18/01/23

Series and Parallel Circuits

Lesson objectives: By the end of the lesson I will be able to,…
1. State the equation which links potential difference, current
and resistance.
2. Draw a series circuit that contains a filament lamp, a cell and a
fixed resistor.
3. How would the current through the filament lamp change if
we increased the potential difference?
4. How is this different to how the current through the fixed
resistor would change if we increased the potential difference?
 Starter Answers
1. State the equation which links potential difference, current and resistance.
Potential difference = Current x Resistance (V = I x R)
2. Draw a series circuit that contains a filament lamp, a cell and a fixed resistor.

3. How would the current through the filament lamp change if we increased the
potential difference?
• As the potential difference increases, the temperature of the wire increases.
• Increased temperature increases the resistance which decreases the current.
• Therefore current is not directly proportional to potential difference.
4. How is this different to how the current through the fixed resistor would change
if we increased the potential difference?
• As potential difference increases so does current.
• Because resistance stays the same, as long as temperature does not change.
Series and Parallel Circuits+
+
- -
- -
- Parallel Circuit
-
- Series Circuit -
-
- -
-
There are two ways of joining electrical components in a circuit:
in series, and in parallel.
We briefly learned about series and parallel circuits in the first
lesson – we will find out a lot more about them in this lesson.
 Series and Parallel Together
+

2 3

It is possible for a circuit to contain components in both series

and parallel, as in this circuit above.
Lamps 2 and 3 are connected in parallel to lamp 1.
Lamps 2 and 3 are connected in series with each other.
 Series Circuits

Think, Pair, Share.

Do you have a favourite TV series?
Do the episodes follow on one after the other?
Could this help you remember which type of circuit
is a series circuit?
 Current in Series Circuits
+
- -
- -
- -
In a series circuit the electrons flow through all the components.
This means that in a series circuit the current will be the same
everywhere.
Current in Series Circuits
+

Circuit
Status
ON

OFF

In a series circuit the current flows through all the components.

This also means that if there is a break in the circuit anywhere
(for example if a lamp broke) then current will stop flowing
through all the other components.
 Current in Series Circuits
+

5A 5A

A A

Think, Pair, Share.

If the current through the first ammeter is 5 A, what will
the current the second ammeter be?
Potential Difference in Series
Circuits V 4V
+

Note: the p.d.

does not have
to be shared
equally!

2V V V 2V

In a series circuit the total potential difference of the power

supply (e.g. cell) is shared between the components.
 Potential Difference of Cells in Series
+
This is a cell with a p.d. of 1.5V:

Think, Pair, Share.

If we put two cells together (to make a “battery”)
what will the total potential difference be?
+

The total potential difference of the battery will be 3V.

If we join cells in series then the total p.d. is the sum of the p.d. of all the
individual cells, because each cell gives a “push” to the current.
Resistance in Series Circuits
 Resistance in Series
In a series circuit, the total resistance of all the components
is equal to the sum of the resistance of each component.

You can think of this as “in a series circuit, the resistance adds
up”

RTOTAL = R1 + R2

Think, Pair, Share.

Think,
In Pair,
a series Share:
circuit we have a component with a resistance of 2Ω and
2 Ω + 3with
another Ω = a5resistance
Ω of 3 Ω.
What is the total resistance in the circuit?
Recap

Equation
Potential Difference, Current, Resistance
Potential Difference = Current x Resistance
V = I x R
(V) (A) (Ω)
V=IxR
• Potential difference (V) is measured in volts (V)
• Current (I) is measured in amps* (A)
• Resistance (R) is measured in ohms (Ω)

You need to memorise this equation!

* Current is measured in
amperes but calling them
amps is fine.
Recap

Re-Arranging the Equation

It is useful to rearrange the equation:
Potential difference = current x resistance
V=IxR

to:
 Explaining Why
This means that if we add more resistors to a series circuit, the total resistance
increases. Why?

Remember that

If we add more resistors the current is reduced, but the potential difference stays
the same. This means the resistance must be higher.

Worked example:
In a circuit where potential difference is 3V, and current is 1.5A.
• therefore R = 2Ω
• We add another resistor. Potential difference stays the same (3V), but current
now reduces to 1A.
• therefore R = 3Ω
• Total resistance increased as we added another resistor to the circuit.
Equivalent Resistance
+

100 Ω 250 Ω 150 Ω

This series circuit contains a 100 Ω resistor and a 150 Ω resistor.

Because RTOTAL = R1 + R2 we could replace the two resistors with
one 250 Ω resistor. This is called equivalent resistance.
 Series Circuits for Measurement and Testing
• We can use a series circuits to test what we have learned about potential
difference, current and resistance in series circuits.
• We use different components depending on what we want to test.
• We could use a circuit like the one on the left to test the current rule.
• The circuit on the right shows how we could test the potential difference rule.
• We could also add a variable resistor - by changing the resistance of the
variable resistor we can change the current through all the other components
in the series circuit.

A A
 1 minute to discuss with the person next to you, before I choose people at random.

Learning Check: Quick Questions

A circuit where components are on
A circuit where all the components
… a series circuit. different…a
“loops”
parallelorcircuit.
“branches” is
follow each other is called…
called…

Potential difference in a series circuit

Current in a series
…the same circuit is…
everywhere. …shared between the components.
is…

How many 1.5V cells would you need

In…the
a series
sumcircuit,
of the the
resistance
total resistance
of each 4 cells.
to supply 6V of potential difference to
of all the components
component.is equal to… (4 x 1.5 V = 6 V)
a circuit?
Learning Check: In-Depth Questions

Series Circuits
Tasks:
1. Describe how current and potential difference act in a series circuit [2
marks]
2. Draw a series circuit with 2 cells and 3 lamps. The p.d. at the battery is
6V and the current 10A. What would the current and p.d. be at the
lamps? [2 marks]
3. What is the rule regarding the p.d. of cells in series?
4. Describe how resistance behaves in series circuits.
5. A student builds a circuit with 3 resistors in series (100 Ω, 150 Ω and 50
Ω). Use the concept of equivalent resistance to explain how he could
make his circuit simpler. [2 marks]
6. The total resistance of a series circuit with three resistors is 12Ω. The
resistance of R1 is 6Ω and of R2 is 4Ω. What is the resistance of R3?
7. Explain why adding more resistors to a series circuit increases the total
resistance. [4 marks]
Challenge: Design a circuit to test that RTOTAL = R1 + R2
 Answers
1. Describe how current and potential difference act in a series circuit [2
marks]
• Current is the same everywhere.
• Total potential difference of the power supply is shared between the
components.
2. Draw a series circuit with 2 cells and 3 lamps. The p.d. at the battery is 6V
and the current 10A. What would the current and p.d. be at the lamps?
• Current 10 A
• Potential difference (6V ÷ 2 =) 2 V
3. What is the rule regarding the p.d. of cells in series? If we join cells in
series then the total p.d. is the sum of the p.d. of all the individual cells.
4. Describe how resistance behaves in series circuits. The total resistance of
all the components is equal to the sum of the resistance of each
component OR RTOTAL = R1 + R2
 Answers
5. A student builds a circuit with 3 resistors in series (100 Ω, 150 Ω and 50 Ω). Use
the concept of equivalent resistance to explain how he could make his circuit
simpler.
• The total resistance is (100 + 150 + 50 =) 300 Ω
• He could replace the three resistors with one 300 Ω resistor.
6. The total resistance of a series circuit with three resistors is 12Ω. The resistance
of R1 is 6Ω and of R2 is 4Ω. What is the resistance of R3?
• 12 Ω = 6 Ω + 4 Ω + R3 therefore R3 = 2 Ω
7. Explain why adding more resistors to a series circuit increases the total
resistance.

• If we add more resistors the current is reduced

• But the potential difference stays the same.
• This means the resistance must be higher.

Challenge: Series circuit with ammeter, and voltmeter around the resistor(s). This
will allow us to measure current and potential difference and therefore calculate
resistance of a single resistor and of multiple resistors.
Parallel Circuits
Series and Parallel Circuits+
+
- -
- -
- Parallel Circuit
-
- Series Circuit -
-
- -
-
Now we’ve learned about series circuits in detail, let’s look at
parallel circuits in more depth.
Components in Parallel Circuits
+

In a parallel circuit, the components can be on different “loops”

or “branches”.
There can be as many components as you like on each loop.
Current in Parallel Circuits
+
- - 10A

-
5A
A-
A-
5A
A -
In a parallel circuit the current is shared between the loops.
We can also state this as: “in a parallel circuit the total current
is the sum of the current in each branch”
Current in Parallel Circuits
+
A switch on A switch on
either the blue
branch coloured wires
would turn would be able
off just the to turn both
lamp on lamps off at
that branch. once.

A break in one of the loops in a parallel circuit can allow current

to continue to flow through the other loops.
Obviously, if the break occurred in the blue part of the circuit
then current would stop everywhere!
 Potential Difference in Parallel
Circuits V
+ 4V

V
4V

4V

V
For components in parallel, the potential difference across each
component is the same, and is the same as the power supply.
Resistance in Parallel
Circuits
 Rules for Resistors In Parallel
Adding more resistors in parallel reduces the total resistance.

In fact, the total resistance of two resistors in parallel is less than the
resistance of the smallest individual resistor.*

*this is the exact wording from the exam specification.

You don’t need to be able to use calculations to prove this, you just
need to be able to describe that this is what happens.

This sounds like the opposite to what we would expect! We’ll look at
some examples and then look at why this happens.
 Resistors in Parallel Circuits
+
In this circuit the
smallest resistor is 20 Ω,
100Ω
so we can tell that the
total resistance must be
20Ω less than 20 Ω

Adding more resistors in parallel reduces the total resistance.

The total resistance of two resistors in parallel is less than the
resistance of the smallest individual resistor.
This is because current now has an additional pathway to flow
through.
 Understanding Why
Adding more resistors in parallel reduces the
total resistance.

In fact, the total resistance of two resistors in

parallel is less than the resistance of the
smallest individual resistor.*

Let’s look at why…

Resistors in Parallel Circuits

+ • We add another resistor in parallel

in our circuit.
• Potential difference is the same
across all the resistors so adding the
additional resistor does not change
potential difference.
• However, there is now an
additional pathway for current to
flow through, so the total current
increases.
• Therefore p.d. has not changed but
is being divided by a larger number
(current).
• Therefore resistance decreases.
 Resistors in Series and Parallel
For series circuits we said: the total resistance of all the components is equal
to the sum of the resistance of each component.
For parallel circuits we said: the total resistance of two resistors in parallel is
less than the resistance of the smallest individual resistor.
It is important to understand that when we talk about resistors we are talking
about any component other than the power supply, because they all cause
some level of resistance.

Share:
Think, Pair, Share.
The resistance
Which of theseintwo
thecircuits
series circuit is higher
will have and therefore
the highest
the currentand
resistance is lower.
therefore lowest current?
 1 minute to discuss with the person next to you, before I choose people at random.

Learning Check: Quick Questions

In
… athe
parallel
sum of circuit
the current
total current
in eachis In
…the
a parallel
same, and
circuit,
thethe
same
potential
as the
equal
branch.
to… difference
power
in each
supply.
branch is…

Adding more resistors in parallel ??? The…less

total than
resistance
the resistance
of two resistors
of the in
Reduces
total resistance. smallest
parallel
resistor.
is…

A parallel circuit has 4 branches. The A parallel circuit has 3 branches. The
current leaving the5 Acell is 20 A. What cell provides 1.5
1.5V.
V What is the
is the current in each branch? potential difference in each branch?
Learning Check: In-Depth Questions

Parallel Circuits
Tasks:
1. Describe how a) current acts in a parallel circuit b) potential difference acts in
parallel circuit.
2. Draw a parallel circuit with 1 cell and 3 lamps, each on a different branch.
a) The total current is 12A. What would the current be in each branch?
b) The potential difference in one branch is 3V. What will it be in the other
branches?
c) What is the potential difference of the power supply?
3. A student builds a parallel circuit containing two branches, each with a resistor.
She then adds another resistor on a third branch.
a) What will happen to the total resistance of the circuit?
b) Explain why this happens.
c) The resistors are 100 Ω, 50 Ω, and 200 Ω. What can you say about the
total resistance?
4. Complete the table below to compare series and parallel circuits.
Type of Circuit Current Potential Difference Resistance
Series Adding more resistors…
Parallel Adding more resistors…
 Answers
1. Describe how a) current acts in a parallel circuit b) potential difference acts in
parallel circuit.
a) in a parallel circuit the total current is the sum of the current in each
branch.
b) For components in parallel, the potential difference across each component
is the same, and is the same as the power supply.
2. Draw a parallel circuit with 1 cell and 3 lamps, each lamp on a different branch.
a) The total current is 12A. What would the current be in each branch? (12 A
÷ 3 =) 4A
b) The potential difference in one branch is 3V. What will it be in the other
branches? 3 V
c) What is the potential difference of the power supply? 3V
 Answers
3. A student builds a parallel circuit containing two branches, each with a resistor.
She then adds another resistor on a third branch.
a) What will happen to the total resistance of the circuit? It will reduce.
b) Explain why this happens.
• Potential difference is the same across all the resistors (so adding the additional
resistor does not change p.d.) (1)
• There is now an additional pathway for current to flow through, so the total
current increases. (1)
• Therefore resistance decreases. (1)
c) The resistors are 100 Ω, 50 Ω, and 200 Ω. What can you say about the total
resistance? It will be less than 50 Ω
4.Complete the table below to compare series and parallel circuits.
Type of Circuit Current Potential Difference Resistance
Series Same everywhere Shared between Adding more resistors
components increases resistance
Parallel Split between Same across each loop and Adding more resistors
loops same as power supply decreases resistance
 Exam Style Questions
Please mark this in your book as
“exam questions”
1 a) State the type of circuit shown below [1 mark]
Parallel
b) Draw a switch in the circuit, placed where it could be used to turn off
both lamps at the same time. [2 marks]

• Correct symbol for a switch (1)

• Drawn anywhere in the highlighted part (1)
c) The circuit contains one 1.5 V cell. Show how 1.5 V cells could be
connected together to increase the potential difference to 4.5 V.
+
2 The two circuits below contain a 6V cell and two identical lamps.
Calculate the potential difference across each lamp when they
are:
a) Connected in series [1 mark] 3 V
b) Connected in parallel [1 mark] 6 V
3 The two circuits below contain a 6V cell, two identical lamps and three
ammeters.
a) Describe how the current measured by the three ammeters in the series
circuit would compare to the current measured by the three ammeters in
the parallel circuit. [2 marks]
• Series circuit: current would be the same at every ammeter. (1)
• Parallel circuit: current measured by the ammeters in the branches
would add up to the total current / current measured by the ammeter
next to the cell. (1)
A A
A A A
A
b) How would the reading on the ammeter next to the cell in the series
circuit compare to the reading on the ammeter next to the cell in the
• parallel
Currentcircuit? [2 marks]
in the series circuit would be lower (or reverse argument) (1)
• Because resistance would be higher (1)
Self-Evaluation
Lesson Focus and Learning Objectives
Lesson Focus:
How do current, potential difference and resistance act in series
and parallel circuits?
?
Learning Objectives (To Be Able To…):
• Identify and draw series and parallel circuits.
• Describe how current and potential difference act in a series circuit.
• Describe how current and potential difference act in a parallel
circuit.
• Calculate resistance in a series circuit, use the concept of equivalent
resistance and explain why RTOTAL = R1 + R2
• Explain why adding more resistors decreases total resistance in a
parallel circuit.
 Self-Evaluation
Lesson Focus: How do current, potential difference and resistance
act in series and parallel circuits?
• Identify and draw series and parallel circuits.
• Describe how current and potential difference act in a series
circuit.
• Describe how current and potential difference act in a
parallel circuit.
• Calculate resistance in a series circuit, use the concept of
equivalent resistance and explain why RTOTAL = R1 + R2
• Explain why adding more resistors decreases total
resistance in a parallel circuit.

For each of the learning objectives, rate your progress

towards completing them using Red, Amber or Green.
• If you are green in every area then what has helped
you / what have you done to make you successful?
• If you are Amber or Red what do you need to know,
do, or be helped with, in order to make you green?
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