Question

What happens to the other bulbs in a series circuit if one bulb blows off?

Answer 1

Hint: Connections can be made in two ways in an electrical circuit. One is in series and the other is in parallel. In circuits with series connections, the current is a constant and the same current flows through the whole circuit, but the voltage is different and adds up to an equivalent. In parallel circuit connections, the voltage is constant and the same voltage flows through and the current is different and it has to be calculated.

Complete answer:
When a number of bulbs are connected in series and one amongst them blows off, the rest of the bulbs blow off as well. This is because the blowing off of one of the bulbs cuts the power supply to the rest of the bulbs. When the bulb blows off it acts as a resistance against the current flow and hence the current doesn’t flow through.

Hence, when one bulb blows off, the others stop emitting light as well because of the resistance provided by the bulb that is already blown off.

Note:The fact that in a series connection, the current flowing through the circuit has the same value of current flowing through each bulb and might lead to a confusion that the current will flow but the case to be considered is this and that the blown off bulb will act as a resistor and provide resistance for the current to flow through it. In this kind of connection, the value of voltage changes from each connection or loop.