Name: ……………………………………… Grade: 8 Div: …….

RollNo:……

Topic: 1) Parallel circuits Max marks: 50

2) Current and voltage in parallel circuits
3) Resistance
4) Practical circuits

1. Draw a straight line from the physical quantity to its correct symbol and SI unit: [Total: 4]

Resistance I Ω (ohm)

Voltage Q C (coulomb)

Current R V (volt)

Charge V A (ampere)

2. A circuit is to be designed with a cell and four identical buzzers. [Total: 5]

Draw a circuit diagram with:
a. Four buzzers connected in series with the cell. [2]

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 b. Four buzzers, each connected in parallel with the cell. [2]

c. What is one advantage of connecting the four buzzers in parallel rather than in series? [1]
Any one from:
 If one of the buzzers stop working, it will not affect the other buzzers in the parallel circuit.
 The buzzers can be switched on and off independently by connecting a switch to each
branch.
 More buzzers can be connected in parallel without affecting the output sound.
3. Calculate the missing current X in each of these circuits. [Total: 4]

 Circuit A, X = 3 A
 Circuit B, X = 0.6 A
 Circuit C, X = 0.1 A
 Circuit D, X = 0.10 A

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4. Shanti has a box containing 30 identical lamps rated at 3.0 V each. She has a 12 V battery. [Total: 2]
a. Explain why she cannot connect these lamps, each individually in parallel with the battery. [1]
If the lamps are connected in parallel to the battery, each lamp would receive 12 V, which is larger
than its voltage rating. This will damage the lamps.
b. She connects the lamps in series with the 12 V battery. How many lamps can be connected in
series to operate properly? [1]
She can connect 4 lamps in series with the 12 V battery since each lamp has a voltage rating of 3.0
V.
5. A circuit has two cells, a lamp and a buzzer in series. [Total: 4]
a. Draw a circuit diagram to show how the current through the buzzer and the voltage across the
buzzer could be measured at the same time. [2]

b. Draw a circuit diagram to show how the lamp and the buzzer can be switched on and off
separately and the brightness of the lamp can be changed without affecting the sound from the
buzzer. [2]

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6. The circuit contains a resistor, ammeter and voltmeter. [Total: 3]

a. Calculate the value of R when the voltage is 12 V and the current is 2 A. [1]
V=IR
Therefore, R = V / I = 12 V / 2 A = 6 Ω
R=6Ω
b. The reading on the voltmeter when the current is 0.5 A and R is 18 Ω. [1]
V = I R = 0.5 A x 18 Ω
V=9V
c. The reading on the ammeter then the voltage is 6 V and R is 4 Ω. [1]
V=IR
Therefore, I = V / R = 6 V / 4 Ω = 1.5 A
I = 1.5 A
7. Draw a circuit diagram to show how a variable resistor can be used to change the brightness of two
lamps that are connected in parallel. [Total: 2]

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8. Look at the four circuit diagrams, A – D. The bulbs shown in each circuit diagram are identical to each
other. [Total: 3]

a. Which two circuits have two ammeters that show the same current? [1]
A and C
b. Which circuit can control the brightness of two lamps by adjusting one component? [1]
B
c. Which circuit can control the brightness of two lamps separately? [1]
A
9. Raheela investigates the current in a circuit containing two identical lamps. [Total: 5]

She changes the number of cells and measures the currents A1 to A4 in amps.

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 a. What do the results tell you about what happens to the current in the circuit at points X and Y? [1]
The current in the circuit gets equally divided at points X and Y.
b. One of the results is anomalous. Circle the result in the table that is anomalous. [1]
c. Predict the values of A2, A3 and A4 if the value for A1 is 1.6 A.
 A2 = 0.8 A [1]
 A3 = 0.8 A [1]
 A4 = 1.6 A [1]
10. Look at the diagram showing a model to help explain how an electrical circuit works. The radiator in
the model represents a lamp in the circuit. [Total: 3]

a. What is represented in the electrical circuit by the pump and the hot water? [1]
The pump represents the power supply (cell, battery or mains) and the hot water represents the
electric current.
b. Write down one strength and limitation of this model of an electrical circuit. [2]
Strength:
Any one from –
 Both water and current are not ‘used up’ as they pass around the pipes/circuit.
 There is same rate of flow of water or current at all points.
Limitation:
Any one from –
 It takes time for the water to reach the radiator, i.e. for the radiator to get hot, but the lamp turns on
straight away.
 Water can leak out of pipes, but current cannot leak out of wires.

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11. Joy connects an electrical circuit. [Total: 3]

a. The reading on the ammeter is 0.025 A. The voltage across lamp K is 3.0 V. Calculate the
resistance of lamp K. [1]
V=IR
Therefore, R = V / I = 3.0 V / 0.025 A = 120 Ω
R = 120 Ω
b. He connects another circuit with two lamps. [2]

Describe what happens to the current as it flows through the circuit.

The current gets divided as it reaches the junction of wires, the divided currents flow through the
lamps on each branch and add up again at the next junction of wires.

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12. The diagram shows a circuit containing two resistors of resistance 1.0 ohms and 2.0 ohms A voltmeter is
connected across the 1.0 ohms resistor by connecting P to X. The reading on the voltmeter is 6.0 V.
P is moved to point Y in the circuit. [Total: 2]

What is the new reading on the voltmeter?

The voltmeter is connected across both the resistors.
Therefore Voltage = voltage across 1.0 Ω resistor + voltage across 2.0 Ω = 6.0 V + 12.0 V = 18.0 V
V = 18.0 V
13. Two resistors, with resistances R1 and R2, are connected in parallel. The Resistance R 1 is greater than the
resistance R2. [Total: 1]

What is the resistance of the parallel combination? Circle the correct option.
A. Less than either R1 or R2
B. Equal to R1
C. Equal to R2
D. Average of R1 and R2

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14. A student is to determine the resistance of resistor R. She uses a circuit including a voltmeter and an
ammeter. Circle the letter A, B, C or D to show which circuit should be used. [Total: 1]

15. The diagram shows a battery connected to two resistors. Three ammeters M1, M2 and M3 are connected
in the circuit. Ammeter M1 reads 1.0 A. [Total: 1]

Circle either A, B, C or D to show the readings on M2 and M3.

16. Identical resistors are connected together to form arrangements X, Y and Z. [Total: 1]

X Y Z
What is the correct order of the arrangements from the largest to the smallest resistance?
Z>Y>X

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17. The figure shows two lamps connected in series and then in parallel. Each lamp has a resistance of 12Ω.
In each circuit there are three ammeters A1, A2 and A3. [Total: 2]

a. Calculate the current flowing through any one lamp in series arrangement. [1]
In a series arrangement, voltage gets divided among the components. Therefore, each lamp would get
3.0 V.
V = I R, therefore, I = V / R = 3.0 V / 12 Ω = 0.25 A.
I = 0.25 A
b. Calculate the current flowing through any one lamp in parallel arrangement. [1]
In a parallel arrangement, each branch receives the same voltage as the supply. Therefore, each lamp
would get 6.0 V.
V = I R, therefore, I = V / R = 6.0 V / 12 Ω = 0.5 A.
I = 0.5 A
18. A school classroom has six identical lamps. Each of the lamps is connected in parallel across a 220 V
mains supply, as shown in the diagram. [Total: 4]

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a. State the voltage across one of the lamps in the diagram. [1]
220 V
b. The classroom has one light switch. The light switch is used to switch all the lamps on or off together.
Copy the diagram and include the switch in the correct position. [1]

c. The current from the mains supply to all six lamps is 2.4 A. Calculate the current through one of the
lamps. [1]
2.4 / 6 = 0.4 A.
I = 0.4 A
d. Two more lamps, identical to the other six, are added, each in a new separate branch of the parallel
circuit. State what will happen to the total current from the mains supply when the new lamps are
added. [1]
The total current from the mains supply when more lamps are added in parallel wound increase.

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