Questions about dead light bulbs

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the safety and implications of leaving dead light bulbs in sockets versus leaving the sockets empty. Participants also explore the nature of electrical circuits in relation to ceiling fans, questioning whether they are series or parallel configurations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Some participants consider the safety aspect of leaving dead bulbs in sockets, suggesting it may prevent accidental contact with live sockets. Others question the relevance of the inquiry to a physics forum.
  • There are discussions about the nature of the circuit in ceiling fans, with some participants expressing confusion over the terminology used (e.g., "star shaped").
  • One participant raises a concern about the potential effects of leaving dead bulbs in sockets, including the deterioration of the metal base and the implications of electrical flow.

Discussion Status

The conversation is ongoing, with various interpretations and opinions being shared. Some participants express skepticism about the original question's validity, while others engage with the topic more seriously, suggesting that the inquiry may stem from genuine curiosity.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the absence of a clear homework context, indicating that the question may not fit typical academic frameworks. There is also mention of personal experiences related to the topic, which may influence the perspectives shared.

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Homework Statement


This isn't a homework problem, but I think I can elicit the best response out of these forums.

Is it safer to have dead light bulbs remaining in the socket or to leave the socket empty or is neither any more different? I'm leaning towards neither, since touching the dead light bulbs gives off no heat.. And..

This parallel/series AC/DC thing.. A ceiling fan.. Is it a series/AC "circuit" or a "star shaped" parallel/DC or AC thing? Just for my personal knowledge.:smile:


Homework Equations


:!)


The Attempt at a Solution



:biggrin:
 
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It is safer in the sense the dead light bulb keeps you from poking your finger in the socket. A fan is 'star shaped' I don't know why the circuit would be. Is this really a question for a physics forum?
 
Are you pushing a REALLY SUBTLE VIRUS? Is this a sociological experiment?
 
If you are wondering why people here bother to respond at length to questions that seem bleedingly obvious, it's because there are "Physics for the Truly Clueless" courses and the questioners are generally sincerely baffled. These are actually more rewarding threads to follow than the truly clueless ones who are taking "Quantum Mechanics". The former often finally understand.
 
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What subtle virus are you talking about? Have my posts been linking to viruses or something?

"Is this really a question for a physics forum?"
It's not a HW question... but I don't see where else it would fit.

"It is safer in the sense the dead light bulb keeps you from poking your finger in the socket."
PS, is the bulb doing any "grounding"? Example, electricity ?passes through the circuit, and the metal base ?absorbs some of that so that the socket doesn't explode?

"A fan is 'star shaped' I don't know why the circuit would be."
I'm thinking that the thing above the light bulbs would be the "battery". How does electricity pass through the light bulbs? Radially? Serially?
 
I don't have time for this.
 
what kind of question is that ? :confused: :smile:
LOL sorry, but I don't see a point how a dead light makes a difference ?
 
Judging by all the smileys, I think he's trying to be funny.
 
Or maybe, I like smileys :-) Thanks for the bumps, hope anyone that knows will come here:D
 
  • #10
pugfug90 said:
...is it safer to have dead light bulbs remaining in the socket or to leave the socket empty or is neither any more different? I'm leaning towards neither, since touching the dead light bulbs gives off no heat...

Since you have to show your work before we help you..
try to break a light bulb and leave it for few days in the socket, and see what comes up..
 
  • #11
??
I've had situations where I've left it empty (the socket) and situations where I've left the dead ones there forever. Now I don't notice any difference, but I also don't notice myself getting cancer while talking on a cell phone or standing next to a microwave, and of course, too much of either could be a bad thing, so wondering if leaving the ceiling fan on too much with an empty socket or a dead bulb could be bad.

And this one time.. I had this dead bulb in there, I pulled it out.. Kind of got all of the glass part but remnants of the metal base was still the socket.. So I had to rescrew it in and out.. Good thing it pulled out or else I would've had to bring the whole fan down. I wonder if all the electricity passing through the dead bulb deteriorated the metal base..
 
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  • #12
pugfug90 said:
??
I've had situations where I've left it empty (the socket) and situations where I've left the dead ones there forever. Now I don't notice any difference, but I also don't notice myself getting cancer while talking on a cell phone or standing next to a microwave, and of course, too much of either could be a bad thing.

I'm not convinced, you have to draw a graph of the voltage and current of the house, and magnetic field changes in the surrounding of the broken bulb, and empty socket for few days and first you have to show us what you conclude before help..
It's suggested that it should be a continuous measurements, not discreet(every few hours) we need to know the real time changes of these 3 variables stated above..
Edit:I hope you are not taking me serious, just trying to show how absurd your question is..
 
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