Final answer:
When a 60 W bulb and a 100 W bulb are connected in series, the 60 W bulb may be brighter due to having a higher resistance which causes it to dissipate more power.
Step-by-step explanation:
When two household lightbulbs rated at different wattages, specifically a 60 W lightbulb and a 100 W lightbulb, are connected in series to household power, the question about which bulb will be brighter can be answered by understanding the relationship between power, voltage, and current. In a series circuit, the same current flows through both bulbs, but the power dissipated in each bulb depends on their resistance. A bulb with a higher resistance will dissipate more power as heat and light when the same current flows through it.
The power rating on a bulb relates to its brightness (and heat generation) at its design voltage. However, when connected in series, both bulbs are subjected to the same current, but not necessarily the same voltage. The bulb with the higher resistance (usually the one with the lower wattage rating for bulbs designed for the same voltage) will have a larger voltage drop across it and will therefore dissipate more power and be brighter. Hence, in this case, the 60 W bulb may be brighter because it is likely to have a higher resistance than the 100 W bulb.