Due date:

40
Raw mark

PHYSICAL SCIENCES PRACTICAL WORKSHEET 2019

GRAGE 10 PRESCRIBED EXPERIMENT 2

30
Name of school:_________________________________________ converted mark

Name of Learner:________________________________________

Topic: Electric circuits with resistors in series and parallel – measuring potential difference
and current.

Aim: To investigate currents and potential differences in series and parallel circuits.

Apparatus

• Three 1,5V batteries

• Three bulbs / globes
• Connecting wires
• Bulb holders
• Ammeter / Multimeter
• Voltage / Multimeter

Method

1. Connect an ammeter and globe number 1 to the supply as

shown in the circuit diagram. The longest line in the
symbol for the supply represents its positive terminal.

2. On the diagram, mark the red terminal of the ammeter

with an 'R' sign.

3. Measure the current, I1 =________________________

(1)

4. Write the reading on the ammeter next to its symbol on the diagram.

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5. Add globe 2 in series with globe 1 as shown in the
diagram below.

6. Measure the current, I2 =_____________ (1)

7. Write the reading on the ammeter next to its symbol on

the diagram.

Components in electric circuits offer opposition to the flow of electrons. This opposition is called
resistance. The total resistance of a circuit depends on the components used and the way they are
connected. The greater the total resistance, the smaller the current driven by the cell/power
supply.

8. What change occurred to the total resistance of the circuit when the extra globe was added?
____________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________ (2)

9. Move the ammeter to the positions marked with an 'X' in the above diagram and write the
current present next to each 'X'.
Current I3 with ammeter between Globe 1 and Globe 2 = _______________ (1)
Current I4 with ammeter between negative (–ve) terminal of battery and Globe
2 = _______________ (1)

10. What conclusion can be drawn about the current in a series circuit? (2)
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

11. Across which globe would a voltmeter measure the greater potential difference?
__________________ (1)

12. The diagram opposite shows how to measure the potential

difference across globe 1 with a voltmeter. Mark with an
'R', the red terminal of the meter.

Note the difference in the type of connections of the meters. The

ammeter is connected into the circuit and the voltmeter is added
on to the circuit.

13. Connect a voltmeter as shown and write its reading next to the symbol on the diagram.
Voltmeter reading, V1 = ________________ (1)

14. Measure the potential difference (PD) across globe 2 and write its value next to globe 2.
Voltmeter reading, V1 = ________________ (1)

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15. Measure the PD across the power supply. The supply must be operating the globes when
you make the measurement. State your result. (2)
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

16. What is the sum of the PD's across globes 1 and 2? ______________ (1)

17. What conclusion regarding PD around a series circuit, is suggested by your results? (2)
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

Your results should show that the same number of electrons is passing through each globe every
second but the globes are not the same brightness. The electrons must find it more difficult to
pass through one of the globes. A larger energy transfer occurs when they move through the
globe offering the greater opposition to the flow.

18. Which of the two globes has the higher resistance? ________________ (1)

19. Unscrew one globe. What effect does this have on the circuit? (1)
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

20. Explain why this occurs? (1)

____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

Now connect the globes in a parallel arrangement as shown

below.

21. Write the reading on the ammeter next to its symbol on the
diagram.
Measure the current, I5 =___________ (1)

22. Compare this latest reading with the current in the circuit when only globe 1 was present.
Compare I1 and I5 (1)
______________________________________________________________________

23. What change occurs to the total resistance when a parallel connection is added to a circuit?
___________________________________________________________________ (1)

24. Unscrew globe 1 and watch the ammeter. What change occurred to the current? (1)
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

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25. Repeat the procedure but this time concentrates on the brightness of globe 2. Describe your
observations. (1)
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

26. In which type of circuit are the components working independently of each other? (Series
or Parallel) (1)
______________________________________________________________________

27. In which type of circuit do changes to one component affect the other components? (Series
or Parallel) (1)
______________________________________________________________________

28. Move the ammeter to the points in the circuit marked as 'X'. Write the current measured next
to each 'X'.
Current I6 with ammeter placed along Globe 1 = _______________ (1)
Current I7 with ammeter placed along Globe 2 = _______________ (1)

29. What is the sum of the currents through globes 1 and 2? (1)

I8 = I6 + I7 = _________________

30. Compare your answers to Questions 21 and 29. Compare I5 and I8 (1)

____________________________________________________________________

31. What general rule for the currents in a parallel circuit, is suggested by your results? (1)

__________________________________________________________________

32. Use the voltmeter to measure the PD across each globe and write the values next to the globes
on the last diagram.

Voltmeter reading across globe 1, V3 = ________________ (1)

Voltmeter reading across globe 2, V4 = ________________ (1)

33. What conclusion can be drawn regarding the PD's across components connected in parallel,
even though their resistances are OR not equal? (1)
__________________________________________________________________

34. Which of the two globes is brighter when the two are connected to form:

a. a series circuit? __________________ (1)

b. a parallel circuit? ___________________ (1)

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36. Explain why the relative brightness changes when the type of circuit is changed. Hint
- think of which quantity current or potential difference is the same for each type of circuit.
(2)

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

37. Imagine you have two identical globes. What type of connection would cause the total
amount of light and heat emitted to be:

a. less than the amount emitted by a single globe?________________ (1)

b. more than the amount emitted by a single globe? ________________ (1)

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