CHAPER 15

DC Circuit

At the end of the lesson, I can…

1. DRAW circuit diagrams with power sources (cell, battery, d.c. supply
or a.c. supply), switches, lamps, resistors (fixed and variable),
variable potential divider (potentiometer), fuses, ammeters and
voltmeters, bells, light-dependent resistors, thermistors and light-
emitting diodes
2. STATE that the current at every point in a series circuit is the same
and apply the principle to new situations or to solve related
problems
3. STATE that the sum of the potential differences in a series circuit is
equal to the potential difference across the whole circuit and apply
the principle to new situations or to solve related problems
4. STATE that the sum of the currents in the separate branches of a
parallel circuit and apply the principle to new situations or to solve
related problems
5. STATE that the potential difference across the separate branches of a
parallel circuit is the same and apply the principle to new situations
or to solve related problems
6. RECALL and APPLY the formulae for the effective resistance of a
number of resistors in series and in parallel to new situations or to
solve related problems
7. RECALL and APPLY the relevant relationships, including R = V / I and
those for current, potential differences and resistors in series and in
parallel circuits, in calculations involving a whole circuit
8. DESCRIBE the action of a variable potential divider (potentiometer)
9. DESCRIBE the action of negative temperature coefficient (NTC)
thermistors and light-dependent resistors and explain their use as
input transducers in potential dividers
10. SOLVE simple circuit problems involving NTC thermistors and light-
dependent resistors.

DC Circuit 1
 1. Circuit Symbols and Diagrams

1.1 Commonly used circuit symbols:

1.2 Examples of circuit diagrams.

DC Circuit 2
QUESTION: Draw a circuit diagram for the following circuit:

2. Series Circuits

2.1 When the components (resistors, light bulb, etc.) are connected one after the other,
end to end, they are in series. A series circuit has only one path in which
the current can flow.

Series and Parallel

Circuits Simulator

No branching

2.2 For the series circuit ABCD, the resistance of resistors R1 and R2 are R1 and R2.
2.3 Ammeters A1, A2 and A3 measure the currents at various points of the series circuit.
Ammeter has no pd across it in a circuit.

DC Circuit 3
2.4 Voltmeters V1, V2 and V3 measure the voltages (pd or emf) at various points of the
series circuit. Voltmeter has no current flowing through it in a circuit.
2.5 When resistors are connected in series:
• the current through each resistor is the same, I1 = I 2 ,

• the total pd across all the resistors is equal to the sum of the pds
across each resistor, V3 = V1 + V2 .

• effective (total) resistance

RT = R1 + R2

2.6 The effective (total) resistance is the sum of individual resistances and is larger

than the largest resistance of the combination.

QUESTION: Find the resistances of the following combinations of resistors.

2.5 +7.5 = 10 Ω 10 +20 + 30 = 60 Ω

QUESTION: The current IO in the circuit is 1.5 A, find I1, I2, I3, V1, V2, V3, and the total resistance
of the circuit.

I1 = I2 = I3 = Io =1.5 A
V1 = I1 R1 = 1.5 × 3.5 = 5.3 V
V2 = I2 R2 = 1.5 × 2.5 = 3.8 V
V3 = V1 + V2 =5.25 + 3.75 = 8.7 V

DC Circuit 4
 3. Parallel Circuits

3.1 Electrical components (resistors, light bulb, etc.) are connected in parallel when they
are connected across two common points. For the circuit ABCD, R1 and
R2 are arranged in parallel with resistance R1 and R2 respectively.

Series and Parallel

Circuits Simulator

Branching at B
Recombining at C

3.2 When resistors are connected in parallel:

• the pd across each resistor is the same, V1 = V2 ,

• the total current flowing into and out of the parallel branches is equal to
the
sum of the currents in each resistor, I3 = I1 + I2 = I 4 .
• total resistance
3.3 The effective (total) resistance is smaller than the smallest resistance of

combination.

DC Circuit 5
QUESTION: Find the resistances of the following combinations of resistors.

1/RT = 1/2.5 +1/7.5 Ω 1/RT = 1/2.5 +1/7.5 Ω

RT = 1.9 Ω RT = 5.5 Ω

QUESTION: Find the values of V1, V2, I1, I2 and I3.

V1 = V2 = 3.5 V
I1 = V1 /R1 = 3.5 ÷ 3.0 = 1.2 A
I2 = V1 /R2 = 3.5 ÷ 4.0 = 0.88 A
I3 = I1 + I2 = 1.2 +0.88 = 2.1 A

DC Circuit 6
 4. Potential Divider

4.1 Potential divider is a series circuit that produces an output voltage

(Vout) that is a fraction of its input voltage (Vin). Source of this input can an Potential Divider
Calculator

emf. Resistors R1 and R2 can be fixed or variable.

4.2 The output voltage of a potential divider is:

R2
Vout = Vin
R1 + R2

QUESTION: A 10 Ω resistor and a 20 Ω resistor forms a potential divider. What is the pd V

across the 20 Ω resistor?

V= 20/(10 + 20) × 10 = 6.7 V

DC Circuit 7
QUESTION: A potential divider formed with two resistors: one fixed, and one variable. What
are the minimum and maximum readings that can be obtained on the voltmeter when the
variable resistor is adjusted?

When the resistance is 0 Ω,

V = 0/(6 + 0) × 10 = 0 V

When resistance is 6 Ω,
V = 6/(6 + 6) × 10 = 5.0 V

4. Input Transducers

4.1 An input transducer, or sensor, convert changes in physical conditions, such as

pressure, temperature, or light, into electrical signals so that these

physical conditions can be measured.

4.2 Input transducers are used as part of a potential divider circuit to control
the change according to changes in the environment.

4.3 Thermistor. The resistance of a thermistor changes with temperature. Its

resistance decreases as its temperature increases.

RTH
V TH = VO
RTH + R
R
VR = VO
RTH + R

DC Circuit 8
Question: Complete the following table for a thermistor circuit.

temp / °C 30 40 50 60
RTH / kΩ 24 16 11 7.7
R / kΩ 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.7
VTH / V 10 9.2 8.4 7.5
VR / V 1.9 2.7 3.6 4.5
VO / V 12 12 12 12

4.3 Light-dependent resistor (LDR). The resistance of a LDR changes with

intensity of light falls on it. Its resistance decreases as the intensity of
light increases.

RLDR
VLDR = VO
RLDR + R
R
VR = VO
RLDR + R

Question: Complete the following table for a LDR circuit.

Light ON OFF
RLDR / kΩ 5.5 35
R / kΩ 10 10
VLDR / V 2.1 4.7
VR / V 3.9 1.3
VO / V 6.0 6.0

DC Circuit 9