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Why does the light get dimmer and dimmer as more light bulbs are being added to a parallel circuit?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
A light bulb glows when a voltage is applied across the bulb. The greater the voltage, the higher the current and the brighter the bulb will glow. The brightness is related to the power dissipated by the bulb and power is calculated by multiplying the voltage by the current.
If a second bulb is added, the voltage across each bulb will be half of the voltage across a single bulb. The current through each bulb will be lower because the voltage across each bulb is also lower. Therefore, the power dissipated in each bulb will be lower and the bulbs will be dimmer.
There are two equations that are used for the calculation:
Ohms Law - Voltage = current x resistance
Power calculation - Power = current x voltage
Here is a worked example:
A bulb with a resistance of 3 Ohms has a voltage of 6V across it. Ohms Law says that it will have a current of 2Amps. The power dissipated by the lamp will be 2Amps x 6V = 12Watts.
If two bulbs are in the circuit, each will have a voltage of 3 volts across it. The current through each of them will be 3V / 3Ohms = 1A. The power dissipated in each bulb will be 1Amp x 3V = 3Watts.
So, with two bulbs in circuit, the total power dissipated will be 2 x 3Watts = 6Watts. Therefore, not only does each bulb get dimmer but the total power is also reduced.
Alternative AnswerA lamp will only operate at its rated power at its rated voltage, which is normally the supply voltage. Lamps in parallel are always subject to their rated voltage, whereas this is not the case with lamps in series. So lamps connected in parallel always operate at their rated power. Furthermore, a small decrease in supply voltage will bring about a much greater decrease in the power of a lamp (they are not proportional), so placing lamps in series produces an enormous drops in their power (higher wattage lamps will be the least bright, and lower wattage lamps will be the brighter).Unfortunately, the original answer fails to mention that there is a significant change in the resistance of an incandescent lamp between its 'cold' and 'hot' temperatures (around 15 times!), so the worked example isn't really valid for incandescent lamps.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoIf two light bulbs are connected in parallel across a source of electric power
and neither one lights, then one of the following may be the cause:
-- The connection to either terminal of the power supply is open.
-- There is a break somewhere in the wire between either terminal of the power
supply and the point where one end of each light bulb joins it.
-- The power supply is either failed, or delivering voltage/power at such a low level
that the glow of the light bulbs is un-noticeable.
-- At least one of the light bulbs or its socket is short-circuited, i.e. the resistance
of at least one branch of the parallel circuit is nearly zero.
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoWhen you do so, you are increasing the current draw but not dropping the voltage. Since voltage stays constant, then whatever added in series has to share the voltage. If it is added in parallel, it shares the current, but each gets full voltage.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agobecause you are adding more output but the input is staying the same. therefore, your electricity's velocity is decreasing as you increase output.
AnswerFor a lamp to operate at its rated power, it must be subjected to its rated voltage. When you connect lamps in series, the supply voltage is distributed as voltage drops across each lamp, where the sum of the voltage drops must (by Kirchhoff's Voltage Law) equal the supply voltage. The more lamps, the more voltage drops, so the lower the voltage drop across each lamp and, therefore, the lower the power of each lamp. So the more lamps, the dimmer they become. Interestingly, if the lamps are of different power ratings, the lamp with the lowest power rating will be the brightest!
The 'electricity's velocity', whatever that means, has nothing whatsoever to do with it!
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoThat will normally be seen in a serial circuit. This where your bulbs are following each-other in one line i.e there is no loop back from the last bulb to the power source.
In serial the power is mostly taken by the wire, and then the first bulb. What remains is used to move through the next wire and light the next bulb. As all wiring in any circuit has a resistance, the power demand there is always some of the feeding power used to move the amperage to the "user".
This can also be seen with a hose pie. What fed in from a tap (power source) hits the first sprinkler and you have quite a powerful jet of water, the second sprinkler you will see less power etc etc. until you have no water coming out at all.
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Why do lights in a parallel circuit burn brighter than in a series circuit?
In a parallel circuit, more power is provided to the lights. Power = V2/R . The resultant resistance of the circuit is lower, and the potential difference is not divided as in a circuit in series. Thus, lights in parallel burn brighter.Additional InformationA lamp's power rating only applies at its rated voltage. Because the voltage across each branch of a parallel circuit is the same, each lamp can be supplied with its rated voltage and, therefore, will operate its rated power. In a series circuit, the voltage appearing across each lamp will be considerably lower and, so, the lamps will not operate at their rated powers.
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Something that contains a voltage circuit and wires.
Why does an electric bulb not become dim when another bulb of the same power in a parallel circuit is switched on?
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How is an ammeter connected in a circuit in order to read the current flowing in the circuit?
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How do you add resistance in parallel circuit?
the formula is 1/RT = 1/R1 + 1/R2 +.... + 1/Rn RT being total R1 being resistance in first path R2 being resistance in parallel path
Can electricity flow through a parallel circuit?
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What lasts longer a series circuit or a parallel curcuit?
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How do you wire the last fixture in a parallel circuit?
The last fixture in a parallel circuit is wired the same as the first. In North America, all of the fixtures are wired black wire to black wire and white wire to white wire. The black wire being the "hot" wire and the white wire being the neutral wire.
If the resistance in the circuit is increased what will happen to the current and voltage?
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How does the location of the circuit compare to the current at other places in the circuit in a simple circuit?
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