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Science (086) — CBSE Class 10 board question

Q1. § 11.7.1 Practical Applications of Heating Effect of Electric Current
Answer the following: Why does an electric bulb become dim when an electric heater in parallel circuit is switched ON ?
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2026 31/5/1 Q37 (a)
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 06:42 · grounding rag
Model Answer

When an electric heater is switched ON in a parallel circuit, it draws a large current due to its low resistance. This increases the total current drawn from the source, which causes a greater voltage drop across the internal resistance of the source. As a result, the terminal voltage (potential difference available to the circuit) decreases. Since the bulb now receives a lower voltage, the current through it decreases, and it glows dimmer (as power P = V²/R decreases).

Explanation

Examiners expect two key points: (1) the heater draws large current, increasing drop across internal resistance, and (2) this reduces the voltage across the bulb, reducing its power/brightness. Mention of internal resistance is important — without it, voltage across parallel branches should stay constant, so the drop across internal resistance is the crux of the answer.

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Previous-year CBSE Grade 10 board exam questions, organised by subject and chapter, each with a model answer — free to read and print.