# Question on bulb and brightness

1. Jun 16, 2010

### seto6

EDIT: NOT A HOMEWORK PROBLEM

in a bulb increase in resistance means that there is a increase in brightness.

if there is a decrease in resistance means that decrease in brightness.

is the statement correct ?

one more question does the brightness depend on current
say we have same R , if i increase the current does the brightness change?

say you have the same resistance if you increase the current does the brightness change?

Last edited: Jun 16, 2010
2. Jun 16, 2010

### Staff: Mentor

Not sure if this is homework so a small hint:

Voltage is constant, right? Keep that in mind and examine the two equations that relate voltage, amperage, wattage and resistance.

3. Jun 16, 2010

### seto6

that helps but this is not a home work question this is something that bothered me as i was reading the text book

4. Jun 16, 2010

### seto6

so i think since resistance increases the thermal energy as the resistance increase the thermal energy increases so as thermal energy increases the brightness increase.

but not sure if the current affects it..?

5. Jun 16, 2010

### K^2

The power output of a resistive element is V²/R. If you keep applied voltage constant, increasing resistance would reduce power output.

This is even more critical to light bulbs, because reducing power output reduces temperature, and that reduces amount of visible light generated as a fraction of total output.

In other words, given a fixed voltage supply, you want as low a resistance as possible to maximize brightness.