Do you think any light bulb can be connected to an electrical circuit?
Yes
No
Not quite right! Not every light bulb is suitable for every circuit. If it is not compatible with the circuit’s power, it may shine too dimly, overheat, or even burn out.
Absolutely right! Not every light bulb is suitable for every circuit. If it is not compatible with the circuit’s power, it may shine too dimly, overheat, or even burn out.
A light bulb must “agree” with electricity – like two friends working together. To understand this, you need to understand three important things: volts, amps, and watts.
Volts (V) indicate how strong the electricity is; this is the voltage that pushes electricity through the light bulb. If the voltage is too low, the light will be dim, and if it is too high, the light bulb may burn out.
Amperes (A) indicate how much electricity flows through the wires. If too little flows, the light bulb will not shine brightly, and if too much flows, it may overheat.
Watts (W) indicate how much power the bulb needs to shine, or, more simply, how much electricity the bulb consumes. This depends on the volts and amperes and is calculated as follows:
Watts (W) = Volts (V) × Amperes (A)