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An incandescent bulb has a thin tungsten filament heated to high temperature by an electric current; the hot filament emits black-body radiation. Over a long time the filament breaks at random spots because tungsten evaporates non-uniformly. The bulb is run at constant voltage. Which statement(s) is/are correct?
- The temperature is the same everywhere along the filament.
- The resistance of small thinned sections of the filament decreases with time.
- Just before breaking, the filament emits relatively more light at higher frequencies.
- Near the end of the bulb's life the filament draws less electrical power.
Correct answer: Just before breaking, the filament emits relatively more light at higher frequencies.
Solution
Non-uniform evaporation makes some sections thinner with higher resistance, so temperature is non-uniform; the hotter thinned regions shift their emission peak to higher frequencies. (Options about decreasing section resistance and uniform temperature are false; whether total power drops depends on the model, but the higher-frequency emission statement is clearly true.)
Related JEE Advanced Physics questions
- Match the temperature of a blackbody listed in Group-I to the corresponding statement in Group-II, and select the correct answer.
[Given: Wien’s constant = 2.9 × 10⁻³ m-K and hc/e = 1.24 × 10⁻⁶ V-m]
Group-I:
(P) 2000 K
(Q) 3000 K
(R) 5000 K
(S) 10000 K
Group-II:
(1) The peak wavelength of emitted radiation can cause photoelectron ejection from a metal with a work function of 4 eV.
(2) The peak wavelength of emitted radiation falls within the visible spectrum.
(3) The peak wavelength of emitted radiation produces the broadest central diffraction maximum in a single-slit setup.
(4) The energy radiated per unit area is one-sixteenth of that emitted by a blackbody at 6000 K.
(5) The peak wavelength of emitted radiation is suitable for imaging human bones.
- A composite wall is built from two layers A and B of equal thickness but made of different materials. The thermal conductivity of layer A is three times that of layer B. In steady-state conditions, the total temperature difference across the entire wall is 36 deg C. What is the temperature difference across layer A alone?
- A steel rail track of length 1 km was laid at an ambient temperature of 20 deg C with no gaps for thermal expansion. When the temperature rose to 25 deg C, the track buckled and formed an isosceles triangle shape. Given the coefficient of linear expansion of steel is 14 * 10⁻⁶ per K, find the height of the buckle in metres (to the nearest integer).
- Two rods are connected end to end. Rod 1 has length l and thermal conductivity 2K. Rod 2 has length 2l and thermal conductivity K. Both rods have the same cross-sectional area. What is the effective thermal conductivity of the combination?
- A steel container of water equivalent 10 g holds 20 g of ice at -30 deg C. Then 30 g of water at 80 deg C is poured into the container. Find the final equilibrium temperature. (Given: S_ice = 0.5 cal/(g*deg C), S_water = 1 cal/(g*deg C), L_ice = 80 cal/g)
- A continuous-flow calorimeter is used in two separate experiments to find the specific heat of a liquid. In the first trial, supplying 60 W raises the liquid temperature by 10 K. In the second trial, the power is doubled to 120 W, but the same 10 K rise is maintained by tripling the flow rate. Assuming heat loss to surroundings is the same in both trials, what is the power lost to the surroundings?
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