2010 Question 6: Series – Parallel Combination Circuit
(a) State Ohm's Law in words and formula form.
In words:
Ohms law states that the current flowing in a circuit is directly proportional to
voltage and inversely proportional to resistance at a constant temperature and
pressure.
Formula form:
I = V/R
(b) Name TWO types of materials which are used as conductors of electricity.
1. Copper
2. Aluminum
(c) State TWO applications of resistors in electronic circuits. (2 marks)
1. It is used to limit the current flow in the circuit.
2. It is used as a voltage divider in circuits, where the voltage divider gives you a
fraction of the input voltage, this is commonly used in amplifier circuits.
(d) Give TWO reasons why domestic electric lamp circuits are connected in parallel. (2
marks)
1. You get a constant voltage.
2. If one lamp is not working, it will not affect the other lamps in the circuit.
(e) Figure 1 shows a series-parallel circuit.
Calculate:
(i) The total resistance of the circuit, as seen from the source of emf. (4 marks)
𝑹𝟒 × 𝑹𝟓 𝟔Ω × 𝟔Ω 𝟑𝟔Ω^𝟐
Req1 = = = = 3Ω
𝑹𝟒+𝑹𝟓 𝟔Ω +𝟔Ω 𝟏𝟐Ω
Req2 = R3 + Req1 = 3Ω + 3Ω = 6Ω
𝑹𝟐 × 𝑹𝒆𝒒𝟐 𝟔Ω × 𝟔Ω 𝟑𝟔Ω^𝟐
Req3 = = = = 3Ω
𝑹𝟐+𝑹𝒆𝒒𝟐 𝟔Ω +𝟔Ω 𝟏𝟐Ω
RT = R1 + Req3 = 2Ω + 3Ω = 5Ω
(ii) The total current (IT) flowing in the circuit (2 marks)
IT = VT/RT = 10V/5Ω = 2A
(iii) Power dissipated by the resistor R2 (2 marks)
VReq3 = IT × Req3 = 2A × 3Ω = 6V
PR2 = VR22/R2 = 6V2/6Ω = 36V/6Ω = 6W
(iv) Total current flowing in the circuit if R3 is short circuited (4 marks)
𝑹𝟐 × 𝑹𝒆𝒒𝟏 𝟔Ω × 𝟑Ω 𝟏𝟖Ω^𝟐
Req4 = = = = 2Ω
𝑹𝟐+𝑹𝒆𝒒𝟏 𝟔Ω +𝟑Ω 𝟗Ω
RT = R1 + Req4 = 2Ω+2Ω = 4Ω
IT = VT/RT 10V/4Ω = 2.5A
2013 Question 1: Series – Parallel Combination Circuit
(a) State FOUR factors that affect the resistance of a conductor. (4 marks)
1. Length of the conductor
2. cross-sectional area of the conductor
3. temperature of the conductor
4. types of material
(b) Figure 1 shows the circuit diagram of six resistors connected in a series parallel
combination.
Calculate the:
(i) Equivalent resistance of R1 and R2 (1 mark)
𝐑𝟏×𝐑𝟐 𝟖Ω×𝟖Ω 𝟔𝟒Ω^𝟐
Req1 = = = = 4Ω
𝐑𝟏+𝐑𝟐 𝟖Ω+𝟖Ω 𝟏𝟔Ω
(ii) Equivalent resistance of R4, R5 and R6 (1 mark)
𝟏 𝟏
Req2 = =
𝟏/𝐑𝟒 + 𝟏/𝐑𝟓 + 𝟏/𝐑𝟔 𝟏/𝟏𝟐 + 𝟏/𝟏𝟐 + 𝟏/𝟏𝟐
𝟏 𝟏
Req2 = = = 4Ω
𝟎.𝟎𝟖𝟑 + 𝟎.𝟎𝟖𝟑 + 𝟎.𝟎𝟖𝟑 𝟎.𝟐𝟓
(iii) Total resistance (RT) in the circuit (1 mark)
RT = Req1 + R3 + Req2 = 4Ω + 4Ω + 4Ω = 12Ω
(iv) Total current (IT) in the circuit (1 mark)
IT = VT/RT = 24V/12 = 2A
2014 Question 6: Series – Parallel Combination Circuit
(a) (i) List three types of fix resistor materials used in electronic circuit (3 marks)
1. carbon resistor
2. Thin film resistor
3. thick film resistor
(ii) State the names of TWO circuit components that can vary the electrical resistance in
an electrical circuit (2 marks)
1. Potentiometer
2. rheostat
(b) Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of six resistors connected in series–parallel.
Calculate the
(i) Equivalent resistance of resistors R2, R3, R4 and R5 (3 marks)
Req1 = R2 + R3 = 30Ω + 10Ω = 40Ω
Req2 = R4 + R5 = 15Ω + 25Ω = 40Ω
ReqTotal = (Req1 × Req2)/ (Req1 + Req2)
ReqTotal = (40Ω × 40Ω)/ (40Ω + 40Ω) = 1600Ω2/80Ω = 20Ω
(ii) Total resistance (RT) of the circuit (3 marks)
RT = R1 + Reqtotal + R6 = 10Ω + 20Ω + 6Ω = 36Ω
(iii) Total current (IT) flowing in the circuit (3 marks)
IT = VT/RT = 18V/36Ω = 0.5A
(iv) Current (Ia) flowing through resistor R2 (3 marks)
Veqtotal = I×ReqTotal = 0.5A ×20Ω = 10V
Since Reqtotal is the equivalent of Req1 and Req2 and the voltage drop across
Reqtotal is 10V then the voltage drop across Req1 and Req2 is 10V.
Since Req1 is the equivalent of R2 and R3 connected in series, therefore,
IReq1 = IR2 = VReq1/Req1= 10V/40Ω = 0.25A
(v) Drop in voltage across resistor R3. (3 marks)
VR3 = IReq1 × R3 = 0.25A × 10Ω = 2.5V
2016 Question 1: Color Code and Series – Parallel Combination Circuit
Figure 1 shows a half-watt, colour coded carbon resistor.
(a) State the ohmic value indicated by the colour code on the resistor shown in figure 1. (1
mark)
Brown = 1, black = 0, brown = 10, gold = 5%
Ohmic value = 100Ω ± 5%
(b) Determine the designed HIGHEST ohmic value of the half-watt carbon resistor in figure
1. (1 mark)
tolerance value = Ohmic value / tolerance = 100 × (5/100) = 5Ω
highest ohmic value = Ohmic value + tolerance value = 100Ω + 5Ω = 105Ω
Calculate the
(i) Equivalent resistance of R2, R3, and R4 (2 marks)
Req1 = R3 + R4 = 4Ω + 6Ω = 10Ω
Req2 = R2 × Req1/ (R2 + Req1) = 10Ω×10Ω = 100Ω2/20Ω = 5Ω
(ii) Total resistance (RT) (2 marks)
RT = R1 + Req2 = 5Ω+5Ω = 10Ω
(iii) Total current (IT) (2 marks)
IT = VT/RT = 30V/10Ω = 3A
