a bulb that has a thicker filament or the ordinary one?
2007-05-07 20:53:07 · 5 answers · asked by dULz 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
a bulb with a thicker filament or an ordinary one? Why?
2007-05-07 20:54:19 · update #1
I'll add some constraints to allow a meaningful answer.
1. Filament thickness is the ONLY difference. Then, the bulb with the thicker filament will burn brighter for a short time. The increased current will cause the design point to be exceeded and the filament to quickly burn out.
2. Each bulb is designed to the same energy efficiency and lifetime, and the filament length is constant. Then, the thicker filament will have a lower resistance and draw a higher current and produce brighter light.
2007-05-08 10:55:00 · answer #1 · answered by Frank N 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The power consumed by the thicker wire will be more than the thinner one as its resistance is lower and hence current is higher.
When speaking about the brightness, It is not the power alone, it is the temperature. For example, a 1000 watt heater has lesser brightness than a 100 watt bulb. The thicker wire will have more surface area to radiate heat and so the temperature will not rise that much. It may not be bright enough, though it will consume more power as it will give away power in form of heat, not light.
2007-05-08 11:05:10 · answer #2 · answered by dipakrashmi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since the voltage is constant, the formula SHOULD BE
P = I^2 R
where R is directly proportional to Power.
thus, the lesser the resistance the lower the power,
and the lesser the brightness..
so, the thinner the filament, the higher the resitance, the higher the power or wattage, the brighter the light bulb.
2007-05-08 04:45:06 · answer #3 · answered by michael_scoffield 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
OK I live in Europe and neither will burn brighter it depends on the bulb wattage. That's what tells you the out-put. But then again relatively thinking the one with the thinner filament. That's why filaments had to be so small when they were invented.
2007-05-08 04:02:56 · answer #4 · answered by dawnneedstickets 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
here voltage is constant so tke the relation connecting P,Vand R
P=V^2/R
power is inversely proportional to resistance of the wire
and resistance =(Rho)L/A
R is inversely proportional to the area of cross section of the wire.so thicker filament having greater area has lesser resistance and hence greater power delivering capacity.
brightness is a measure of power.so thicker wire gives brighter light.
2007-05-08 03:59:36 · answer #5 · answered by K R 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋