Question

Suppose a time machine has just brought you forward from $1750$(post-Newton but pre-electricity) and you've been shown the lightbulb demonstration of FIGURE Q27.1. Do observations or simple measurements you might make-measurements that must make sense to you with your $1700\text{'}s$knowledge-prove that something is flowing through the wires? Or might you advance an alternative hypothesis for why the bulb is glowing? If your answer to the first question is yes, state what observations and/or measurements are relevant and the reasoning from which you can infer that something must be flowing. If not, can you offer an alternative hypothesis about why the bulb glows that could be tested?

Short answer

The chemical energy must travel through the wires that connect the battery and bulb in order to become thermal energy. In other words, something must flow through these wires.

Step-by-step solution

Concept Introduction

An isolated system's total energy remains constant according to the law of conservation of energy. A change in form cannot create or destroy energy; only a transformation of form can do so.

Explanation

The compass needle will move when the battery is disconnected and reconnected.

The wire seems to be experiencing some problems. Then heat radiation from the light bulb has been emitted

The presence of charge at the bulb can be verified by using charged glass and plastic rods.

Final Answer

Consequently, even though the battery is idle, energy is transferred to the bulb somehow. The wire must carry some type of charge.