UNIT 3:

SERIES CIRCUITS AND

PARALLEL CIRCUITS
 EXAM QUESTIONS
Four possible answers are given for the following
questions. Each question has only ONE correct answer.
Choose the correct answer and mark the applicable
LETTER with a cross (X).

1. The unit in which electric current in a circuit is

measured, is:
A. ohm. B. coulomb.
C. ampere. D. volt.
 EXAM QUESTIONS
2. A learner built the simple circuit. She then modifies
this circuit by decreasing the voltage of the battery by
one half. In order to keep the amount of current
flowing through the circuit the same as it was before,
which other change must she make to the circuit?
 EXAM QUESTIONS
A. She must add a switch.
B. She must increase the resistance.
C. She must decrease the resistance.
D. She must remove a section of wire.

3. An ammeter connected in series with three resistors

reads an electric current of 2 A. What is the electric
current flowing through resistor R3?
 EXAM QUESTIONS
A. 1 A B. 2 A
C. 3 A D. 4 A

4. If all the conductors are made of copper wire, which

one has the greatest resistance?
A. Long, thin and hot B. Short, thin and cool
C. Long, thick and hot D. Short, thick and cool
 EXAM QUESTIONS
5. The factors that influence the resistance of metallic
conductors are:
(i) The material of which the conductor is made.
(ii) The length of the conductor
(iii) The thickness of the conductor
(iv) The temperature of the conductor
A. i and ii B. ii and iv
C. i, ii, iii, iv D. Only i
 EXAM QUESTIONS
Give one word/term for each of the following
descriptions.

1. Instrument used to measure the potential difference

between two points.
Voltmeter
 EXAM QUESTIONS
2. Electric circuit where electrical components are
connected one after the other; provides only one
pathway for the current to flow.
Series circuit

3. Flow of electric charges through an electrical

conductor
Ammeter
 EXAM QUESTIONS
1 Three resistors (R1 = 5 Ω, R2 = 3 Ω, and R3 = 4 Ω) are
connected to each other. A voltmeter connected
to resistor R2 measures a voltage of 6 V when the
switch is closed.
 EXAM QUESTIONS
1.1 Say whether the following are connected in SERIES or
PARALLEL:
1.1.1 The resistors Series
1.1.2 The voltmeter Parallel
1.1.3 The cells Series
1.1.4 The ammeter Series
 EXAM QUESTIONS
1.2 Identify the resistor that:
1.2.1 will have the greatest potential difference;
R1

1.2.2 will have the smallest potential difference.

R2
 EXAM QUESTIONS
1.3 Determine the reading on the ammeter.
VR2
IR2 =
R2
6
=
3
=2A

Itotal = IR2 (In series the current stays the same.)

= 2A
 EXAM QUESTIONS
1.4 What is the net voltage in the circuit?
Vnet = IT⋅RT
= 2(5 + 3 + 4)
= 24 V
 EXAM QUESTIONS
2 Complete the following sentences by making use of the
partial sentences in the box below.
… higher the voltage across it.
… the resistors in the circuit.
… the number of resistors in a series circuit
increases.
… voltage over the battery.
… lower the voltage across it.
 EXAM QUESTIONS
2.1 The total voltage across all the resistors in a series
circuit is equal to the…
...voltage over the battery.

2.2 The higher the resistance of a resistor, the…

...higher the voltage across it.

2.3 The lower the resistance of a resistor, the…

...lower the voltage across it.
 EXAM QUESTIONS
2.4 The total voltage in a series circuit is the same as the
sum of the voltages across all…
...the resistors in the circuit.

2.5 The total current decreases if…

...the number of resistors in a series circuit increases.
 EXAM QUESTIONS
3. Draw a diagram of an electric circuit with the following
electric components:
• Two bulbs connected in parallel with three cells
connected in series.
• An ammeter to give the total current reading of the
circuit and a closed switch.
• Indicate the positive and negative terminals of the
battery.
• Indicate the direction of conventional current flow
with arrows on the connecting wires.
EXAM QUESTIONS
 EXAM QUESTIONS
4 Study the diagram below and answer the questions
that follow:
 EXAM QUESTIONS
4.1 Which measuring instrument is represented by M?
Ammeter

4.2 Does this instrument have a HIGH or a LOW

resistance?
Low

4.3 Give the readings on:

(i) ammeter A1; A1 = 2 + 1 = 3 A
(ii) voltmeter V1. V1 = 12 V
 EXAM QUESTIONS
4.4 Calculate the voltage of one of the cells.
12 V

4.5 Which ammeter is in the branch with the highest

resistance?
A3
 EXAM QUESTIONS
4.6 What will happen to the reading on A1 if another
resistor is connected in parallel?
Only write DECREASES, INCREASES or STAYS THE
SAME.
Increases

4.7 Give a reason for your answer in Question 4.6.

An additional branch/path for the current to flow is
created.
Therefore the total resistance decreases; then the
current will increase.
 EXAM QUESTIONS
5 State the relationship between current and resistance
in a:
5.1 series circuit;
As the resistance in the series circuit increases,
1
the current in the circuit decreases I ∝ .
R
 EXAM QUESTIONS
5.2 parallel circuit.
As the number of resistors in a parallel circuit increases,
the total resistance of the entire circuit will decrease
and thus the total current of the parallel circuit will
increase
1
I∝ .
R
 EXAM QUESTIONS
6 Name each of the instruments or components listed
below:
6.1 6.2

6.3 6.4
 EXAM QUESTIONS
6.1 Multi-meter (digital multi-meter)
6.2 Ammeter
6.3 Resistor
6.4 LED (light emitting diode)
 EXAM QUESTIONS
7 Consider the circuit diagram and answer the questions
that follow:

7.1 The ammeter reading on A1 = 0,375 A. Will the

reading on ammeter A2 be GREATER THAN, SMALLER
THAN or THE SAME as A1?
THE SAME
 EXAM QUESTIONS
A person uses a multi-meter to measure the
voltage across each resistor.
7.2 Across which resistor will the voltage be the highest?
R2/2 Ω

7.3 If all three resistors are connected in parallel, what

will happen to the total resistance of the circuit?
Decrease/becomes smaller.
 EXAM QUESTIONS
8 Study the diagram below and answer the questions
that follow:
 EXAM QUESTIONS
8.1 Calculate:
(i) VT
VT = 8 + 4 = 12 V
(ii) A2
A2 = 3 A
8.2 How does the value of resistor R1 compare with that
of resistor R2?
Choose only: R1 = R2 OR R1 > R2 OR R1 < R2.
R1 > R2
 EXAM QUESTIONS
8.3 Give a reason for your answer in Question 8.2.
The greater resistance will have a greater potential
difference across it.

8.4 Which measuring instrument in this circuit has a very

high resistance?
Voltmeter

8.5 Calculate the resistance of R2.

 EXAM QUESTIONS
VR2
R2 =
I
8
=
3
= 2,67 Ω

8.6 What will happen to the reading on A1 if another

resistor is connected in series? Write only INCREASES,
DECREASES or STAYS THE SAME.
Decreases
 EXAM QUESTIONS
9. Write down four factors that influence the
resistance of a conductor and also say how each of the
factors influences the resistance.
Type of material: Different materials offer different
amounts of resistance to the flow of electric current.
Length of the conductor: The longer the conductor the
more the resistance becomes.
Thickness of the conductor: Thicker conductors offer
less resistance.
Temperature of conductor: For most metals, the
resistance increases as temperature increases.
 EXAM QUESTIONS
10 Select the correct word in brackets to complete the
sentences.
10.1 The unit for resistance is (coulomb/ohm/joule).
10.2 Current is (directly proportional/indirectly
proportional/inversely proportional) to the potential
difference, unless the conductor becomes hot.
 EXAM QUESTIONS
10.3 Cells (supply/do not supply) constant current.
10.4 Cells produce a constant (potential
difference/current/resistance).