Series and Parallel Circuits

1. For the series circuit shown opposite each cell provides a potential
difference of 1.5V.
a. What is the total resistance of the circuit?
b. What is the potential difference across the 10 resistor?

2. For the parallel circuit opposites:

a. What is the total resistance of branch X of the circuit?
b. What is the total resistance of branch Y of the circuit?
c. What is the current through:
i. Branch X?
ii. Branch Y?
d. The potential difference of the supply is 10V.
iii. What is the value of V1?
iv. What is the value of V2?

The following questions refer to the circuit diagram shown on the right. A number of ammeters and
voltmeters have been included to measure the current and potential difference at different points around
the circuit.

3. A1 reads 1A and A3 reads 0.8A. Calculate V

what current A2 reads. Explain your
reasoning.
4. Hence calculate what the potential difference
will be across the 20  resistor.
5. Calculate what the potential difference across A1 V
the 10  resistor will be.
10  20 
6. Calculate what the total potential difference
will be across the cell. Explain your
A2
reasoning.
7. Explain what the potential difference across R
resistor R will be. A3
8. Remembering that A3 is reading 0.8 A,
calculate resistance R.
9. If resistance R was increased what would happen to the total current in the circuit A1?
10. If the circuit was changed and all three resistors were connected in series what would the total
resistance be?
11. What current would flow in the circuit described in question 10..
Series and Parallel Circuits
1. For the series circuit shown opposite each cell provides a potential
difference of 1.5V.
a. What is the total resistance of the circuit?
b. What is the potential difference across the 10 resistor?

2. For the parallel circuit opposites:

a. What is the total resistance of branch X of the circuit?
b. What is the total resistance of branch Y of the circuit?
c. What is the current through:
v. Branch X?
vi. Branch Y?
d. The potential difference of the supply is 10V.
vii. What is the value of V1?
viii. What is the value of V2?

The following questions refer to the circuit diagram shown on the right. A number of ammeters and
voltmeters have been included to measure the current and potential difference at different points around
the circuit.

3. A1 reads 1A and A3 reads 0.8A. Calculate V

what current A2 reads. Explain your
reasoning.
4. Hence calculate what the potential difference
will be across the 20  resistor.
5. Calculate what the potential difference across A1 V
the 10  resistor will be.
10  20 
6. Calculate what the total potential difference
will be across the cell. Explain your
A2
reasoning.
7. Explain what the potential difference across R
resistor R will be. A3
8. Remembering that A3 is reading 0.8 A,
calculate resistance R.
9. If resistance R was increased what would happen to the total current in the circuit A1?
10. If the circuit was changed and all three resistors were connected in series what would the total
resistance be?
11. What current would flow in the circuit described in question 10..