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Edexcel IGCSE Physics Your notes
2.2 Components in Series & Parallel Circuits

Contents
2.2.1 Current in Series & Parallel
2.2.2 Voltage in Series & Parallel
2.2.3 Resistors in Series
2.2.4 IV Graphs
2.2.5 Electrical Components
Page 1 of 23
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2.2.1 Current in Series & Parallel

Your notes
Current in Series Circuits
In a circuit that is a closed-loop, such as a series circuit, the current is the same value at any point
This is because the number of electrons per second that passes through one part of the circuit is
the same number that passes through any other part
This means that all components in a closed-loop have the same current
The current is the same at each point in a closed-loop

The amount of current flowing around a series circuit depends on two things:
The voltage of the power source
The number (and type) of components in the circuit
Increasing the voltage of the power source drives more current around the circuit
So, decreasing the voltage of the power source reduces the current
Increasing the number of components in the circuit increases the total resistance
Hence less current flows through the circuit
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Your notes
Current will increase if the voltage of the power supply increases, and decreases if the number of
components increases (because there will be more resistance)
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Current in Parallel Circuits

A junction in a parallel circuit is where two or more wires meet Your notes
The current is always split at a circuit junction
The current is conserved

This means the amount of current flowing into the junction is equal to the amount of current flowing
out of it
This is because charge is conserved
Note that the current does not always split equally – often there will be more current in some branches
than in others
The current in each branch will only be identical if the resistance of the components along each
branch is identical
Current behaves in this way because it is the flow of electrons:
Electrons are physical matter – they cannot be created or destroyed
This means the total number of electrons (and hence current) going around a circuit must remain
the same
When the electrons reach a junction, however, some of them will go one way and the rest will go
the other
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Current is split at a junction into individual branches
Your notes
Worked example
In the circuit below, ammeter A0 shows a reading of 10 A, and ammeter A1 shows a reading of 6 A.
What is the reading on ammeter A2?
Step 1: Recall that at a junction, the current is conserved

This means that the total amount of current flowing into a junction is equal to the total amount
flowing out
Step 2: Consider the first junction in the circuit where current splits
The diagram below shows the first junction in the circuit
Step 3: Calculate the missing amount of current

Since 10 A flows in to the junction (the total current from the battery), 10 A must flow out of the
junction
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The question says that 6 A flows through ammeter A1 so the remaining current flowing through
ammeter A2 must be:
Your notes
10 A − 6 A = 4 A
Therefore, 4 A flows through ammeter A2
Exam Tip
The direction of current flow is super important when considering junctions in a circuit.You should
remember that current flows from the positive terminal to the negative terminal of a cell / battery. This
will help determine the direction current is flowing 'in' to a junction and which way the current then
flows 'out'.
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2.2.2 Voltage in Series & Parallel

Your notes
Voltage in Series & Parallel
In a series circuit:
The current is the same at all points ie. through each component
The total potential difference of the power supply is shared between the components
Lamps connected in a series circuit

In the above circuit:
The current from the power supply is the same as the current in both lamps I = I1 = I2
If the battery is marked 12 V, then the potential difference would be 12 ÷ 2 = 6 V across each lamp
In a parallel circuit:
The total current through the whole circuit is the sum of the currents through the separate
components
The potential difference across each component is the same
Page 7 of 23
Your notes
Lamps connected in a parallel circuit

In the above circuit:
Because the current splits up, the sum of currents in each branch will equal the current from the
power supply I = I1 + I2
If the battery is marked 12 V, then the potential difference would be 12 V across each lamp
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Advantages & Disadvantages

Series Circuits Your notes
A series circuit consists of a string of two or more components connected in a loop
The advantages of a series circuit are:
All of the components can be controlled by a single switch
Fewer wires are required
The disadvantages of a series circuit are:
The components cannot be controlled separately
If one component breaks, they will all stop working as well
In the series circuit above, only one switch is needed to control all of the lamps. This can be seen as an
advantage or as a disadvantage
Parallel Circuits
A parallel circuit consists of two or more components attached across different branches of the
circuit
The advantages of a parallel circuit are:
Page 9 of 23
The components can be individually controlled, using their own switches

If one component breaks, then the others will continue to function
The disadvantages of a parallel circuit are: Your notes
Many more wires involved so much more complicated to set up
All components have the same voltage as the supply, so harder to control if components need to
have different voltages
In the parallel circuit above, the lamps are connected in parallel and can be switched on and off by their
own switch
Exam Tip
You may have noticed that for a parallel circuit, all of the components can be controlled by a single
switch - like a series circuit. Nevertheless, the exam board still considers this an advantage of series
circuitsNote that the current does not always split equally in a parallel circuit – often there will be more
current in some branches than in others. The current in each branch will only be identical if the
resistance of the components along each branch are identical. However, the voltage across two
components connected in parallel is always the same
Page 10 of 23
2.2.3 Resistors in Series

Your notes
Resistors in Series
When two or more resistors are connected in series, the total (or combined) resistance is equal to the
sum of their individual resistances
For example, for three resistors of resistance R1, R2 and R3, the total resistance can be calculated using:
Where R is the total resistance, in Ohms (Ω)

Increasing the number of resistors increases the overall resistance, as the charge now has more
resistors to pass through
The total voltage is also the sum of the voltages across each of the individual resistors
In a series circuit, the voltage of the power supply is shared between all components
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Three resistors connected in series. The total voltage is the sum of the individual voltages, and the total
resistance is the sum of the three individual resistances
Your notes
Worked example
The combined resistance R in the following series circuit is 60 Ω.What is the resistance value of R2?
A 100 Ω B 30 Ω C 20 Ω D 40 Ω
ANSWER: C
Step 1: Write down the equation for the combined resistance in series
R = R1 + R2 + R3
Step 2: Substitute the values for total resistance R and the other resistors
60 Ω = 30 Ω + R2 + 10 Ω
Step 3: Rearrange for R2
R2 = 60 Ω – 30 Ω – 10 Ω = 20 Ω
Page 12 of 23
Worked example
Your notes
Dennis sets up a series circuit as shown below.
The cell supplies a current of 2 A to the circuit, and the fixed resistor has a resistance of 4 Ω.
(a) How much current flows through the fixed resistor?
(b) What is the reading on the voltmeter?
Part (a)
Step 1: Recall that current is conserved in a series circuit
Since current is conserved in a series circuit, it is the same size if measured anywhere in the series
loop
This means that since the cell supplies 2 A to the circuit, the current is 2 A everywhere
Therefore, 2 A flows through the fixed resistor
Part (b)
Step 1: List the known quantities
Current I = 2 A
Resistance R = 4 Ω
Step 2: State the equation linking potential difference, resistance and current
The equation linking potential difference, resistance and current is:
V = IR
Step 3: Substitute the known values into the equation and calculate the potential difference
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V=2×4=8V
Therefore, the voltmeter reads 8 V across the fixed resistor Your notes
Page 14 of 23
2.2.4 IV Graphs
Your notes
IV Graphs
As the potential difference across a component is increased, the current also increases
This is because potential difference and current are proportional
The precise relationship between voltage and current is different for different components and can be
shown on an IV graph, including in:
Fixed resistors & wires
Filament lamps
Diodes
Fixed Resistors & Wires
The current through a fixed resistor or a wire increases as the potential difference (or voltage) across
it increases
In other words, current is directly proportional to the potential difference for a fixed resistor (or a wire)
This relationship is true because the resistance of the fixed resistor (or wire) stays constant
An IV graph shows that the line is straight and goes through the origin, as shown in the image below:
Page 15 of 23
IV graph for a fixed resistor. The current is directly proportional to the potential difference (voltage) as
the graph is a straight line through the origin
Your notes
Filament Lamps
For a filament lamp, current and voltage are not directly proportional
This is because the resistance of the filament lamp increases as the temperature of the filament
increases
The IV graph for a filament lamp shows the current increasing at a proportionally slower rate than the
potential difference
IV graph for a filament lamp

This is because:
As the current increases, the temperature of the filament in the lamp increases
The higher temperature causes the atoms in the metal lattice of the filament to vibrate more
This causes an increase in resistance as it becomes more difficult for free electrons (the current) to
pass through
Resistance opposes the current, causing the current to increase at a slower rate
Where the graph is a straight line, the resistance is constant
The resistance increases as the graph curves
Reversing the potential difference reverses the current and makes no difference to the shape of the
curve
Diodes
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A diode allows current to flow in one direction only

This is called forward bias
Your notes
In the reverse direction, the diode has very high resistance, and therefore no current flows
This is called reverse bias
The IV graph for a diode is slightly different:
When the current is in the direction of the arrowhead symbol, this is forward bias
This is shown by the sharp increase in potential difference and current on the right side of the
graph
When the diode is switched around, this is reverse bias
This is shown by a zero reading of current or potential difference on the left side of the graph
IV graph for a semiconductor diode

Investigating IV Graphs Experimentally
In order to investigate the relationship between current and voltage different components, the
following equipment is required:
An ammeter - to measure the current through the component
A voltmeter - to measure the voltage across the component
A variable resistor - to vary the current through the circuit
Power source - to provide a source of potential difference (voltage)
Wires - to connect the components together in a circuit
The image below shows the circuits set up to obtain IV graphs for a filament lamp and a diode
Page 17 of 23
Your notes
These circuits enable the investigation of current and voltage for a filament lamp or diode to be
investigated
The current is the independent variable
The variable resistor is used to change the current flowing through the filament lamp / diode
The voltage is the dependent variable
The voltmeter is used to measure the voltage across the filament lamp / diode
Recording measurements of current and voltage as the current increases enables an IV graph to be
plotted for each component
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Resistance
Resistance is the opposition to the flow of current Your notes
The higher the resistance of a circuit the lower the current
Resistors come in two types:
Fixed resistors
Variable resistors
Fixed resistors have a resistance that remains constant
Variable resistors can change the resistance by changing the length of wire that makes up the circuit
A longer length of wire has more resistance than a shorter length of wire
Fixed and variable resistor circuit symbols
Page 19 of 23
2.2.5 Electrical Components

Your notes
Thermistors & LDRs
Thermistors
A thermistor is a temperature-dependent resistor
It is represented by the following circuit symbol:
Thermistor circuit symbol

The resistance of a thermistor changes depending on its temperature
As the temperature increases the resistance of a thermistor decreases and vice versa
Page 20 of 23
Your notes
The resistance through a thermistor is dependent on temperature

LDRs
A light-dependent resistor (LDR) represented by the following circuit symbol:
LDR circuit symbol

The resistance of an LDR changes depending on the light intensity on it
As the light intensity increases the resistance of an LDR decreases and vice versa
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Your notes
The resistance of an LDR is dependent on the amount of light intensity on it
Page 22 of 23
Lamps & LEDs

Lamps illuminate (light up) when a current flows in a circuit Your notes
LEDs are types of diodes
This means they only allow current to pass in one direction through them and will only light if the
current passes in that direction
LEDs also illuminate when a current flows in a circuit (provided the LED is placed in the correct
direction)
Since both electrical components have a visual response to current, they can be used to indicate the
presence of a current in a circuit
LEDs can be used to indicate the presence of a current, because they illuminate when current flows
through them. The same is true for lamps
Exam Tip
Make sure you learn the various symbols mentioned on this page. Many of them are very similar with
small differences denoting what they do:
Two arrows pointing towards a symbol mean that it is light-dependent
Two arrows pointing away mean that it is light-emitting
Symbols are sometimes drawn with circles around them (e.g. the LDR). These circles are often optional
(although not in the case of meters and bulbs).
Page 23 of 23

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Edexcel IGCSE Physics Your notes

2.2 Components in Series & Parallel Circuits

2.2.1 Current in Series & Parallel

The current is the same at each point in a closed-loop

Current in Parallel Circuits

The current is conserved

Current is split at a junction into individual branches

What is the reading on ammeter A2?

Step 1: Recall that at a junction, the current is conserved

Step 3: Calculate the missing amount of current

2.2.2 Voltage in Series & Parallel

Lamps connected in a series circuit

Lamps connected in a parallel circuit

Advantages & Disadvantages

The components can be individually controlled, using their own switches

2.2.3 Resistors in Series

Where R is the total resistance, in Ohms (Ω)

IV graph for a filament lamp

A diode allows current to flow in one direction only

IV graph for a semiconductor diode

Fixed and variable resistor circuit symbols

2.2.5 Electrical Components

Thermistor circuit symbol

The resistance through a thermistor is dependent on temperature

LDR circuit symbol

The resistance of an LDR is dependent on the amount of light intensity on it

Lamps & LEDs

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