Series and parallel circuits

19/07/23 Learning objectives:

GCSE P3 – Electricity
P3.2 Simple circuits
Collins 3.4
• Recognise series and parallel circuits.
• Describe the changes in the current and
potential difference in series and parallel
circuits.

Engage Plenary

Activities Homework
 Why are we doing this?
Learning outcomes:
• Draw and recognise series and parallel circuits. Compare the brightness of
lamps connected in series and parallel.
• Recall that the current in a series circuit is always the same and that the
total current in a parallel circuit is the sum of the currents through each
branch.
• Recall and apply the equation V = IR and, for a series circuit, Rtotal = R1 + R2.

All the electrical appliances in a home are connected in a

parallel circuit. If they were connected in series you
would need to switch on every single appliance in order
to watch TV.
DID YOU KNOW?
A current of 1 A means that more than 6 000 000 000
000 000 000 electrons pass each point every second.
This is only a small fraction of the electrons in the wire!
 Key points
Lamps in series
• Lamps connected next to each other and form a single
loop with the battery and switch.

• If an extra lamp is added into the series circuit  all

lamps go dimmer.

Current and p.d. in series circuits

• The same current flows through each component.
• Size of current depends on the total resistance of
the components.

• Potential difference (voltage) is shared between the

components so
Demonstration
 Net resistance in circuits
• For resistors in series, the total resistance is the sum of the resistances of
the resistors.
• So, adding more resistors in series increases the total resistance – the
charges have to pass through another component.

𝑅𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑅 1+ 𝑅 2+ 𝑅3
 Net resistance in circuits
𝑅𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑅 1+ 𝑅 2+ 𝑅3
Task: Try these three calculations
 Key points
Lamps in parallel
• Both sides of the lamps are connected to each other – a bit
like rungs of a ladder
• Identical lamps connected in a parallel circuit will be
brighter than the same number of lamps connected in series.
• If an extra lamp is added into a parallel circuit  all lamps
same brightness as before.
Current and p.d. in parallel circuits
• Current can pass through either so the current can split up
down the branches.

• The potential difference (voltage) of the battery (or power

supply) is the same as the p.d. across each component.
• .
 Key points
Current and p.d. in parallel circuits
• Current can pass through either so the current can split up
down the branches.

• The potential difference (voltage) of the battery (or power

supply) is the same as the p.d. across each component.
• .

Resistors in parallel
• Adding extra resistors in parallel decreases the total resistance – there are
alternative pathways for the charges.
• The total resistance of a parallel circuit is always smaller than the smallest
resistance of any component.
 Key points
Resistors in parallel
• Adding extra resistors in parallel decreases the total resistance – there are
alternative pathways for the charges.
• The total resistance of a parallel circuit is always smaller than the smallest
resistance of any component.

There is a
formula for this
but it isn’t in
GCSE Physics
 Activities
 Task: Don’t ignore the
key point you
 Attempt question 1 parts (a) have written –
to (s) from the worksheet. they should help
you to be able to
answer the
 Extension: questions.
 Attempt question 2 parts (a)
to (k) from the worksheet.
 Activities
 Task:
Don’t ignore the
 Choose two sections (from Basic, Medium and Hard) to key point slides –
attempt from the worksheet: they should help
you to be able to
answer the
questions.
 Activities

Basic
1. A 1.5 V cell is connected to a 3.0 Ω resistor and a 2.0 Ω resistor in series with each other.

A. Draw a circuit diagram for this circuit.

B. Calculate:

(I) The total resistance of the two resistors

(II)The current through the resistors

(III)The potential differences across each resistor

 Activities
Medium

1. A circuit contains a battery of two cells, with each cell providing 1.5 V. The circuit also has
two resistors connected in series. Resistor P has a resistance of 2 Ω and resistor Q has a
resistance of 10 Ω.

A. Draw a circuit diagram for this circuit.

B. Calculate the total resistance of the two resistors

C. Calculate the total potential difference provided by the battery

D. Show that the current through the battery is 0.25 A

E. Calculate the potential difference across each resistor

 Activities
Medium
2. A circuit contains a 6 V battery and three resistors connected in parallel with each other and with the
battery. The resistors have the following values:

• R1 = 2 Ω
• R2 = 3 Ω
• R3 = 6 Ω

a. Draw a circuit diagram for this circuit

b. Calculate the current through each resistor

c. Calculate the current through the battery

 Activities
Hard
The cell in this circuit has a potential difference of 12 V, each bulb has a resistance of 5 Ω.

1. Calculate the current in A1, A2 and A3

2. The two bulbs are identical, calculate the voltage
A1
A3 over them
3. What would happen to the brightness of the
bulbs if you added another bulb in series with
A2
the first two?
4. What would happen to the brightness of the
bulbs if you added another two bulbs in parallel
to the first two?
 Key language / ideas to use in your answers:
Activities series circuit, parallel circuit, current, potential difference, resistance

 SILENT WORKING (only whisper to a partner for help):

 OCR Gateway GCSE (9-1) Physics pages 108-109
 ALL:
Read “Lamps in series and parallel”.

 Grades 1 - 4: Don’t ignore the

Read “Resistors in series”. reading – it will
Answer questions 1 – 4 in full help you to
sentences / showing all working out. answer the
questions.

 Grades 5 - 9:
Read “Resistors in series”.
Read “Resistors in parallel”
Answer questions 1 - 5 in full sentences / showing all working out.
 Key language / ideas to use in your answers:
Questions series circuit, parallel circuit, current, potential difference, resistance

1). None of the lamps in Figure 3.12 are currently shining. State what you
would have to do to the circuits to make the lamps shine.

2). A third lamp is added to the series circuit. Describe what happens to the
brightness of the two lamps that were already in the circuit.

3). Suggest what would happen if one bulb was unscrewed in each circuit.
 Key language / ideas to use in your answers:
Questions series circuit, parallel circuit, current, potential difference, resistance

4). A motor, a lamp and a 12 V battery are connected in series. The resistance of the
motor is 10 Ω and the resistance of the lamp is 20 Ω. The current through the lamp is
0.4 A.

a). Determine the current through the motor.

b). Calculate the total resistance of the circuit.

c). If the potential difference across the motor is 4 V then what is the potential
difference across the lamp?

d). Suggest how the current would change if the lamp was replaced with a 50 Ω
resistor.
 Key language / ideas to use in your answers:
Questions series circuit, parallel circuit, current, potential difference, resistance

5). The 10 Ω motor, 20 Ω lamp and 12 V battery from Q4 are now connected in
parallel. A current of 1.8 A passes through the battery and a current of 1.2 A
passes through the motor.
a). Determine the current through the lamp.

b). Calculate is the potential difference across the motor.

c). Explain whether the total resistance of this circuit is greater or smaller than
10 Ω.

d). A further resistor is added in parallel to the motor and the lamp. Explain
what happens to the size of the current passing through the battery.