[Physics] Why must identical lightbulbs in series have identical voltage drops

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When I connect two identical lightbulbs in series, how come they have equal brightness? Why can't one lightbulb have a larger voltage drop than the other? (i.e. the first lightbulb "uses up all the energy" and the second lightbulb is barely lit because "there isn't much energy left"?

Best Answer

Resistors in series

When two resistors $R_1$ and $R_2$ are in series, the total resistance is:

$$R=R_1+R_2$$

If we apply a voltage $V$ across both resistors, the current $I$ is given by:

$$I=\frac{V}{R}=\frac{V}{R_1+R_2}$$

The voltage drop $V_i$ (for $i=1$ or $i=2$) across each resistor $R_i$ is:

$$V_i=R_iI=R_i\frac{V}{R_1+R_2}$$

So the voltage drops are not the same if $R_1\neq R_2$.

What determines the brightness of a bulb $i$ is its power output, $P_i$: $$P_i=V_iI=R_i\frac{V^2}{(R_1+R_2)^2}$$

So in series, the power of each bulb is proportional to each resistor $R_i$.