AQA · Physics · 8463
GCSE Physics: Series and parallel circuits
Electricity · AQA GCSE Physics (8463), specification point 4.2.2. Cards are generated from the exam board's own specification for "Series and parallel circuits", and every card links back to the page it came from. Specification © AQA — used with attribution.
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What is the same through each component in a series circuit?
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The current — the same current flows through every component connected in series.
How is the power supply's potential difference distributed in a series circuit?
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It is shared between the components — the p.d.s across each component add up to the supply p.d.
What is the equation for the total resistance of two resistors in series?
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R_total = R1 + R2 (resistance in ohms, Ω).
The unit of resistance is the ?, symbol Ω.
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ohm
What is the same across each component in a parallel circuit?
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The potential difference — each branch has the same p.d. across it.
How is the total current in a parallel circuit found?
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It is the sum of the currents through the separate branches.
How does the total resistance of two parallel resistors compare to the smaller one?
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It is less than the resistance of the smallest individual resistor.
Why does adding resistors in series increase total resistance?
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The current must pass through every resistor in turn, so there is more opposition along the single path and less current flows for the same p.d.
Why does adding resistors in parallel decrease total resistance?
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Each extra branch provides another path for current, so more total current flows for the same p.d., meaning lower overall resistance.
Does adding a resistor in series increase or decrease total resistance?
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Increases it.
Does adding a resistor in parallel increase or decrease total resistance?
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Decreases it.
What concept is used to solve problems with resistors in series?
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Equivalent resistance — replacing the series resistors with a single resistor of resistance R1 + R2 + …
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