What happens when you unscrew a bulb in a mixed circuit, according to the source?

What happens when you unscrew a bulb in a mixed circuit, according to the source?

• A. Both bulbs go out
• B. One bulb dims while the other brightens, depending on arrangement
• C. Both bulbs brighten equally
• D. Both bulbs stay the same brightness

Answer: (B)

In a mixed circuit, removing a bulb changes the overall resistance and how current is distributed through the network. Because the bulbs don’t sit in a single simple arrangement, the leftover current and voltage for the other bulb depend on the exact wiring. If the other bulb ends up with more current or voltage after the first is removed, it can brighten; if it loses current, it dims. That arrangement-dependent behavior is why the correct description is that one bulb dims while the other brightens, depending on how they’re connected. For contrast, in a purely series setup removing one bulb would turn everything off, while in a purely parallel setup the other bulb’s brightness would stay the same (for an ideal source).

In a mixed circuit, removing a bulb changes the overall resistance and how current is distributed through the network. Because the bulbs don’t sit in a single simple arrangement, the leftover current and voltage for the other bulb depend on the exact wiring. If the other bulb ends up with more current or voltage after the first is removed, it can brighten; if it loses current, it dims. That arrangement-dependent behavior is why the correct description is that one bulb dims while the other brightens, depending on how they’re connected. For contrast, in a purely series setup removing one bulb would turn everything off, while in a purely parallel setup the other bulb’s brightness would stay the same (for an ideal source).