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View Full Version : Does a lightbub or lightswitch have potential energy?
pharaohmoan 01-28-08, 12:41 PM OK this might seem like a dumb question but does a lightbub or lightswitch have potential energy?
Appart from a gravitaional pull due to its mass I can't see that it does, am I wrong?
Pinocchio's Hoof 01-28-08, 01:03 PM enargy cannot be created or destroyed so when you turn the lightswitch off it cannot simply disappear,the heat and light given off becomes stored or the switch/bulbs have potential or stored up energy........
I think!!!
Read-Only 01-28-08, 01:31 PM OK this might seem like a dumb question but does a lightbub or lightswitch have potential energy?
Appart from a gravitaional pull due to its mass I can't see that it does, am I wrong?
Aside from the fact that parts of each might contain elements/compounds (like plastic in the switch) that can be oxidized, you are correct. (There's always E=mc squared but that's a completely different story.)
MikeHoncho 01-28-08, 01:42 PM everything has potential energy.
Potentially I might unscrew the lightbulb and throw it at you :)
But seriously, how hard is the light screwsed in? The tension is storing energy.
How high up is the light socket? It just might fall....
sisyphus__ 01-28-08, 01:45 PM Nah.
Energy =death.
Rather, without energy, one is dead.
Imagine for a second a state of consciousness whereby the persons only power exists soley within their death, which is a possibility.
Which would mean that they would be experimenting with other energy sockets or forms of energy.
The question is kind of remote to me.
Does the computer give off potential energy?
Can I even effect the computer, or how does it effect me, is it dead?
I think it is, but I could be mistaken?
A lightbulb though, gives off light... good question.
Read-Only 01-28-08, 02:28 PM everything has potential energy.
Potentially I might unscrew the lightbulb and throw it at you :)
But seriously, how hard is the light screwsed in? The tension is storing energy.
How high up is the light socket? It just might fall....
He already covered that (except for throwing and screwing it in which introduces energy) when he said gravitational attraction...
Pinocchio's Hoof 01-28-08, 03:34 PM What happens to the energy when the light is turned off?
Read-Only 01-28-08, 03:39 PM What happens to the energy when the light is turned off?
The energy (electricity) simply stops flowing through the bulb. Just like the water stops flowing when you turn off a faucet,
spidergoat 01-28-08, 03:48 PM Doesn't all matter have potential energy? If you split the nucleus, wouldn't massive amounts of energy be released?
I-Am-Invisible 01-28-08, 03:51 PM don't lightbulbs have a vacuum inside them? wouldn't that fact contain some sort of energy?
sisyphus__ 01-28-08, 05:23 PM The question may be how energy is capable of being percieved.
Read-Only 01-28-08, 05:54 PM Doesn't all matter have potential energy? If you split the nucleus, wouldn't massive amounts of energy be released?
Evidently you missed the part of mt first response where I included Albert's famous equation. ;)
Read-Only 01-28-08, 05:56 PM don't lightbulbs have a vacuum inside them? wouldn't that fact contain some sort of energy?
Sure, but such small amount that it's not worth mentioning.
iceaura 01-29-08, 01:45 AM There might be some stored in the switching mechanism - the spring and catch that holds the lever in its selected position.
Pinocchio's Hoof 01-29-08, 05:30 AM The energy (electricity) simply stops flowing through the bulb. Just like the water stops flowing when you turn off a faucet,
I always thought that when its on electricity is converted to heat and light,but when off it has potential energy as when you cut off the supply the electricity energy cannot just stop flowing it must change not disappear?
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