Which Light Bulb is Brighter?

Comparison of Light Bulbs A and B

Light bulbs A and B both consume the same amount of power. However, the resistance of A is 4 × that of B.

Final answer:

Based on the relationship between voltage, current, resistance, and power, it is insufficient to determine which bulb is brighter without considering the efficiency of converting electrical energy to visible light.

Explanation:

The question deals with how the brightness of two light bulbs, A and B, with the same power consumption but different resistances, is affected. The power (P) consumed by an electric device is related to the voltage (V) across it and the current (I) flowing through it by the relationship P = VI. According to Ohm's law, V = IR, where R is the resistance. If light bulbs A and B consume the same amount of power and are connected to the same voltage, bulb B, with less resistance, must have more current flowing through it according to Ohm's law than bulb A, which has four times the resistance. Since power also equals I2R, and we know the power is the same, the brightness of the light bulbs mostly depends on how that power is turned into visible light. As both bulbs have the same power, other factors such as the efficiency of converting electrical energy to visible light would play a role in determining brightness. Therefore, from the given information, it is insufficient to determine which bulb is brighter based purely on resistance.