Measuring current in

a parallel circuit

Science

Unit: Resistance and parallel circuits

Teacher Guidance

Oak’s lesson structure Useful links

Oak’s lessons are structured around learning cycles. How our teaching resources are designed for
These are indicated through colour in the slide deck: the classroom

Each learning cycle covers several phases:

Outcome

I can describe how to measure current through each

branch of a parallel circuit.
Keywords

ammeter a device that measures the current

flowing in a circuit

amps the unit that current is measured in (short for

amperes), represented by the symbol A

branch a separate loop in a parallel circuit

parallel circuit a circuit with more than one complete loop, from one
end of a battery round to the other end
Lesson outline

Measuring current in a parallel circuit

Measuring current in a parallel circuit

The rule for current in parallel circuits

Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Explanation

An ammeter measures the current that flows in a

wire in amps (A).

Current in a wire is the amount of electric charge that moves

through a branch of wire each second.
charges moving
through a wire

GIF from a simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Explanation

The animation below shows how current flows in a

parallel circuit.
a large current
flows in the
battery branch

smaller currents
flow in the other
branches

GIF from a simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Check

True or false?
The current in all parts of a parallel circuit is the same.

T True F False

Justify your answer

a
At a junction, the current splits and
so is reduced.

b Each branch has the same

resistance and so the same current.
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Explanation

The current in each branch is measured differently.

To measure the current
break the
through the cell …
circuit …
A
then connect
the ammeter.
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Explanation

The ammeter must be

directly connected to the cell.
or here

A A
It can be placed
or here A A
here …
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Explanation

The ammeter can be connected anywhere along the

top branch, before the junctions.
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Check

Which of the following circuits show an ammeter in the correct

position to measure the current through the cell?

a b c
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Explanation

To find the current through the resistor, the ammeter

should be connected in the middle branch.

here or here

A A
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Check

Which of the following circuits show an ammeter in the correct

position to measure the current through the resistor?

a b c
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Explanation

To find the current through the lamp, the ammeter

should be connected in the lower branch.

in any of
A A
these
positions A A
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Check

Which of the following circuits show an ammeter in the correct

position to measure the current through the lamp?

a b c
Task A Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Practice

1) Set up circuit A and measure the current through the cell.

2) Measure the current through each branch.
3) Record all of your measurements.
4) Repeat steps 1 to 3 for circuits B and C.

A B C

5Ω 5Ω 10 Ω

10 Ω
Task A Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Feedback

Sample results of current in branches:

A B
cell: 0.45 A cell: 0.50 A
5Ω 5Ω
5 Ω resistor: 0.30 A 5 Ω resistor: 0.30 A
10 Ω
10 Ω resistor: 0.15 A lamp: 0.20 A
C
cell: 0.35 A
10 Ω
10 Ω resistor: 0.15 A
lamp: 0.20 A
Lesson outline

Measuring current in a parallel circuit

Measuring current in a parallel circuit

The rule for current in parallel circuits

The rule for current in parallel circuits
Explanation

In circuit A, the currents in the branches were:

cell: 0.45 A

0.30 + 0.15 = 0.45 A

5Ω 0.30 A The current in the cell branch is
equal to the sum of the current in
10 Ω
0.15 A the other branches.
The rule for current in parallel circuits
Explanation

In circuit B, the currents in the branches were:

cell: 0.50 A

0.30 + 0.20 = 0.50 A

5Ω 0.30 A
The current in the cell branch is
equal to the sum of the current in
0.20 A the other branches again.
The rule for current in parallel circuits
Explanation

In circuit C, the currents in the branches were:

cell: 0.35 A

0.15 + 0.20 = 0.35 A

10 Ω 0.15 A
Again, the current in the cell
branch is equal to the sum of the
0.20 A current in the other branches.
The rule for current in parallel circuits
Check

What is the current through the cell in the circuit shown?

a 0.2 A

b 0.3 A

c 0.4 A

d 0.5 A
0.2 + 0.3 = 0.5 A
The rule for current in parallel circuits
Explanation

The rule for current at junctions is that the total

current flowing into the junction equals the total
current flowing out of the junction.

current going in

equals current
going out

GIF from a simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0
The rule for current in parallel circuits
Explanation

The total current flowing into and out of a junction is

the same.

0.45 A flows
into the
junction 5Ω

0.30 + 0.15 = 0.45 A 0.30 A

flows out of the
0.15 A
junction 10 Ω
The rule for current in parallel circuits
Explanation

The total current flowing into and out of a junction is

the same.

0.45 A flows out

of the junction
5Ω

0.30 A 0.30 + 0.15 = 0.45 A

flows into the
0.15 A
10 Ω junction
The rule for current in parallel circuits
Check

What is the current through the lamp in the circuit shown?

a 0.2 A

b 0.4 A

c 0.6 A

d 0.8 A
The rule for current in parallel circuits
Explanation

The current in the branch with a lower resistance is

higher. lower
resistance

5Ω 0.30 A

higher
10 Ω 0.15 A current
The rule for current in parallel circuits
Check

Which of the following gives the correct current through the

resistor and the lamp in the circuit shown?
a resistor 0.6 A lamp 0.6 A

b resistor 0.6 A lamp 0.4 A

c resistor 0.3 A lamp 0.3 A

d resistor 0.2 A lamp 0.4 A

The rule for current in parallel circuits
Explanation

With the same cell, the current through identical

components (with the same resistance) is the same.

0.45 A 0.50 A 0.35 A

5Ω 0.30 A 5Ω 10 Ω
0.30 A 0.15 A

10 Ω 0.15 A 0.20 A 0.20 A

The rule for current in parallel circuits
Check

True or false?
The current through the lamp in the circuit shown will be 0.3 A if it
has a resistance of 7 Ω.
T True F False

Justify your answer

Fewer components on a branch will
a
cause the current to change.

The voltage pushing the current

b
through each branch is the same.
Task B The rule for current in parallel circuits
Practice

Laura and Lucas have built the circuit shown and are predicting the size
of the current through the lamp and resistor.

A larger current flows A larger current flows

through the resistor than through the lamp than
the lamp because it has a the resistor because it is
smaller resistance. closer to the cell.

Laura Lucas

Identify whether each pupil is correct or incorrect and explain why?

Task B The rule for current in parallel circuits
Feedback

Identify whether each pupil is correct or incorrect and explain why?

Laura is correct and Lucas is incorrect.

The voltage across both branches is the same.
There will be a bigger current through the resistor since it has a lower
resistance than the lamp.
The distance of the components from the cell does not affect the
current as the wires do not resist the current.
Summary Measuring current in a parallel circuit

In a parallel circuit, current flows in all the branches.

The current splits at the junctions, and the total current going
into a junction is the same as the total current coming out of
the junction.
When measuring the current in a loop, an ammeter must be
placed in between the junctions at each end of the loop.
Each loop will have the same voltage across it, so the current
in the loop will depend on the resistance of the loop. A high
resistance will give a lower current.
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