A circuit contains an ideal 12 V battery and two identical incandescent bulbs, each of which has a resistance of 24 Ω when operating at normal brightness. Bulb B1 is placed in its own branch, controlled by switch S1; bulb B2 is placed in a separate, parallel branch, controlled by switch S2. Both branches connect to the battery through a master switch S0 that lies in series with the battery. All connecting wires may be considered ideal conductors.
Respond to the following for three different combinations of switch positions.
(a) S0 and S1 are closed while S2 remains open. Identify which bulb(s) are lit, then calculate the current through each lit branch and the total current supplied by the battery.
(b) S0 and S2 are closed while S1 remains open. Repeat the analysis requested in part (a).
(c) All three switches are closed. Determine the current in each branch and the total battery current. Then compare the electrical power dissipated by B1 and B2 in this configuration.