, rank by brightness

[kamhogo]

Homework Statement

Which bulb(s) will have the higher light intensity?

Homework Equations

Resistors:
Connection in series: same current
Connection in parallel: same delta V

The Attempt at a Solution

A and C are in series. They'll be equally bright. B is not connected to the negative terminal of the battery. no current will pass through it. Hence A=B>C

 

[kamhogo]

Homework Statement

Which bulb(s) will have the higher light intensity?

Homework Equations

Resistors:
Connection in series: same current
Connection in parallel: same delta V

The Attempt at a Solution

A and C are in series. They'll be equally bright. B is not connected to the negative terminal of the battery. no current will pass through it. Hence A=B>C

 

[billy_joule]

I agree with your answer and reasoning.

 

[phinds]

Hence A=B>C

huh ?

 

[kamhogo]

huh ?

Incorrect??

 

[phinds]

Incorrect??

well, what do you mean by it? What it says to me is very literal, A equals B and either both are greater than C or at least B is greater than C. I don't see how you get that from what's going on. Do you mean something else?

 

[kamhogo]

well, what do you mean by it? What it says to me is very literal, A equals B and either both are greater than C or at least B is greater than C. I don't see how you get that from what's going on. Do you mean something else?

I mean that A and B are equally bright and that both are brighter than C

 

[phinds]

I mean that A and B are equally bright and that both are brighter than C

Yes, that's what I thought. Is that really what's happening?

 

[kamhogo]

Yes, that's what I thought. Is that really what's happening?

Sorry, I was confused. I meant A=C>B. Also, is there any current passing through B at all?

 

[phinds]

Sorry, I was confused. I meant A=C>B.

Yes, that makes sense.

Also, is there any current passing through B at all?

what do you think?

 

[kamhogo]

Yes, that makes sense.

what do you think?

I think there's no current passing through B at all. My reasoning: why would the electrons go through path with a resistor that does not lead to the negative terminal of the battery when they have the choice to take a resistless (ideally) path that leads to the negative terminal of the battery.

 

[NascentOxygen]

I think there's no current passing through B at all. ✓[/color]

My reasoning: why would the electrons go through path with a resistor that does not lead to the negative terminal of the battery when they have the choice to take a resistless (ideally) path that leads to the negative terminal of the battery.

I don't understand this. Can you explain?

 

[cnh1995]

I think there's no current passing through B at all. My reasoning: why would the electrons go through path with a resistor that does not lead to the negative terminal of the battery when they have the choice to take a resistless (ideally) path that leads to the negative terminal of the battery.

Your answer is correct. Have you studied what an "open circuit" is?

 

[kamhogo]

Your answer is correct. Have you studied what an "open circuit" is?

Not yet, but I am curious. I'll look it up. Is it when there is a gap somewhere on the circuit so the current pass? What is it useful for?

 

[cnh1995]

Not yet, but I am curious. I'll look it up. Is it when there is a gap somewhere on the circuit so the current pass? What is it useful for?

It is the technical term for a "gap" in the circuit, so current can't flow through it.
A circuit needs to be closed for the flow of current. Here, no current flows through bulb B since there's no closed path.