Question

The reason that a 15-watt compact fluorescent light bulb can give off about the same amount of light as a 60 watt incandescent light bulb is because? Choose one

A. The 15 Watt fluorescent bulb is more powerful than the 60 watt incandescent bulb

B. The 60 Watt incandescent bulb is more efficient in light production than 15 watt fluorescent bulb

C. The 15 watt fluorescent bulb is more efficient in heat production than the 60 watt incandescent bulb

D. In addition to light the 60 watt incandescent bulb produces much more heat than the 15 watt fluorescent bulb E. The fluorescent bulb is larger than the incandescent bulb.

Please be clear in your answer selection.  

Answer 1

Power of a bulb is given by its watt rating. This gives the amount of energy (light and heat) it produces per second or the amount of electric energy required per second.

As the watt rating of the incandescent light (60 watt) is much higher than that of the fluorescent light (15 watt), the incandescent bulb is more powerful. So option A in not correct.

The efficiency of producing light is given by = (light energy produced / (total electric energy required)).

As, the fluorescent light produces same amount of light (i.e. light energy), the fluorescent light is more efficient in light production. Also, it is less efficient in heat production than the incandescent light.

So, option B and C are also wrong.

As the total electrical energy required = light energy + heat energy. And both of the bulbs produces same amount of light energy, then we can say that, the encandescent bulb produces more heat energy.

So, option D is the correct one.