What is the difference between the path taken by charge in a series circuit and in a parallel circuit?

In a series circuit there is one loop so all the charge follows the same path, while in a parallel circuit the path splits into branches and the charge divides between them.

How must an ammeter be connected to measure the current through a lamp?

In series with the lamp, so that the charge going through the lamp also goes through the ammeter.

How must a voltmeter be connected to measure the potential difference across a resistor?

In parallel with the resistor, joined to the wires on either side of it.

Two lamps are joined to a cell, first in one loop and then on separate branches. In each case, what happens to the second lamp if the first one breaks?

In the single loop the second lamp goes out because the circuit is broken, but on separate branches it stays lit because its own branch is still complete.

OCR GCSE Physics A J249

Electricity

Topic overview Charge, and producing static electricity Transfer of electrons, and electric fields Current as a rate of flow of charge Charge, current and time Series and parallel circuits, and circuit symbols Current, potential difference and resistance Resistors whose resistance changes, and investigating them Linear and non-linear circuit elements from graphs Net resistance in series and parallel Circuits for measurement, and electrical power

Energy

Topic overview Conservation of energy, and energy stores Energy changes on heating, and calculating them Energy of a moving body, a spring and a raised object Dissipation, and energy transfer in domestic devices Power ratings, and calculating efficiency Reducing unwanted energy transfer, and the rate of cooling

Forces

Global Challenges

Topic overview Typical speeds and everyday accelerations Reaction time, stopping distance and the dangers of large decelerations Estimating stopping distances and the forces in a collision Energy resources, and trends in their use The national grid, and step-up and step-down transformers Why the national grid is efficient, and power in a transformer Mains electricity: a.c., d.c. and the domestic supply Live, neutral and earth wires, and electrical danger Red-shift and the Big Bang The formation of the Sun, and radiation from bodies The solar system

Magnetism and Magnetic Fields

Topic overview Permanent and induced magnets, and magnetic poles Magnetic fields, and the dipping compass The magnetic effect of a current, and solenoids

Matter

Topic overview How the atomic model changed, and the structure of the atom The size of atoms, and defining density Density of the states of matter, and density calculations Conservation of mass in changes of state Heating a system, and specific heat capacity Calculations with specific heat capacity and latent heat Gas molecules, temperature and pressure Compressing a gas, and changing its volume Atmospheric pressure and why it varies with height

Radioactivity

Topic overview Protons, neutrons and isotopes Unstable nuclei and the emissions they give out Balancing nuclear equations Electron energy levels, and radiation from atoms Half-life and the randomness of decay Penetration of alpha, beta and gamma Contamination and irradiation, and half-life as a hazard Uses of nuclear radiation Nuclear fission and fusion

Waves in Matter

Topic overview Amplitude, wavelength, frequency and period The wave equation Transverse and longitudinal waves Sound crossing a boundary; reflection, transmission and absorption Modelling waves with ripples and sound Electromagnetic waves as transverse, and energy transfer Frequency and wavelength across the spectrum What our eyes detect, and light as an electromagnetic wave Uses of electromagnetic waves Hazards of ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays Ray diagrams for reflection and refraction How colour arises

Electricity

Series and parallel circuits, and circuit symbols

3 things to know
Paper 1

Overview

How charge travels in series and parallel circuits, connecting ammeters and voltmeters, how potential difference and current are shared between components and branches, and the symbols for cells, batteries, fixed and variable resistors, lamps, diodes, light dependent resistors, thermistors, meters and switches.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

Two identical resistors are joined in one loop with a 6 V supply. What is the potential difference across each?

Key term

Two lamps are on separate branches across a 6 V supply. What is the potential difference across each lamp?

Key term

A cell supplies two branches, one carrying 0.4 A and the other 0.6 A. What current comes out of the cell?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What is the difference between the path taken by charge in a series circuit and in a parallel circuit?
Model answer
In a series circuit there is one loop so all the charge follows the same path, while in a parallel circuit the path splits into branches and the charge divides between them.
2
How must an ammeter be connected to measure the current through a lamp?
Model answer
In series with the lamp, so that the charge going through the lamp also goes through the ammeter.
3
How must a voltmeter be connected to measure the potential difference across a resistor?
Model answer
In parallel with the resistor, joined to the wires on either side of it.
4
Two lamps are joined to a cell, first in one loop and then on separate branches. In each case, what happens to the second lamp if the first one breaks?
Model answer
In the single loop the second lamp goes out because the circuit is broken, but on separate branches it stays lit because its own branch is still complete.
5
Two identical resistors are joined in one loop with a 6 V supply. What is the potential difference across each?
Model answer
3 V across each, because the supply potential difference is shared between the components in the loop.
6
Two lamps are on separate branches across a 6 V supply. What is the potential difference across each lamp?
Model answer
6 V across each, because every branch has the full supply potential difference across it.

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Electricity

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Forces

Global Challenges

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Current means the rate of flow of electric charge.

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