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34 votes
Q: Explain the shape of the I-V graph of the filament lamp?


User Lars Meijdam
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1 Answer

24 votes
24 votes

Answer:

initially- with positive potential differences - the current is directly proportional to the p.d. However, as the current through the filament increases, the heating effect caused in the lamp also increases and so the temperature of the filament rises. This increase in the filament's temperature also increases the resistance of the filament. As a result the rate of increase of the current decreases and a greater change in the potential difference is required to cause a change in the current. This can be seen on the curve as the gradient becomes more shallow (greater resistance). This same pattern is repeated when a negative potential difference is applied across the filament

User Clawesome
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