Two students are having a discussion about the circuit shown below. A. Student 1

Question

Two students are having a discussion about the circuit shown below.

A. Student 1: The current from the battery is equally shared by the two bulbs, with half of the current used by the first bulb and the other half used by the second bulb. Student 2: The current from the battery all passes through the first bulb and all passes through the second bulb and then back to the battery.

Discuss which student you agree with and why.

B. The same students are now discussing the current supplied by the battery in the above circuit compared to the current supplied by the battery when just one light bulb is connected in a complete circuit.

Student 1: The battery puts out the same current, but it is divided between the two light bulbs. That s why the light bulbs are dimmer than the single bulb circuit. Student 2: The battery puts out half the current as the single bulb circuit. Each bulb gets this smaller current, and that s why the bulbs are dimmer than the single bulb circuit.

Discuss which student is correct and explain your reasoning.

Explanation / Answer

In both cases student 2 is correct. The current from the battery all passes through the first bulb and all passes through the second bulb and then back to the battery. it is correct because two bulbs are connected in series. current must be same in two bulbs.

The battery puts out half the current as the single bulb circuit. Each bulb gets this smaller current, and that s why the bulbs are dimmer than the single bulb circuit. it is correct because resistance of double bulb circuit is double of that of single bulb circuit. current of double bulb circuit must be half of that of single bulb circuit.

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