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Institute of Physics
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Episode 113: Preparation for Series and Parallel Circuits Topic
This series of activities, from the Institute of Physics, explores ideas about electricity applied to circuits that have real applications. Each learning episode is self-contained and tackles a particular topic. In this series the topics are:
Episode 114: Components in series and parallel
Episode 115: Energy and power
Episode 116: Using energy and power equations
Episode 117: Kirchhoff’s laws
Episode 118: Potential dividers
In following the activities in this section, students will:
1. calculate resistances of series and parallel combinations of resistors
2. investigate the power of a filament lamp
3. use energy and power equations, including calculations of cost
4. test and use Kirchhoff’s laws
5. use potential dividers to control potential difference and to build a sensor.
Prior to this topic, students should be able to distinguish between charge, current and voltage. They should understand the definition of resistance, and be competent in handling equations involving these four quantities. This topic also revisits ideas about energy transfers in electric circuits.
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