Topic 9 Current and voltage in

parallel circuits

Key Vocabulary
Voltage can be thought of as the "push" behind
electricity or as the amount of electrical pressure
that is pushing electric current through a circuit. It
is measured in volts, and is responsible for the
energy that powers an electrical circuit.

Current is the rate of flow of electrons through a

circuit, measured in amperes.

Electrical resistance is the measure of resistance

to the flow of electrical current in an electrical
circuit. It is measured in ohms, and is a measure of
how difficult it is for electric current to pass through
the circuit. A higher resistance will mean that it
takes more energy to move the electric current.

Understanding these scientific terms is essential to

grasping the basics of electricity.
Instructions for PhET sims lab
Make a copy of this presentation.

On each page with PhET logo in the corner, you must complete the
tasks using this sim.

When you have completed everything, submit to the assignment on

the LMS.
Topic 9 Current and voltage in
parallel circuits

Here is an
example of a
circuit set up in
the sim. You can
select wire and
components from
the left side and
add wires to
connect
everything. Try to
keep your wires
vertical and
horizontal.

You should keep

the right menu bar
with the checkbox
“Values” selected
if you want to see
the voltage of the
batteries.

You can use up to

two voltmeters
and two ammeters
 Activity 1

Task: Create a circuit to show this: “How ammeters and

voltmeters are connected in circuits.”

Paste your screenshot(s) here. Type your explanation here. You

should be able to explain what your
screenshot(s) show.
Hint: you need to set
up a simple circuit
with a cell, wires, and
a lamp. You can add
a switch if you want.
Then you need to
figure out how the
ammeter and
voltmeter work and
be able to explain
what they measure.

🤔Thinking question
- why do we
measure voltage in
parallel and current
in series?
 Activity 2

Task: Create a circuit to show this: “The voltage across the cell in
series circuit is the same as the total of the voltages across each
of the components.”
Paste your screenshot(s) here.

Hint: you need to set up a

simple series circuit with a
cell, wires, and at least two
components. Attach a
voltmeter.
🤔What is a component?
An electrical component is
the general term for any
part of an electric circuit.
This includes (but isn't
limited to): wires,
switches, buzzers,
resistors.
 Activity 3

Task: Create a circuit to show this: “The voltage across the

cell in a parallel circuit is the same as the voltage across
each of the branches.”
Paste your screenshot(s) here.

Want a challenge? Set up

the circuit with more than
two branches and measure
the voltages separately.
What happens if you have
more than one component
on one of the branches?

🤔True or False: This tells

me that the voltage
across the cell is the same
as all the other voltages
combined.
 Activity 4

In a parallel circuit, what are the effects of adding cells on

current and voltage?
Before doing the Paste your screenshots here. After doing the sim,
simulation, type your type your description
prediction here: here.

You’ll have to
set up two
circuits, each
with a
different
number of
cells
(dependent
variable), but
without
changing
anything else
about the
circuit (control
variables).
 Activity 5

In a series circuit, what are the effects of adding cells on current

and voltage?
Before doing the Paste your screenshot here. After doing the sim,
simulation, type your type your description
prediction here: here.
 Activity 6

In a parallel circuit, what are the effects of adding lamps on current

and voltage?
Before doing the Paste your screenshot here. After doing the sim,
simulation, type your type your description
prediction here: here.
 Activity 7

In a series circuit, what are the effects of adding lamps on current

and voltage?
Before doing the Paste your screenshot here. After doing the sim,
simulation, type your type your description
prediction here: here.
 Activity 8

Use your answers from Activities 5-7 to summarise this Success Criteria in
the table below: “Make correct predictions about the effects on current and
voltage of adding cells and lamps to both series and parallel circuits.”

Parallel circuits Series circuits

Effects on current: Effects on current:

Adding
cells (or
batteries)

Effects on voltage: Effects on voltage:

Effects on current: Effects on current:

Adding
lamps
Effects on voltage: Effects on voltage:
 Topic 9 Current and voltage in
parallel circuits

Congratulations, you made it to the end! You can now:

✓ Describe and draw circuit diagrams to show how ammeters and

voltmeters are connected in circuits.
✓ State that the voltage across the cell in series circuit is the same as
the total of the voltages across each of the components.
✓ State that the voltage across the cell in a parallel circuit is the same
as the voltage across each of the branches.
✓ Make correct predictions about the effects on current and voltage of
adding cells and lamps to both series and parallel circuits.
 Topic 9 Current and voltage in
parallel circuits

Still confused? Watch this video

Or go here and choose a
different video to watch.

Then, go back through each of

the slides carefully checking that
you understand everything.
 Topic 9 Current and voltage in
parallel circuits

Exam Style Questions

On the next slides are examples of exam style questions relating to topics 9.1 and 9.2. See if you are able
to answer them without looking at your book or notes.