Verified Solution Science Electricity: Magnetic and Heating Effects

Why does the filament of an electric bulb glow brightly and heat up, while the copper connecting wires supplying current to it remain relatively cool?

2 views 0 helpful Updated Jun 30, 2026
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Answer

The filament of an electric bulb (usually tungsten) has a very high electrical resistance. When current flows, this high resistance causes a significant amount of heat to be generated due to the heating effect of current, making it glow. In contrast, the copper connecting wires have a very low resistance, so they produce minimal heat and remain cool.

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