- #1
VictorWutang
- 13
- 0
1. In the circuit shown below, describe what happens to the brightness of bulbs A and B when the switch is closed. Explain your reasoning. (no other information is given, just asking about the relative brightness of each bulb)

In the circuit, with the switch open, you have a loop with a battery and bulbs A and B in series. When the switch closes, B becomes parallel with the electrical line that holds the switch. In this case, the electrical line that B is on is inside of the larger loop of the battery, A, and the switch.
I thought at first that the bulbs would both slightly dim because the added switch and line would add a small amount of resistance to the line, but I see that A gets brighter and B goes out. Is this because the current takes the path of least resistance and skips over the B bulb?

In the circuit, with the switch open, you have a loop with a battery and bulbs A and B in series. When the switch closes, B becomes parallel with the electrical line that holds the switch. In this case, the electrical line that B is on is inside of the larger loop of the battery, A, and the switch.
Homework Equations
V = IRThe Attempt at a Solution
I thought at first that the bulbs would both slightly dim because the added switch and line would add a small amount of resistance to the line, but I see that A gets brighter and B goes out. Is this because the current takes the path of least resistance and skips over the B bulb?