Objectives: By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

• Knowledge: Explain the relationship between current, voltage, and resistance in

series and parallel circuits.
• Skills: Participate in guided investigations to measure and analyze current and
voltage in different circuit configurations.
• Attitudes: Develop an appreciation for the importance of electrical circuits in daily
life.
• Values: Recognize the importance of safety measures when working with
electrical circuits.
Content/Topic:
• Current, Voltage, and Resistance in Series and Parallel Circuits
Learning Resources/Materials/Equipment:
• Whiteboard and markers
• Circuit components (batteries, resistors, wires, bulbs)
• Multimeters
• Handouts with circuit diagrams and instructions
Procedures:
4.1 Introductory Activity (10 minutes):
• Begin with a brief discussion about the importance of electricity in our lives.
• Ask two introductory questions:
a. What is current in an electrical circuit?
b. How is voltage related to current in a circuit?
4.2 Activity (15 minutes):
• Divide students into pairs.
• Provide each pair with a circuit diagram of a simple series circuit and ask them to
assemble it.
• Instruct them to measure the current and voltage at different points in the circuit
using multimeters.
4.3 Analysis (10 minutes):
• As a class, discuss the data collected during the activity.
• Ask students to identify any patterns or relationships they observed between
current, voltage, and resistance in the series circuit.
4.4 Abstraction (10 minutes):
• Introduce the concept of parallel circuits.
 • Provide a diagram of a parallel circuit and ask students to predict how current
and voltage will differ in this configuration compared to series circuits.
4.5 Application (20 minutes):
• Divide the class into three groups.
– Group 1: Reporting - Research and report on real-world applications of
series circuits.
– Group 2: Coloring - Create diagrams illustrating series and parallel
circuits.
– Group 3: Role Playing - Act out a scenario where different household
appliances are connected in series and parallel circuits.
4.6 Generalization (15 minutes):
• Ask students to brainstorm and discuss at least three questions that generalize
the topic. Example: "How can we make our homes more energy-efficient using
knowledge of series and parallel circuits?"
5. Assessment/Evaluation:
Instructions: Answer the following questions based on your understanding of current,
voltage, and resistance in series and parallel circuits.
Questions:
Define current in an electrical circuit.
Answer: Current is the flow of electric charge (usually electrons) through a conductor,
measured in amperes (A).
Explain the relationship between voltage and current in a series circuit.
Answer: In a series circuit, the current remains constant throughout the circuit because
there is only one path for it to follow. Therefore, the voltage across each component
adds up to the total voltage of the circuit.
Describe the arrangement of components in a parallel circuit.
Answer: In a parallel circuit, components are connected in separate branches or paths,
allowing current to flow through multiple paths.
How does the total resistance in a series circuit compare to the individual resistances of
the components?
Answer: In a series circuit, the total resistance is the sum of the individual resistances
of the components.
Calculate the total resistance of a series circuit with three resistors: R1 = 10 ohms, R2 =
20 ohms, R3 = 30 ohms.
Answer: Total Resistance (R_total) = R1 + R2 + R3 = 10 ohms + 20 ohms + 30 ohms =
60 ohms.
Explain why the voltage across each branch in a parallel circuit is the same.
Answer: In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each branch is the same because all
branches are connected directly across the battery terminals.
Calculate the total resistance of a parallel circuit with two resistors: R1 = 15 ohms, R2 =
25 ohms.
Answer: To calculate the total resistance (R_total) of two resistors in parallel, use the
formula: 1 / R_total = 1 / R1 + 1 / R2.
1 / R_total = 1 / 15 ohms + 1 / 25 ohms = (5/75 + 3/75) ohms = 8/75 ohms.
R_total = 75/8 ohms = 9.375 ohms.
Why is it important to understand the principles of series and parallel circuits in real-
world applications?
Answer: Understanding series and parallel circuits is important because it allows us to
design and troubleshoot electrical systems efficiently. Series circuits are used in
situations where components must share the same current, such as holiday lights.
Parallel circuits are used when components need independent operation, as in
household wiring and electrical appliances.
Answer Key:
1. Current is the flow of electric charge (usually electrons) through a conductor,
measured in amperes (A).
2. In a series circuit, the current remains constant throughout the circuit because
there is only one path for it to follow. Therefore, the voltage across each
component adds up to the total voltage of the circuit.
3. In a parallel circuit, components are connected in separate branches or paths,
allowing current to flow through multiple paths.
4. In a series circuit, the total resistance is the sum of the individual resistances of
the components.
5. Total Resistance (R_total) = R1 + R2 + R3 = 60 ohms.
6. In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each branch is the same because all
branches are connected directly across the battery terminals.
7. Total Resistance (R_total) = 9.375 ohms.
8. Understanding series and parallel circuits is important because it allows us to
design and troubleshoot electrical systems efficiently. Series circuits are used in
situations where components must share the same current, such as holiday
lights. Parallel circuits are used when components need independent operation,
as in household wiring and electrical appliances.
6. Assignment:
• Assign two questions as homework:
a. Draw a diagram of a series circuit with three bulbs and label the current
and voltage at each component.
b. Explain how parallel circuits are used in household wiring systems.