For Live Classes, Recorded Lectures, Notes & Past Papers visit:

www.megalecture.com

The diagram below shows a simple circuit. The current flows in one direction in the
circuit. It is therefore called a Direct Current. Circuits with direct current are called D.C.
circuits.

There are FOUR basic components in a circuit.

1. Power supply (battery)

re
2. Connecting wire
3. Switch
4.. Electrical device (e.g. lamp, lTlOtor,electric kettle)

c tu
When we draw diagrams of circuits, we often use symbols for each component. The table shows
the symbols commonly used in drawing circuits.
Le
Symbol Symbol Name Symbol
--<r""o- -0- ----<D-
a

---SjF-- --c=J- -®-

eg

--llillt-- -6 or
-y:5- ----®-

--<> 0-- ~ 0--

M

--Lr ~
-L

+ ::JIC ----11--

--s6--
4 ~

https://www.youtube.com/c/MegaLecture
+92 336 7801123
For Live Classes, Recorded Lectures, Notes & Past Papers visit:
www.megalecture.com

The figure shows a simple circuit consisting of a battery with emf, 0, and two resistors R]
and R2 in series.

II
I I:
battery
I
RI R2

VI V2

I R V1 and
I , ..
V2 represent
._-
the
-
total
-
current,- total resistance, voltage across R and voltage across R•
j

respectively.
We apply the equation V = IR to the individual resistor R and Rz'
j

re
VI = IR1
V, = IR,
the e.m.f., f:, is equal to the total potential difference of the circuit. thus we have

c tu
Le
Exam Tips:
~ Total current I is the same at every point in the circuit.
~ Total potential difference across all resistors must be equal to the emf.
~ The equation V = RI can be applied to the whole circuit or individual resistor.
a
eg

Consider a circuit which has 2 lamps connecting to a cell.

~
M

L1 L2
All the electrons that go through one lamp must go through the other. We say that the
lamps are connected IN SERIES.

https://www.youtube.com/c/MegaLecture
+92 336 7801123
For Live Classes, Recorded Lectures, Notes & Past Papers visit:
www.megalecture.com

Now, we add an ammeter to the above circuit. Move the ammeter 0 different positions in
the series circuit.

It is noticed that the same current flows through each poiht of a series circuit.
If you llhScrew one lamp in the circuit, the other lamp will not light up. There is no current
if there is a break anywhere in the circuit.
Conclusion:

re
The current flow is the same throughout a series eiteuit.

c tu
Le
L1 L2
Now, we add three voltmeters to the circuit. Voltmeter V shows the potential difference across
the battery, while voltmeters Vi and V2 show the potential differences across lamps L) a.nd
a

L2 respectively.
From the readings of the voltmeters, we can draw the conclusion that
eg

V = VI + V2
Conclusion:
Sum of the potential differences across individual components in a series circuit is equal
to the potential difference across the 'Whole circuit.
M

Exam Tips:
For a series circuit, the component (resistor) with the highest resistance has the highest
potential difference across it.

https://www.youtube.com/c/MegaLecture
+92 336 7801123
For Live Classes, Recorded Lectures, Notes & Past Papers visit:
www.megalecture.com

Connect a battery to two lamps in the way shown below.

~
L]
P Q

Lz

We say these two lamps are connected in PARALLEL. There is more the one path in
which the electrons can flow in the circuit.

Each lamp has its own branch of the circuit. When the switch is closed, the current flows
through the circuit and splits up at junction P. Both lamps lights up. The currents join

re
together at junction Q.

current through lamps LI and L2 respectively.

c tu
Ammeter Al measures the total current ofthe circuit. Ammeter A2 and A3 measure the
Le
a
eg
M

https://www.youtube.com/c/MegaLecture
+92 336 7801123
For Live Classes, Recorded Lectures, Notes & Past Papers visit:
www.megalecture.com

I+---- V2--H

Now, we connect three voltmeters to the circuit as shown. Voltmeter V measures the potential
difference across the battery while voltmeters VI and V2 measure the potential differences
across the lamps Lj and L2 respectively.

re
From the readings of the voltmeters, we can draw the conclusion that
V = V1 = V2
Conclusion:

tu
Each component (resistor) connected in parallel has the same potential difference across it.

c
Connect a dry cell to a larnpas $hown in the figure. Use a length of thick copper wire to corme...":
one side of the lamp to the other side for just a second.
Le
a
eg

connecting wire
(copper wire)
What happens to the lamp? The lamp will go off.
Actually, the copper wire has shorted the lamp or caused a SHORT CIRCUIT. The copper w~
has less resistance to the flow of electrons than the lamp. So the current flows through the copp.:::
M

Wire instead of the lamp.

Electricity travels by the easiest path (the one with lowest resistance), not necessarily the shorto:
path.

https://www.youtube.com/c/MegaLecture
+92 336 7801123