In: Physics
You buy a 75-W lightbulb in Europe, where electricity is delivered to home at 240 V. If you use the lightbulb in the United States at120 V (assume its resistance does not change). how bright will it be relative to 75-W 120-V Bulbs? [ Hint: assume roughly that brightness is proportional to power consumed]
resistance of bulb is found by:
\(\mathrm{P}=\mathrm{V}^{2} / \mathrm{R} \quad 75=240^{2} / \mathrm{R} \quad \mathrm{R}=768 \mathrm{ohms}\)
Now find the power it uses when plugged into \(120 \mathrm{~V}\) :
\(\mathrm{P}=\mathrm{V}^{2} / \mathrm{R}=120^{2} / 768=18.75 \mathrm{Watts}\)
So compared to a 75 watt bulb is it is only: