Conceptual Physics (12th Edition)

Published by Addison-Wesley
ISBN 10: 0321909100
ISBN 13: 978-0-32190-910-7

Chapter 23 - Think and Explain - Page 449-450: 63

Answer

Of the 3 diagrams that have a battery attached, the middle configuration will light the lamp.

Work Step by Step

Of the 3, only the circuit in the center is a complete loop. The other 2 configurations have the two terminals (the positive end and the negative end) of the battery hooked up to the same end of the lightbulb filament, which does not drive current through the filament. In fact, this is known as a short circuit and will result in a large current through the wire, from one terminal to the other, that will rapidly drain the battery.
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