Final answer:
An electrical engineer should wire desk lamps in a parallel circuit to ensure they all receive an equal voltage. The potential difference across each lamp in a parallel circuit is consistent, regardless of how many lamps there are. This allows each lamp to function independently, without being affected by the status of other lamps in the circuit.
Step-by-step explanation:
To ensure that several desk lamps receive an equal amount of voltage, an electrical engineer should wire the lamps in a parallel circuit. A parallel circuit is characterized by its ladder-shaped diagram where each component, like a desk lamp, is on a different rung of the ladder. In such a circuit, each desk lamp is connected directly to the power source, meaning the potential difference (voltage) across each lamp is the same as the voltage of the power source.
In a parallel configuration, regardless of the number of lamps, each lamp will receive the same voltage as others. This is different from a series circuit, where components are connected one after another, and the voltage is distributed across all components equally, which can reduce the voltage each lamp receives if additional lamps are added.
If, for example, a string of holiday lights is wired in parallel, and one bulb burns out, the other bulbs continue functioning normally since each bulb operates independently from the rest of the circuit. Conversely, in a series circuit, if one bulb burns out, it could disrupt the entire string, causing all the lights to go off. This showcases the inherent benefit of parallel wiring for maintaining consistent operation and equal voltage across multiple devices or components.
In summary, the parallel wiring of resistors or lamps ensures that each receives the full voltage from the source and can operate independently, which is suitable for applications such as desk lamps where equal lighting conditions are critical.