Wiring and componentsQuestion 2 of 1506

Contact bounce on a switch feeding a lamp is usually harmless, but it can cause trouble for a counter circuit. Why?

  1. The lamp draws more current than the counter, so the bounce is hidden by the load
  2. The lamp warms up slowly, but a fast circuit sees each bounce as a separate operation
  3. The counter circuit has no ground connection, so it ignores slow signals and misses the bounce
  4. The bounce drops the supply voltage below the counter's limit for a few cycles
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Correct answer: The lamp warms up slowly, but a fast circuit sees each bounce as a separate operation

A lamp responds slowly and ignores the bounce. A fast circuit counts every make and break.

Source: Lessons in Electric Circuits IV: Digital (Kuphaldt), 4.4: Contact “Bounce”

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Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026