Lighting a Banquet Table: Series vs. Parallel Circuits

[dmolson]

I know that this is going to sound like a stupid question, but I was wondering if someone could explain the reasoning behind this question.

A hanging lamp illuminates a banquet table using 6 light bulbs (120 V). How are the bulbs connected? Series or parallel?

Any help would be great.

 

[dmolson]

I think that it would be parallel so that each light shines the same brightness, or they all receive the same amount of current, but I wasn't sure.

 

[ranger]

Most domestic incandescent bulbs are hooked up in parallel. Why would you not wan to hook them up in series?

 

[denverdoc]

The same reason XMAS tree lights aren't, if one goes out, they all do when hooked in series.

 

[ranger]

The same reason XMAS tree lights aren't, if one goes out, they all do when hooked in series.

Err, the question wasn't directed to you. I want to see how much understanding the OP has on this topic.

 

[denverdoc]

Sorry, didn't mean to kill a learning process. But this has got to be one of the dumber questions I've seen--not the fault of the OP's. As stated there is no answer. The first response tendered a possible reason, as in uniform illumination, but except for common sense assumption, we don't know how the lights were strung. They might have gone back and forth, criss crossed, etc. Maybe the host wanted an occasional excuse to grope the maid. Again, sorry if i stepped on anyones toes.