AQA GCSE Series Circuits

AQA GCSE Series Circuit

Series Circuit

A series circuit is a single loop circuit, and the components are connected along a single path, end to end.

Series circuit with two bulbs and one cell

 

Above is an example of a series circuit with two bulbs.

Series Circuit Rules

Rule 1: In a series circuit, the current is the same at all points. 

Series circuit with 1 cell, two bulbs and 3 ammeters, showing that the current is the same at all points in a series circuit

In the above circuit the current is at 5 Amps at all 3 ammeters.

Rule 2: In a series circuit the potential difference is shared between the components.

Series Circuit, showing how potential difference is shared between the components.

In the above circuit, the 10V potential difference across the cell is shared between the two bulbs equally. So the potential difference across each bulb is 5V

Rule 3: The total resistance in a series circuit is the sum of the individual resistors. 

Series circuit to show that if you add up the resistance of individual resistors it gives the total resistance.

 

In the above circuit, there are two 5 ohm resistors. So, the total resistance is 10 ohms. 

 

Practice Questions

1.State the value for the current for ammeter A1 in the circuit below:

Practice question for series circuit rules

2. Calculate the potential difference across the cell for voltmeter V1, using the cell diagram below.

Practice question for series circuit rules

3. The total resistance of a series circuit is 35 ohms. There are 3 resistors in series, that each have their own resistance value in the ratio of 4:2:1. Calculate the resistance of each resistor.

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