Starter quiz
- Which of the following statements about series circuits is correct?
- There are junctions.
- There is only one loop. ✓
- The current can flow in different branches.
- The current is higher in some components.
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- Which of the following statements about parallel circuits is correct?
- There are junctions. ✓
- There is only one loop.
- The current is the same everywhere in the circuit.
- The current always splits equally at a junction.
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- Which of the following statements about the junctions in a parallel circuit are correct?
- The current is the same in all branches at a junction.
- The current can split at a junction. ✓
- The current can join up at a junction. ✓
- Some branches at a junction get no current.
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- When building a parallel circuit, which of the following statements describes the most effective method to use?
- Always start at the battery.
- Always go anticlockwise.
- The components must be exactly in the positions shown on the circuit diagram.
- Complete each loop one at a time. ✓
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- Which of the following statements about circuit diagrams is correct?
- Small gaps are permitted.
- The battery must point to the right.
- Straight horizontal and vertical lines are needed. ✓
- A variety of symbols or pictures can be used for a single component.
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- A real parallel circuit is made using a circuit diagram for reference. Which of the following statements is correct?
- The components must be in the same positions as the diagram.
- The number of components and loops will be the same. ✓
- The circuit and the diagram will look exactly the same.
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Exit quiz
- Which of the following devices measures the 'push' that a battery gives to current?
- an ammeter
- a newton meter
- a voltmeter ✓
- a joulemeter
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- Which of the following statements correctly describe how voltmeters should be connected?
- In parallel to the component they are measuring. ✓
- In series with the component they are measuring.
- Before the component they are measuring.
- After the component they are measuring.
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What will happen to the lamps in the circuit shown when the circuit is connected?- only lamp 1 will light ✓
- only lamp 2 will light
- both lamps will light
- lamp 1 will be bright and lamp 2 will be dim
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What is the voltage across the lamp if the voltage of the battery is 1.5 V?- 0.5 V
- 0.75 V
- 1.5 V ✓
- 3.0 V
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What is the voltage across the battery of two cells if the voltage across the resistor is 2.0 V and across the motor is 2.0 V?- 1.0 V
- 2.0 V ✓
- 4.0 V
- 6.0 V
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What is the voltmeter measuring?- The voltage across the resistor only.
- The voltage across the lamp only.
- The voltage across the resistor and lamp only.
- The voltage across the resistor, the lamp and the battery. ✓
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Worksheet
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Presentation
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Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- A voltmeter is connected to each side of a battery or component.
- Voltage (or potential difference) is measured in volts (V).
- The voltage across a battery measures the strength with which it can ‘push’ current around a circuit.
- The voltage across a component in an electric circuit measures the size of ‘push’ that is moving current through it.
- The voltage across each branch of a parallel circuit is the same as the voltage across the battery.
Common misconception
Voltage in a parallel circuit is shared out between each branch of the circuit.
Provide opportunity for pupils to measure voltage across each branch of a range of parallel circuits to give evidence for the correct rule.
Keywords
Voltmeter - A voltmeter is a device that is connected in parallel with components to measure the voltage across them.
Voltage - The voltage across a component measures the size of the 'push' that is moving current through it.
Potential difference - Potential difference is a more formal term for voltage, however they can be used interchangeably because they refer to the same electrical quantity.
Parallel circuit - A circuit with junctions and separate loops is a parallel circuit.
Branch - Each separate loop in a parallel circuit can be called a branch.
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