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Unit 9 Electricity
9.1 Parallel circuits
9.2 Current and voltage in parallel circuits
9.3 Resistance
9.4 Practical circuits

Learning Objectives

A Use diagrams and conventional symbols to represent, make and compare circuits that include cells,
switches, resistors (fixed and variable), ammeters, voltmeters, lamps and buzzers.
B Calculate resistance (resistance = voltage / current) and describe how resistance affects current
C Know how to measure current and voltage in series and parallel circuits, and describe the effect of
adding cells and lamps.
D Describe how current divides in parallel circuits
.
1 (a) The resistance of a piece of wire of constant diameter depends on its length. On the axes of
Figure1.1, sketch a graph to show how the resistance of the wire varies with length. [LOB]

Fig 1.1

(b) A reel contains 50 m of insulated wire. The ends of the wire are connected to the circuit shown in
Fig. 1.2, so that the resistance of the wire can be found.

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 Fig 1.2

(i) What sort of meter is meter 1? ...........................................................................

(ii) Complete the sentence: “Meter 1 is measuring the ................................................. across the coil of
wire.”
(iii) What sort of meter is meter 2? ...........................................................................
(iv) Complete the sentence: “Meter 2 is measuring the ................................................. in the coil of
wire.”
(v) The dials of the meters are shown in Figs. 1.3(a) and 1.3(b).

Fig 1.3 [a] Fig 1.3 [b]

From the readings, calculate the resistance of the coil of wire.

resistance of coil = ................................

(vi) What is the resistance per metre of the wire?

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 resistance per metre = ..........................

2 Figure shows three cells each with e.m.f. 1.5 V connected in series. [LOC]

(a) Calculate the combined e.m.f. of the cells. e.m.f. = ........................................................ [1]

3.A circuit was set up as shown in the diagram. The three resistors are identical. [LOC]

(i) Calculate the reading on the

voltmeter. ............................................................................................................... ................

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

Reading on voltmeter = .................................................. V

(ii) The same circuit has now been set up with two ammeters.

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 The reading on ammeter A2 will be……………………………………….. the reading on ammeter

A1.

4 Figure shows three circuits. The resistors in the circuits are identical. Each of the cells has a

potential difference of 1.5 volts. [LOC]

Calculate the reading on voltmeter

V2. ...............................................................................................................

Voltmeter reading V2 = .............................. V

(iii) Which voltmeter, V1, V2 or V3, will give the lowest reading?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5.Electrical circuits have resistance

When the resistance of a circuit increases, the current in the circuit

………………………………………………………………………..……

6.The diagram shows the circuit used to investigate the resistance of a sample of a material. The

diagram is not complete; the ammeter and voltmeter are missing. [LOB]

(i) Draw the symbols for the ammeter and voltmeter on the diagram in the correct places.

(ii) How can the current through the material be changed?

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 ………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………..…………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………

……..……………………………………………………………………..……………….

7.(a)Using the correct circuit symbols, draw a diagram to show how you would connect 1.5 V

cells together to give a p.d. of 6 V. [LOC]

(b) Figure 1 shows a circuit containing an 18 V battery. Two resistors, X and Y, are connected in

series. • X has a resistance of 3 Ω. • There is a current of 2 A in X.

(i) Calculate the p.d. across

X. ............................................................................................................... .......................

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

P.d. across X = ........................................... V

(ii) Calculate the p.d. across

Y. ............................................................................................................... .......................

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

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

P.d. across Y = ........................................... V

8.The student uses this circuit in his investigation. [LOA]

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 State what is measured by the meters.

Meter 1

measures ..............................................................................................................................................

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

. Meter 2 measures ...................................................

9.(a) (i) Draw one straight line from each name to its circuit symbol. [LOA]

(ii)The diagram shows an incomplete circuit for measuring the resistance of a length of wire

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 (b)A student sets up a circuit to find the resistance of a piece of wire. She measured current and

voltage at different voltage settings. She plotted a graph of her results.

(i) Draw the line of best fit for these four points.

(ii) She then took an extra reading and found that a voltage of 7.0 V gave a current of 3.0 A.

Plot this point on the graph.

(iii)Calculate the resistance of the piece of wire when the current is 1.5 A.

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 resistance = ....................................

(10) The diagram shows an electric circuit with two resistors, R and S [LOB]

(i) R has a resistance of 11 ohms. Calculate the potential difference across R.

potential difference = .............................................................. V

(ii) Use information from the diagram to calculate the current in S.

current = .............................................................. A

(iii) Complete the sentence by putting a cross ( ) in the box next to your answer. A student wants

to measure the battery voltage with a voltmeter. The voltmeter should be placed

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 11. (i)A student investigates if lamps are brighter in a series circuit or a parallel circuit. He sets up

two different circuits, A and B. [LOD]

State which circuit will have the brightest lamps and explain why.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

(ii)Design a circuit diagram which could be used to investigate how the resistance of a filament

lamp changes with current. Use the circuit symbols below. Each symbol can be used once, more

than once, or not at all.

12. Match the following [LOA]

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 13., This question refers to quantities and data shown on the circuit diagram [LOD]

(a) State the relationship between (i) the currents I1, I2 and

I3, .......................................................................................................................................

(ii) the currents I1 and I4. .........................................................................................

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 (b) The ammeter reads 0.80 A. Assume it has zero resistance. Calculate (i) the potential

difference between X and Y

p.d. = .................................................

(ii) the current I3,

current = .................................................

(c)The circuit shown contains three ammeters X, Y and Z

Which ammeter has the largest reading?

…………………………………………………………………………………………

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