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ity
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Actual
Electrons flowing in
a circuit.
The cell pushes the electrons in the
wire.
When the electrons go through the
bulb or a resistor, they cause the wires through a thin section of the pipe, they
to heat up.
When the cell runs out the current
stops flowing.
Measuring the current is counting the
number of Coulombs passing a certain
point in the circuit each second.
The current is the same everywhere in
the circuit.
Analogy
Balls flowing through
a hollow pipe.
An engine pushes the balls in the pipe.
When the balls have to be squeezed
will make the pipe hot.
When the engine runs out of fuel it will
stop pushing the balls. The flow stops.
Watching the number of balls passing a
certain point of the pipe each second
The no. of balls entering the narrow
strip is equal to no. of balls exiting it.
Actual
Electrons flowing in
a circuit.
The cell pushes the electrons in the
wire.
When the electrons go through the
bulb or a resistor, they cause the wires through a thin section of the pipe, they
to heat up.
When the cell runs out the current
stops flowing.
Measuring the current is counting the
number of Coulombs passing a certain
point in the circuit each second.
The current is the same everywhere in
the circuit.
Analogy
Balls flowing through
a hollow pipe.
An engine pushes the balls in the pipe.
When the balls have to be squeezed
will make the pipe hot.
When the engine runs out of fuel it will
stop pushing the balls. The flow stops.
Watching the number of balls passing a
certain point of the pipe each second
The no. of balls entering the narrow
strip is equal to no. of balls exiting it.
Actual
Electrons flowing in
a circuit.
The cell pushes the electrons in the
wire.
When the electrons go through the
bulb or a resistor, they cause the wires through a thin section of the pipe, they
to heat up.
When the cell runs out the current
stops flowing.
Measuring the current is counting the
number of Coulombs passing a certain
point in the circuit each second.
The current is the same everywhere in
the circuit.
Analogy
Balls flowing through
a hollow pipe.
An engine pushes the balls in the pipe.
When the balls have to be squeezed
will make the pipe hot.
When the engine runs out of fuel it will
stop pushing the balls. The flow stops.
Watching the number of balls passing a
certain point of the pipe each second
The no. of balls entering the narrow
strip is equal to no. of balls exiting it.
Actual
Electrons flowing in
a circuit.
The cell pushes the electrons in the
wire.
When the electrons go through the
bulb or a resistor, they cause the wires through a thin section of the pipe, they
to heat up.
When the cell runs out the current
stops flowing.
Measuring the current is counting the
number of Coulombs passing a certain
point in the circuit each second.
The current is the same everywhere in
the circuit.
Analogy
Balls flowing through
a hollow pipe.
An engine pushes the balls in the pipe.
When the balls have to be squeezed
will make the pipe hot.
When the engine runs out of fuel it will
stop pushing the balls. The flow stops.
Watching the number of balls passing a
certain point of the pipe each second
The no. of balls entering the narrow
strip is equal to no. of balls exiting it.
Actual
Electrons flowing in
a circuit.
The cell pushes the electrons in the
wire.
When the electrons go through the
bulb or a resistor, they cause the wires through a thin section of the pipe, they
to heat up.
When the cell runs out the current
stops flowing.
Measuring the current is counting the
number of Coulombs passing a certain
point in the circuit each second.
The current is the same everywhere in
the circuit.
Analogy
Balls flowing through
a hollow pipe.
An engine pushes the balls in the pipe.
When the balls have to be squeezed
will make the pipe hot.
When the engine runs out of fuel it will
stop pushing the balls. The flow stops.
Watching the number of balls passing a
certain point of the pipe each second
The no. of balls entering the narrow
strip is equal to no. of balls exiting it.
Actual
Electrons flowing in
a circuit.
The cell pushes the electrons in the
wire.
When the electrons go through the
bulb or a resistor, they cause the wires through a thin section of the pipe, they
to heat up.
When the cell runs out the current
stops flowing.
Measuring the current is counting the
number of Coulombs passing a certain
point in the circuit each second.
The current is the same everywhere in
the circuit.
Analogy
Balls flowing through
a hollow pipe.
An engine pushes the balls in the pipe.
When the balls have to be squeezed
will make the pipe hot.
When the engine runs out of fuel it will
stop pushing the balls. The flow stops.
Watching the number of balls passing a
certain point of the pipe each second
The no. of balls entering the narrow
strip is equal to no. of balls exiting it.
Adding another cell will increase Adding another motor will speed up
the current. the balls in the pipe.

Adding a resistor will cause the Adding an obstruction in the pipe will
current in the whole circuit to be make the balls go slower. The rate of
Adding another cell will increase Adding another motor will speed up
the current. the balls in the pipe.
P

Adding a resistor will cause the Adding an obstruction in the pipe will
current in the whole circuit to be make the balls go slower. The rate of
The sum of the currents entering The number of balls entering any junction
a point is equal to the sum of the is the same as the number of balls exiting
currents leaving that point. that junction.
 Lesson 12 Circuit rules
1. What are the rules for series and parallel circuits?
2. What are the principles behind these rules?
3. How do we use the rules in circuits?
 Circuit rules

Kirchhoff’s first law

This states that the total current flowing into a point is equal to the
current flowing out of that point.  In other words, the charge does not
leak out or accumulate at that point.  Charge that flows away must be
replaced.  Conservation of charge principle.

1.50A
2A
3A 0.50A

1.25A
1A 0.75A
 Circuit rules

Kirchhoff’s second law

This states that around any closed loop in a circuit, the sum of the
potential differences (voltages) across all components is zero. Any
charge that starts and ends up at the same point must have gained as
much energy as it lost. Conservation of energy principle.

the electrons gain 12V at the battery

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e
the
Write down the readings you would expect on the ammeters in the
circuits below.
a Draw a circle around the voltmeter that is measuring the emf of the cell.
b Is the motor or the resistor transferring the most energy?
c What is the potential difference across the lamp?
Write the missing potential differences and currents on these circuit
diagrams.
Write the missing potential
differences and currents on
these circuit diagrams. Show
your working for any
calculations. (Hint: work out
your answers in the order of
the letters.)
Calculate the potential difference supplied by the cell in this circuit.
Calculate the current in this circuit.
Calculate the missing resistance in this circuit.
 Circuit rules

Both Kirchhoff’s laws lead to the following rules:

Series circuit rules

Rule 1: In a series circuit the current is the same all the way round the
circuit.
Rule 2: In a series circuit the voltage is shared between the components
in the circuit in ratios of their resistances. the higher resistance
components will get a bigger share of the voltage.

Parallel circuit rules

Rule 1: In a parallel circuit the current splits up to go down different
routes. The total current through the cell is the sum of all the separate
currents
Rule 2: In a parallel circuit the voltage is the same across each route.
Rule 3:In a parallel circuit the current through a route depends on the
resistance. If it has a big resistance only a small current will flow along it.
If all the resistors in the circuit are 10 Ω resistors:
a what is the potential difference between points 2
and 4?
b what is the potential difference between points 5
and 7?
c what is the potential difference between points 2
and 5?
d The current at point 1 is 0.6 A. What is the current
at point 3?
e What is the current at point 6?
The resistors in the circuit have the following values: R1 = 10 Ω, R2 = 20
Ω, R3 = 15 Ω, R4 = 15 Ω
a What is the potential difference between points 2 and 4?
b What is the potential difference across R1?
c What is the potential difference across R2?
d What is the potential difference across R3?
e How does the current at point 3 compare with the current at point 6?
R1 and R2 are both 10 Ω so the total resistance in that branch is 20 Ω. R3
and R4 are both 20 Ω.
a What is the potential difference across points 2 to 4?
b What current is flowing between points 2 and 4?