LESSON 7.

3- Analysing
series and parallel
circuits

Resistors in series Resistors in parallel

Resistors connected in series:

The same current flows through each resistors.
The potential difference across each resistor is
different.

Resistors connected in parallel:

The same potential difference across each resistor.
The current flow through each resistor is different.

Conclusion

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 CURRENT POTENTIAL RESISTANCE
DIFFERENCE

SERIES

PARALLEL

Hints of a circuit

Hint 1
Hint 4

Hint 2

Hint 3

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Work example for series and parallel circuits Solution

Example 1

Determine the effective resistance for the following

circuits:-

Example 3

What is the reading of the voltmeter for the

following circuits:-

Solution

Solution

Example 2

What is the reading of the ammeter for the following TUTORIAL 7.3
circuits:-
1 The figure shows ammeter reading in a circuit.
Which ammeter is showing a faulty reading?

2 A battery lights all four lamps as shown in the

following figure.
Which lamp, if removed, would cause all the
lamps to go out?

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 C 8 D 16
E 20 

7 The figure shows the resistor combinations P,

Q and R.

3 Which of the bulbs in the following figure is the

brightest?
Given that all the bulbs are identical.

4 Which of the following combination of switches Which resistor combination has the lowest
should be closed to make only bulb Q, R, and and the highest resistance?
S light?
Lowest Highest
resistance resistance
A Q P
B R P
C R Q
D P R

A 1 2 3
B 1 2 4
C 1 3 5
D 1 4 5

8 Which resistor combination gives the effective

resistance 8 Ω?
5 When four identical resistors are connected in
series, the effective resistance is 20.
What is the effective resistance if the four
resistors are connected in parallel?

A 0.8 B 1.25 
C 5.0 D 20.0
E 80.0

6 When two identical resistors are connected in

parallel, the effective resistance is 4.
What is the effective resistance if the two
resistors are connected in series?

A 2 B 4

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 ammeter V1 and V2 are the readings on the
voltmeters.

Which of the following is correct?

Ammeter reading Voltmeter reading

A A1 < A2 V1 > V2
9 The figure shows a circuit consisting of 3 B A1 < A2 V1 < V2
resistors 10 Ω and a resistor 5 Ω. C A1 = A2 V1 < V2
D A1 > A2 V1 = V2
E A1 < A2 V1 = V2

What is the effective resistance of resistors

combination?

A 2.5 B 5
C 10 D 12.5  12 What is the reading of the ammeter in the
E 25  circuit above when the switch is closed?
A 0.3 A B 3A
10 A current flows in two resistors connected in C 4A D A
series as shown in the following figure. A1 and E 36 A
A2 are the readings on ammeter V1 and V2 are
the readings on the voltmeters.

Which of the following is correct?

Ammeter reading Voltmeter reading

13 What is the reading of the ammeter in the
circuit above when the switch is closed?
A A1 < A2 V1 < V2
A 0.4 A B 0.5 A
B A1 < A2 V1 > V2
C 1.0 A D 2.0 A
C A1 = A2 V1 < V2
E 2.5 A
D A1 = A2 V1 = V2
11 A current flows towards the junction of two
14 The diagram shows a circuit.
resistors connected in parallel as shown in the
following figure. A1 and A2 are the readings on

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 What is the ratio of I1 : 12 ?
What is the reading of the ammeter when the
switch, S is opened and closed? A 1: 1 B 1:2
C 1: 3 D 2:1
Switch S Switch S is E 3:1
is opened closed
A 4.0 A 6.0 A
B 2.0 A 6.0 A
C 2.0 A 3.0 A
D 2.0 A 1.2 A

15 Two4Ω resistors are connected in parallel as

shown in Figure (a) and the current I1 flows.
Later, the 4Ω resistors are connected in
series as shown in Figure (b) and the current
I2 flows.
17 What is the reading of the ammeter in the
circuit above when the switch is closed?

A 2A B 4A
3
C 3 A D 1A
2
E 1 A
2

18 In the following circuit the reading of the

ammeter A1 is 12 A.

What is the ratio of I1 : I2?

What is the reading of the ammeter A2?
A 1:2 B 1: 4
C 2:1 D 4:1 A 9A B 8A
E 2:3 C 6A D 3A
16 The figure shows a circuit. When the switch, S E 1A
is opened and closed the reading of the
ammeter is I1 and I2 respectively.

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