What makes the wattage rating of a light bulb? Voltage is always the same so would it be the turns and the thickness of the filament and how many amps go through the filament? Why a 20W light bulb can use the same circuitry as a 100W bulb?
No.I just realized something... I have a few work lights that I use in my garage 2 are 500W and other 2 are 1000W so basically I can always buy the 1000 watt bulbs instead of always making sure I have the right wattage for the right light?
Yes, most metal conductors have a resistance that increases with temperature.So cold copper has less resistance then hot copper?
Also what about when a lamp says 60Watt max or a lamp has a rating does it mean that if you put a 100W or higher than it's rating the light bulb it will only produce 60W of energy or the filament in the bulb will melt?
Yes that is what I mean people put a lot of authority on printed stuff automatically. It also applies in a negated sense as explained above.A show on TV said that fire departments find many homes on fire caused by an old fashioned incandescent light bulb in an over-stuffed closet. The bulb was 60W in a fixture rated for 60W but there was nothing to keep the clothes or plastic from touching the very hot bulb and there was no ventilation to cool the bulb.
Use a modern and much cooler compact fluorescent light bulb instead.
What about I put a 500W bulb in the 1000W lamp? Will the bulb light to it's max rating or it will go way over and pop the bulb?No.
If you put a 1000W bulb in a lamp rated for only 500W then the lamp might smoke then catch on fire. Or something near the lamp might smoke then catch on fire.
The same if you put a 100W bulb in a lamp rated for only 60W then the lamp might smoke then catch on fire. Or something near the lamp might smoke then catch on fire.
Yes, but incandescent lamp filaments are typically made of tungsten, which has a much higher melting temperature than copper.So cold copper has less resistance then hot copper?
No, a 500 watt bulb, connected to rated voltage, will always dissipate 500W, regardless of the socket it is plugged (or screwed) into.What about I put a 500W bulb in the 1000W lamp? Will the bulb light to it's max rating or it will go way over and pop the bulb?
IMHO, volts, amps, and watts are a mystery to at least 99% of the adult population.The knowledge of the general public about how electricity actually works is interestingly low.
I have encountered questions like that quite a few times.