Slope of the volts vs resistance characteristics for fluroscent and incandescent lamps?

the resistance of an incandescent lamp is very low until it reaches its operating temperature of 6000deg K or so

get a sixty watt bulb and measure its resistance chances are its under 5 ohms

depending on the mass of tungsten it takes a few cycles at this 60 amps to get up to temperature.

voltage is constant calling the wiring a voltage source (if the wiring didnt have resistance the bulbs of higher wattages would probably burn out when starting)

fluorescent lamps have a bit of Mercury in a near vacuum nearly infinite resistance when cold

it is heated to boiling with a combination of either filaments and/or high voltage

then the gas changes to plasma and its in essence a better conductor than solid metal at that temperature 9000K or so

an 8foot tube starts at 800v to 1000v and may run at under 100

depending on the ballast (preheat. rapid start. instant start)

and the power (normal,HO,VHO,SHO)

the ballast mostly limits the current the plasma can consume but is necessary to start the plasma conducting in longer tubes