Using Ohm’s law for a filament lamp: estimate the filament resistance when the bulb operates from a 110 V source drawing approximately 0.6 A of current.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: 183 Ω

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Lamp filaments can be modeled as resistive loads for approximate calculations. Ohm’s law provides a quick way to estimate resistance given operating voltage and current. This is useful for sanity checks and rough power calculations in household or lab settings.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Supply voltage V = 110 V.
  • Operating current I ≈ 0.6 A.
  • Treat the filament as a resistor (temperature effects ignored for this estimate).


Concept / Approach:

Use the rearranged Ohm’s law: R = V / I. Keep units consistent, compute the ratio, and round sensibly to match the options. Recognize that a real tungsten filament’s resistance varies with temperature, but the question seeks a steady-state approximate value.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Apply R = V / I.Compute R = 110 / 0.6 ≈ 183.33… Ω.Round to the nearest listed value: 183 Ω.


Verification / Alternative check:

Power check: P = V * I = 110 * 0.6 = 66 W (a plausible bulb rating), consistent with a filament around a few hundred ohms at operating temperature.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

18.3 Ω or 6.6 Ω would imply extremely high current. 66 Ω would imply I ≈ 1.67 A at 110 V (far larger than stated).


Common Pitfalls:

Confusing hot and cold resistance; misplacing the decimal when dividing volts by amps.


Final Answer:

183 Ω

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