Final answer:
To rank bulbs from brightest to dimmest, compare their wattage, with higher-wattage bulbs being brighter. A 60-watt bulb is brighter than a 25-watt bulb. A CFL can match the brightness of a 60-watt bulb but with better energy efficiency.
Step-by-step explanation:
To rank the bulbs from brightest to dimmest, we look at the power rating of each bulb given in watts. Since brightness in this context directly relates to how much light a bulb emits, a higher wattage typically means a brighter light output, provided all other factors are equal.
A 60-watt bulb will emit more light and thus appear brighter than a 25-watt bulb when connected to the same voltage source, making it rank as the brighter bulb. Conversely, lower wattage bulbs will be dimmer. When considering a compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb versus a standard incandescent bulb, the CFL can emit the same light intensity as a 60-W standard bulb but with significantly less input power, making it more energy-efficient.
If we are comparing a 25-W incandescent bulb, a 60-W incandescent bulb, and a CFL that emits light equivalent to a 60-W bulb but with lower power consumption, the CFL would be the most energy-efficient, but the 60-W incandescent would be the brightest based solely on wattage comparison.
When switch S is opened in an electric circuit with multiple bulbs, the distribution of current changes, which would then affect the brightness and current flow through the remaining bulbs. Additionally, a bulb's resistance will affect its current draw and power usage, with a higher resistance bulb drawing less current.
Therefore, to rank bulbs in terms of brightness, you should consider their wattage, with the 60-W bulb being the brightest, followed by the 25-W bulb, and the CFL having the brightness equivalent to the 60-W bulb but much higher efficiency due to lower power consumption.