GCSE Physics for You, Fifth Edition
Answers to End-of-chapter questions for Chapter 31, Circuits
It is very important that you are able to answer the questions on your own, using your
own knowledge of Physics.
Have a go at the questions first, and then check your answers using this page.
If you get a question wrong, try to work out where you have made an error.
1. a) electrons (charge); complete
b) conductor; insulator
c) amperes (amps), ammeter, series
d) volts, voltmeter, parallel
e) current, proportional, potential, temperature
f) potential, current, resistance, V = I × R
g) ohms; increases, increases, decreases
2. 1st diagram: In the circuit on the left, the switch is in parallel with the lamp and
acts as a short circuit. When the switch is closed the lamp is off, and when the
switch is open the lamp is on. The switch should be placed in series with the lamp.
In the circuit on the right, the two cells are opposing each other. One of the cells
needs reversing so that both are driving current round the circuit in the same
direction.
2nd diagram: All three components are in series – they should be in parallel.
Each parallel branch should have one component in series with one switch.
3rd diagram: The variable resistor is in parallel with the lamp. It should be in
series so that it can control the current through the lamp.
3. The missing current values are: 3 A flowing out of the junction in the diagram on
the left and 1 A flowing into the junction in the diagram on the right.
4. The two cells should be placed in series to make a battery. The two lamps should
be placed in parallel across the battery.
OUP GCSE Physics for You, Fifth Edition © Keith Johnson & Sue Holt, 2016 page 1 of 4
GCSE Physics for You, Fifth Edition
5. a) Combined resistance = R1 + R2 = 10 Ω + 20 Ω = 30 Ω
b) Combined resistance = R1 + R2 = 500 Ω + 1000 Ω
= 1500 Ω (or 1.5 kΩ )
c) Combined resistance R is calculated using:
= + = + so R = 1Ω
d) Combined resistance of parallel resistors: = + =
so resistance of parallel resistors = 2 Ω
2 Ω is in series with the 3 Ω resistor,
so combined resistance = 2 Ω + 3 Ω = 5 Ω
6. a) Both lamps are off, because there is no connection to the cell.
b) Both lamps are lit to the same brightness, as they are in series.
c) Only lamp X is lit (and more brightly than in b); the switch S 1 acts as a short
circuit to lamp Y.
7. Draw circuit with two parallel branches. In one branch draw a switch in series with
a lamp. In the other branch draw a switch in series with two lamps in parallel (or
you could draw it with two lamps in series).
8. a) A1 reads 1.0 A, A3 reads 0.5 A, A4 reads 1.0 A.
b) Add a switch to the right (or left) of the cell.
c) Add a switch in each of the two parallel branches.
d) Add a rheostat (variable resistor) in the upper parallel branch in series with
lamp P.
9. For each one, use the formula:
potential difference = current × resistance (V = I × R )
a) potential difference = 2 A × 5 Ω
= 10 V
b) 6 V = current × 2 Ω
current = 3 A
c) 20 V = 2 A × resistance
resistance = 10 Ω
OUP GCSE Physics for You, Fifth Edition © Keith Johnson & Sue Holt, 2016 page 2 of 4
GCSE Physics for You, Fifth Edition
10. a) Use the formula:
potential difference = current × resistance (V = I × R )
8 V = current × 4 Ω
current = 2 A
b) 2 A (because the resistors are in series)
c) Use the formula:
potential difference = current × resistance (V = I × R )
potential difference = 2 A × 3 Ω
=6V
d) 6 V + 8 V = 14 V (because the total p.d. is the sum of the p.d.s across the
resistors).
11. a) Combined resistance = R1 + R2 = 2 Ω + 3 Ω = 5 Ω
b) Use the formula:
potential difference = current × resistance (V = I × R)
10 V = current × 5 Ω
current = 2 A
c) and d) For each, use the formula:
potential difference = current × resistance
c) potential difference = 2 A × 2 Ω
potential difference = 4 V
d) potential difference = 2 A × 3 Ω
potential difference = 6 V
12. Use the formula:
energy transferred = potential difference × current × time
energy transferred = 10 V × 2 A × 60 s
= 1200 J
13. a) Combined resistance R is calculated using:
= + = +
= = so R = 2Ω
b) Use the formula:
potential difference = current × resistance (V = I × R )
potential difference = 6 A × 2 Ω
= 12 V
c) P.d. across the 3 Ω resistor (and the 6 Ω) resistor = 12 V (see page 263).
OUP GCSE Physics for You, Fifth Edition © Keith Johnson & Sue Holt, 2016 page 3 of 4
GCSE Physics for You, Fifth Edition
d) and e) For each, use the formula:
potential difference = current × resistance
d) 12 V = current × 3 Ω
current = 4 A
e) 12 V = current × 6 Ω
current = 2 A
14. For the current use the equation:
charge = current × time
10 C = current × 0.01 s
current = 1000 A
For the energy use the equation:
energy transferred = potential difference × charge
energy transferred = 10 MV × 10 C
= 100 MJ (100 000 000 J)
15. The current is 1/3 of the full-scale deflection of 6 A, so the correct current is 2 A.
The p.d. is 2/5 of the full-scale deflection of 20 V, so the correct p.d. is 8 V.
resistance = = = 4Ω
OUP GCSE Physics for You, Fifth Edition © Keith Johnson & Sue Holt, 2016 page 4 of 4
