SERIES AND PARALLEL CIRCUITS

1 When the below circuit is connected, the reading on the ammeter is 0.56 A.

Seven additional resistors, each of which is identical to the one above, are added to the
circuit in series. What will the reading on the ammeter then be?

X A 0.06 A

X B 0.07 A

X C 0.08 A

X D 0.56 A

X E 3.92 A

2 The below circuit is connected.

How will the reading on the ammeter change if resistor Y is removed from the circuit?

X A It will increase

X B It will decrease

X C It will stay the same

X D It is impossible to say

© my-gcsescience.com 1
SERIES AND PARALLEL CIRCUITS

3 A student is investigating the below circuit. The bulbs are identical to one another.

In this question, the p.d. across each bulb (i.e. the

parallel section of the circuit) is 4 V, which means
that the p.d. across the resistor must be equal to
12 – 4 = 8 V. This means that the resistance of
the resistor is R = V ÷ I = 8 ÷ 2 = 4 Ω.

The reading on the ammeter is 2 A, and the reading on the voltmeter is 4 V.

Which row gives the correct values for the resistance of the resistor and for the current
through each bulb?

Resistance of resistor (Ω) Current through each bulb (A)

X A 2 1

X B 2 2

X C 4 1

X D 4 2

X E 6 1

X F 6 2

4 The ammeter in the below circuit reads 0.5 mA.

What is the value of resistor X?

X A 6Ω

X B 12 Ω

X C 4 kΩ

X D 6 kΩ

X E 12 kΩ

-3
Remember that 1 mA = 10 A = 0.001 A, so 0.5 mA is
-3 -4
equal to 0.0005 A (or 0.5 × 10 A or 5 × 10 A). The
total resistance of the circuit can then be calculated
as normal by using V = I R.

© my-gcsescience.com 2
SERIES AND PARALLEL CIRCUITS

5 A 9 V cell is connected to two 6 W resistors in series, as shown below.

(a) Show that the ammeter reading is 0.75 A.

Total circuit resistance = 6 + 6 = 12 W

I = V ÷ R = 9 ÷ 12 = 0.75 A

(b) Calculate the potential difference (p.d.) across one of the 6 W resistors.

V = I R = 0.75 × 6 = 4.5 V

(c) The resistors are then connected in parallel.

The new reading on the ammeter is now 3 A.

Calculate the current flowing through each resistor.

P.d. across each resistor = 9 V

I = V ÷ R = 9 ÷ 6 = 1.5 A

OR equal currents through each 6 W resistor, so I = 3 ÷ 2 = 1.5 A

© my-gcsescience.com 3
SERIES AND PARALLEL CIRCUITS

(d) What is the equivalent resistance of the parallel 6 W resistors? In other words,
if they were replaced by a single resistor which maintained the current at 3 A,
what would its resistance be?

R=V÷I=9÷3=3W

(e) Explain why placing the resistors in parallel in this circuit had the effect of
increasing the circuit current.

When the resistors are placed in parallel, each charge (electron) only has to
pass through one 6 W resistor each time it travels round the circuit [1]. This
means that the circuit resistance is lower, which causes the current to
increase.

OR this increases the p.d across each bulb [1] which in turn increases the
current flowing through each bulb (I = V ÷ R) [1].
Do not write
Electrical)Circuits)(questions)for)5)videos)) 4) outside the
box
6 An old set of decorative lights is made from nine identical lamps which are
connected4
in series, as shown below.
A set of decorative lights is made from nine identical lamps connected in series.

Under normal operating conditions, the lamps draw a current of 2.5 A from a 230 V
Each lamp is designed to take a current of 0.5 A. The set plugs directly into the
mains electricity supply.
230 V mains electricity supply.

4 (a) (i) Calculate the resistance of one of the lamps.

Use the correct equation, from the equations sheet.

(a) Calculate the resistance of each of the lamps.
Show clearly how you work out your final answer and give the unit.
Resistance......................................................................................................................................
of all nine lamps = V ÷ I = 230 ÷ 2.5 = 92 W
Resistance of each lamp = 92 ÷ 9 = 10.2 W (1 d.p.)
......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

(b) Most modern decorative lamps are wired

Resistance in parallel. Write down one
= ......................................................................
advantage of connecting such lamps in parallel rather than in series. (3 marks)

4 (a) (ii) What is the total resistance of the set of lights?

If one bulb fails (blows), the other eight will still work [1] OR
......................................................................................................................................
this increases the brightness of each bulb [1].
......................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................
(1 mark)

(Total 7 marks)

© my-gcsescience.com 4
Login or subscribe to my-GCSEscience.com to see the answers and commentary. ESPQ|PHY2/Electricity