A string of 18 identical Christmas tree lights are connected in series to a 130 V source. The string dissipates 61 W.

What is the equivalent resistance of the light string?

Answer in units of Ω.

What is the resistance of a single light? Answer in units of Ω.

How much power is dissipated in a single light?

Answer in units of W.

One of the bulbs quits burning. The string has a wire that shorts out the bulb filament when it quits burning, dropping the resistance of that bulb to zero. All the rest of the bulbs remain burning.

What is the resistance of the light string now?

Answer in units of Ω.

How much power is dissipated by the string now?

Answer in units of W.

(a)  277.05 Ω

(b) 15.39 Ω

(c) 3.76 W

Explanation:

(a)

Applying,

P = V²/R Equation 1

Where P = Power dissipated by the string. V = Voltage source, R = equivalent resistance of the light string

Make R the subject of the equation

R = V²/P Equation 2

Given: V = 130, P = 61  W

Substitute into equation 2

R = 130²/61

R = 277.05 Ω

(b) The resistance of a single light is given as

R' = R/18 (since the light are connected in series and the are identical)

Where R' = Resistance of the single light.

R' = 277.05/18

R' = 15.39 Ω

(c)

Heat dissipated in a single light is given as

P' = I²R' Equation 3

Where P' = heat dissipated in a single light, I = current flowing through each light.

We can calculate for I using

P = VI

make I the subject of the equation

I = P/V

I = 61/130

I = 0.469 A.

Also given: R' = 15.39 Ω

Substitute into equation 3

P' = 0.496²(15.39)

P' = 3.76 W

explanation:

the masses of the objects and the distance between them