BENGKEL KECEMERLANGAN AKADEMIK 2015

Combined Science 5129

D.C CIRCUITS
CURRENT & POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE IN CIRCUITS
SERIES & PARALLEL CIRCUITS

LEARNING OUTCOMES

CIRCUIT SYMBOLS

CURRENT
The rate of flow of charges in a circuit
CURRENT =

CHARGE
TIME

S.I unit of current is the Ampere ( A )

Other unit of current is Coulomb/Second (C/s)
An ammeter is used to measure the current in a
circuit.

CURRENT IN SERIES CIRCUIT

A1

A4

A2
I1 =

A3
I2 =

I3 =

I4

Current is the same everywhere in a series

circuit.

CURRENT IN PARALLEL CIRCUIT

A1

A5
A2
A3
A4

I1 =

I2 + I3 + I4 = I5

Current in the main

branch is the sum of
current in each
branch.

CURRENT IN PARALLEL CIRCUIT

A1

A5
A2
A3
A4

Branch with the

highest resistance will
have the smallest
current.

POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE
The amount of energy needed to move a unit
charge across a component in a circuit.

POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE =

ENERGY
CHARGE

S.I unit of potential difference is the Volt ( V )

Other unit of potential difference is Joule/Coulomb ( J/C )

A voltmeter is used to measure the potential

difference across an electrical component.

POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE IN
SERIES CIRCUIT
V1

V2
V1 =

V3

V4

V2 + V3 + V4

The sum of the potential difference (pd) across each of

the components of the circuit is equal to the potential
difference across the cell.

POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE IN
SERIES CIRCUIT
V1

V2

V3

V4

Component with the highest resistance

will have the highest potential difference
across it.

POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE IN
PARALLEL CIRCUIT
V1

V2

V1 =

V3

V4

V2 = V3 = V4

In a parallel circuit, the potential difference (pd)

across all the branches are the same.

RESISTANCE
The measure of the degree to which an electrical
component opposes the flow of an electric current.

RESISTANCE =

POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE
CURRENT

S.I unit of resistance is the Ohm ( )

An electrical conductor that has:
High Resistance,
Low Current,
High Potential Difference

Low Resistance,
High Current,
Low Potential Difference

through it.

FUNCTION OF RESISTORS
Main functio
n is
to control
the amount
of
current flowi
ng
in a circuit.

Resistors in a circuit

RESISTORS IN SERIES

R1
R TOTAL =

R2

R3

R1 + R2 + R3

The total resistance is the sum of each resistance in

the series circuit.

MORE resistors in series, HIGHER total

resistance.

RESISTORS IN PARALLEL
R1
R2
R3

1
R TOTAL

1
R1

1
R2

1
R3

MORE resistors in parallel,

SMALLER total resistance.

EXAMPLE EXERCISE 1
5129/12/M/J/12 Q36

A resistor in a circuit has a value of resistance of 3.0 .

In 20 s, a charge of 10 C passes through the resistor.
What is the potential difference across the resistor?

EXAMPLE EXERCISE 2
5129/22/M/J/14 Q3

A circuit diagram containing two lamps P and Q is shown in Fig.3.1.

The switch is closed, the current in
lamp P is 0.3 A and the potential
difference across it is 6 V.
(a) Calculate the resistance
of lamp P.

EXAMPLE EXERCISE 2
5129/22/M/J/14 Q3

A circuit diagram containing two lamps P and Q is shown in Fig.3.1.

(b) The current in lamp Q is 0.2 A.
Determine the current in the circuit at:
(i) Point A
(ii) Point B
(iii) Point C

EXAMPLE EXERCISE 3
5129/12/O/N/13 Q35

A series circuit consists of a battery, an ammeter, a lamp and a

resistor. A voltmeter is placed across the lamp and the resistor.

What is the voltmeter reading?

EXAMPLE EXERCISE 4
5129/22/M/J/13 Q11

Fig.11.1 shows a lighting circuit.

(c) When all the switches are closed to light both lamps, the current in
lamp P is 0.25 A and the current in lamp Q is 0.35 A
(i) Calculate the current in the fuse.

EXAMPLE EXERCISE 5
5129/12/M/J/13 Q37

A circuit consists of a battery and four resistors. The current in three

of the resistors is shown.

What is the current in X?

EXAMPLE EXERCISE 6
5129/22/O/N/12 Q11

Fig.11.1 shows a series circuit. A voltmeter measures the potential

difference (p.d) across the 2.0 resistor.
(a) The variable resistor is adjusted so that the
voltmeter reads 1.0 V.
(i) Calculate the current in the
2.0 resistor.

EXAMPLE EXERCISE 6
5129/22/O/N/12 Q11

Fig.11.1 shows a series circuit. A voltmeter measures the potential

difference (p.d) across the 2.0 resistor.
(a) The variable resistor is adjusted so that the
voltmeter reads 1.0 V.
(ii) The p.d across the battery terminals
is 5.0 V. The voltmeter reads 1.0 V.
Calculate the p.d across the
variable resistor.

EXAMPLE EXERCISE 6
5129/22/O/N/12 Q11

Fig.11.1 shows a series circuit. A voltmeter measures the potential

difference (p.d) across the 2.0 resistor.
(b) The resistance of the variable resistor is
increased.
State what happens, if anything, to:
(i) the current in the variable resistor

(ii) the p.d across the 2.0 resistor

PRACTISE QUESTIONS
Complete the following questions in pairs.
5129/12/O/N/14 Q37
5129/12/O/N/14 Q38
5129/22/O/N/14 Q14

Remember to raise your hands if you needed help with

the question.