Verified Solution Science Electricity: Magnetic and Heating Effects

An electric bulb lights up when current passes through its filament, but the wires connecting the bulb to the power source do not glow significantly. Explain why.

5 views 1 helpful Updated Jun 30, 2026
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Answer

The filament of an electric bulb is made of a material (like tungsten) that has a very high electrical resistance, causing it to heat up intensely and glow brightly when current flows through it (heating effect). In contrast, the connecting wires are made of good conductors like copper, which have a very low electrical resistance. Therefore, for the same current, they produce very little heat and do not glow.

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