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This is the text of the problem:

Draw a circuit with two lamps & one SPST switch.

The lamps must be in opposite states.

New parts are disallowed to add to the circuit, but there is no limit on the type of lamps. We can't replace lamps with LEDs.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Can you only use these three components, or are other components allowed, and which ones? \$\endgroup\$ Oct 8, 2015 at 19:12
  • \$\begingroup\$ New parts are disallowed to add to the circuit. but there is no limit for the type of lamps. of course it must remain lamp if you change the characteristics.I mean you should be possible to call them lamps then. \$\endgroup\$
    – AHB
    Oct 8, 2015 at 19:15
  • \$\begingroup\$ "there is no limit to the type of lamp" is probably the clue... \$\endgroup\$
    – user16324
    Oct 8, 2015 at 19:16
  • \$\begingroup\$ Can the lamps be LED's? \$\endgroup\$ Oct 8, 2015 at 19:24
  • \$\begingroup\$ Nope. as they are no longer "Lamps" then.I haven't designed this problem. I have seen it somewhere. but the text of the problem tells we can't replace lamps with LEDs.. \$\endgroup\$
    – AHB
    Oct 8, 2015 at 19:28

1 Answer 1

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Nothing was said about the lamp types, or that they need to be identical. So, assuming that L1 and L2 are both 120V incandescents, and L1 is a 1 watt bulb and L2 is a 100-watt bulb,

schematic

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab

when the switch is open, L1 will be lit, and the current through L2 will be so small as to produce insignificant heating and the bulb will be off to the naked eye. When the switch is closed, L2 will receive full voltage and be on, while L1 will be off.

EDIT: A few numbers. A 100-watt bulb at 120v has a resistance of 144 ohms. A 1-watt bulb at 120v has a resistance of 14,400 ohms. With the two lamps in series, the voltage across the 100-watt bulb will be $$V = \frac{144}{144+14400} \times 120 = 1.18 \text{volts}$$ Power dissipated in the 100-watt bulb will be $$P = \frac{V^2}{R} = \frac{1.18^2}{144} = ~.01 \text{watts}$$ In other words, the 100 watt bulb will be running at .01 watts, or 1/10,000 its normal power.

Here's a quick test. Take a 100 watt bulb and drive it with a single battery cell. If you can see the slightest trace of light I'd be very surprised.

And it's actually even more true than the analysis so far. Incandescents have resistances less than 1/10 their operating value when cold. So, since the 100-watt never gets hot using the "hot" resistance, you can expect the voltage across it to be at least 10 times less than the worked numbers, so the power dissipated will be at least 100 times less, or on the order of 100 microwatts.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Why don't both of the lamps light when the switch is open? \$\endgroup\$
    – AHB
    Oct 8, 2015 at 19:39
  • \$\begingroup\$ OK nice, If you have to use all the same lamp you could make L2 a whole bunch of lamps in parallel. \$\endgroup\$ Oct 8, 2015 at 19:42
  • \$\begingroup\$ @BlueSky - see edit. The 1-watt bulb hogs all the voltage, so the 100-watt bulb stays unlit. \$\endgroup\$ Oct 8, 2015 at 19:55
  • \$\begingroup\$ @GeorgeHerold - Thanks, but the question does say "two lamps". \$\endgroup\$ Oct 8, 2015 at 19:57

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