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D.C. Circuits

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Circuit Components c tu
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Current in a series circuit

Current in a series circuit is the ___________ throughout.

Potential difference in a series circuit

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c tu
In a series circuit, the ______ of the potential difference across each component is equal to the potential
difference across the ____________ circuit ( = emf of the source).
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i.e. Vε = V1 + V2 = ε

Resistance

V
R=
I
a
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Total resistance in series:

Example 1
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a) What is the total resistance in the circuit shown above?

b) What are the readings shown on ammeters A1 and A2?

c) What is the p.d. across each resistor?

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Current in a parallel circuit

I = I1 + I2

Potential difference in a parallel circuit

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Potential difference across components in parallel is equal

Vε = V1= V2 = ε

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Total resistance in parallel

a
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Example 2

a) Find the currents I1, I2, I3

b) What is the voltage or potential difference across the 10 Ω and 20 Ω

resistors?

c) Calculate the effective resistance of the 10Ω and 20Ω resistors.

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Find the effective resistance of each of the following:

a) (b)

(c)

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Example 3
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Find I1, I2 and R tu
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a

Potential Difference in terms of energy

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Example 4
Determine the reading on V1, V2 and A.

Example 5

The circuit shows a light bulb connected to 3 resistors and a 12 V source. Initially, all the switches are

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opened.

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Fig 7

(a) S1 is opened and S2 and S3 are closed.

a

(i) Calculate the total resistance between points P and Q.

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(ii) The ammeter registers a reading of 0.3 A. Calculate the resistance of the light bulb.
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(iii) The lamp is switched on for 2 minutes. Calculate the amount of energy consumed by the
lamp.

(b) S1, S2 and S3 are now closed. Describe and explain how the brightness of the lamp has changed
as compared to (a).

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………

(c) The 8Ω resistor is a cylindrical wire of length L and radius R made from a certain type of material. It
is replaced by another resistor of the same type but with 3 times the length and twice the radius.
Calculate its resistance.

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Variable potential divider (voltage divider or potentiometer)

• It is a circuit with resistors arranged in series.

• With it, we can divide a main voltage into two or more voltages.

Uses: e.g. street lamps, burglar alarms, thermostats

Type I (2 fixed resistors)

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Question 1

Calculate Vout.
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a
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Type II (Replace one of the fixed resistors with a variable resistor)

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Question 2

The circuit shows a 9 V battery connected in series with a variable resistor R 1 and a 50  resistor R2. The
resistance of the variable resistor R1 can vary from 0 to 100 . What are the maximum and minimum output
voltages?

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Type III (Replacing the two resistors with a potentiometer)

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• The position of sliding contact C determines the ratio of the resistance since R  l for a fixed cross-

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sectional area.

• To obtain a larger output voltage, the slider contact C is moved towards _________.
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Question 3

A 6 V battery of negligible internal resistance is connected to a potentiometer with a maximum resistance of

100 Ω. Calculate the output voltage Vout when the slider contact is at

(a) A,
a

(b) the midpoint between A and B.

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(c) B.
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Type IV (Replacing one of the resistors with a input transducer)

Transducers – Electrical or electronic devices that convert energy from one form to another.

 They respond to physical quantities like light and temperature.

 Input transducers – convert non electrical energy to electrical energy

e.g. microphones, thermistors, light dependent resistors, photocells, thermocouples, pressure sensors and
stress sensors

 Output transducers – convert electrical energy to other forms of energy

e.g. loudspeakers, lamps, LEDs, voltmeters and ammeters

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NTC (negative temperature coefficient) Thermistor:

 Hot (more mobile electrons) – resistance decreases

 Cool (fewer mobile electrons) – resistance increases

e.g. air conditioner connected to Vout

When temperature increases > preset temperature RTH drops  VTH drops  Vout increases  Vout
switches on cooling unit in the air conditioner which lowers temperature.

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LDR (light dependent resistor):


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Brightness increases (more mobile electrons) – resistance decreases;

When brightness decreases (fewer mobile electrons) – resistance increases

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e.g burglar alarm

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Burglar shines a light on safe which has a LDR RLDR decreases VLDR decreases  Vout increases –
alarm activated
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Question 4

A negative temperature coefficient thermistor is used in the following circuit to make a temperature
sensor.

Explain how the circuit works.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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Question 5

Fig 5.1 shows a circuit whose output potential difference, VAIR varies with the surrounding air temperature.
Fig 5.2 shows how the resistance of the air temperature sensor varies with temperature.

Fig 5.1 Fig 5.2

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(a) Name the input transducer that can be used as an air temperature sensor.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

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(b) Show that at a temperature of 20˚C, the potential difference across the air temperature sensor, VAIR
is 4.0 V.
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(c) Calculate the current in the circuit when the air temperature is 20˚C. Express your answer in units of
mA.

(d) How much power is dissipated in the 1000 Ω resistor when the air temperature is 20˚C?
a

(P = I2R)
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Question 6

A student wants to provide lighting for a model house which she has made. She needs 3.0 V for her lamps
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but only has a 9.0 V battery, so she uses a linear resistor AB in the circuit below. The linear resistor is made
from a high resistance uniform conductor.

Fig 7

(a) What is the name of the device AB when used in this manner?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(b) State the voltmeter reading when the sliding contact is at:

(i) A ……………………………...…. (ii) B ………………………………………

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(c) Indicate on Fig 7 with the letter X to show where the sliding contact should be positioned such that
the voltmeter reading is 3.0 V..

(d) The student replaces the voltmeter with a 3.0 V lamp but the lamp does not light. Explain why the
lamp does not light.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………..………………………………………………….

Difference between a rheostat and potential divider

A rheostat uses only two terminals of a variable resistor while a potential divider uses all three terminals

Rheostat

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Potential divider
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This means that when in use, the current in the lamp connected to a rheostat will never drop to 0 A while the
current in the lamp connected using a potentiometer circuit can be reduced to 0 A. (Why?)

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