BREAKING
Student sits three sciences, gets two grades, wants a recount★Cover teacher explains biology using only physics equations★Nation in shock as student wears goggles on actual eyes★
  1. Home
  2. GCSE
  3. Combined Science
  4. OCR
  5. Series and parallel circuits

OCR GCSE Combined Science

Topic questions Electricity Series and parallel circuits

Series and parallel circuits

12 questions · 79 marks · about 1.5 hours

Series and parallel circuits questions

TopicSeries and parallel circuits

OCR J250 Series and parallel circuits 12 questions

Physics Paper 11 June 2025 Higher tier, Question 17 6 marks

Some scientists are comparing the resistance of circuits.

Their first circuit contains one lamp, a cell, an ammeter, a voltmeter and some connecting leads.

(a)

Draw a circuit diagram to show how they should connect these components.

Diagram

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 17(a)
(b)

The scientists build more circuits, each time adding one more lamp to their circuit.

The table shows their results.

Number of lampsPotential difference across each lamp (V)Total resistance in the circuit ()
16.05.0
26.03.8
36.03.3
46.02.9
56.02.6
66.02.4

Calculate the largest current through the cell observed by the scientists.

Use the equation: potential difference = current × resistance

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 17(b)
(c)

Explain how the scientists connected the additional five lamps.

Use their results from the table. You can use a diagram.

Optional diagram

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 17(c)

Physics Paper 5 June 2024 Foundation tier, Question 7 1 mark

The resistors shown in A, B, C and D are identical.

Which arrangement has the smallest resistance?

Figure for question 7
Question 7, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 7

Physics Paper 5 June 2023 Foundation tier, Question 11 15 marks

(a)

Draw lines to connect each circuit component with its correct symbol.

Circuit component
Symbol

Figure for question 11
[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 11(a)
(b)
Figure for question 11
[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 11(b)
(c)
Figure for question 11
[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 11(c)
(d)

The potential difference across a 3 maths symbol resistor is 4.5 V.

Calculate the current in the resistor.

Use the Equation Sheet.

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 11(d)
(e)(i)

A teacher connects the circuit in Fig. 11.2. Fig. 11.2

Figure for question 11

Both lamps are lit. The teacher then removes lamp A from its holder but leaves the rest of the circuit unchanged.

Describe what happens. Give a reason for your answer.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 11(e)(i)
(e)(ii)

The teacher connects the circuit in Fig. 11.3. Fig. 11.3

Figure for question 11

Both lamps are lit. The teacher then removes lamp A.

Describe what happens. Give a reason for your answer.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 11(e)(ii)
(f)

The graph shows how the current in a resistor changes when the potential difference across the resistor changes.

Figure for question 11

Which two statements about the graph are correct?

Tick (✓) two boxes.

Question 11, shown as an image
[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 11(f)

Physics Paper 11 June 2023 Higher tier, Question 13 10 marks

A student builds the circuit shown in the diagram. W, X, Y and Z are points in the circuit.

Figure for question 13
(a)

Calculate the potential difference between Y and Z.

Use the Equation Sheet.

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 13(a)
(b)

The resistance of the circuit between Y and Z must be less than 10 maths symbol.

Explain why.

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 13(b)
(c)

Calculate the current at W.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 13(c)
(d)

Which statement describes the values of the current at W and X ?

Tick (✓) one box.

Question 13, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 13(d)
(e)

Calculate the power dissipated by one of the 10 maths symbol resistors.

Use the Equation Sheet.

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 13(e)

Physics Paper 11 June 2022 Higher tier, Question 12 5 marks

A teacher builds the circuit shown in the diagram.

Figure for question 12
(a)

Give the total resistance of the circuit.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 12(a)
(b)

The voltmeter reads 4 V.

Calculate the ammeter reading. Use the Data Sheet.

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 12(b)
(c)

Calculate the potential difference across the cell.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 12(c)

Physics Paper 5 November 2021 Foundation tier, Question 5 1 mark

Both lamps in this circuit are identical.

Question 5, shown as an image
Figure for question 5

The current at point X is 0.2 A.

What is the current at point Y ?

A 0.1 A

B 0.2 A

C 0.4 A

D 0.6 A

Question 5, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 5

Physics Paper 11 November 2021 Higher tier, Question 4 1 mark

Circuits X and Y contain identical lamps.

Figure for question 4

Which statement explains why circuit X has a higher resistance than circuit Y ?

A In circuit X each lamp has the full potential difference across it.

B In circuit X the current is the same at all points.

C In circuit Y the current is the same at all points.

D In circuit Y there are two pathways for current.

Question 4, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4

Physics Paper 11 June 2019 Higher tier, Question 4 1 mark

A student connects this electrical circuit. The resistors are identical.

Figure for question 4

Ammeter A1 reads 1.6 A when the switch S is open.

What does ammeter A2 read when switch S is closed?

A 0.0 A

B 0.8 A

C 1.6 A

D 3.2 A

Question 4, shown as an image
[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 4

Physics Paper 5 June 2018 Foundation tier, Question 11 9 marks

A student has one cell and two lamps. She wishes to connect them so that both lamps have maximum brightness.

(a)

Draw a complete circuit diagram to show how she can achieve this.

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 11(a)
(b)

The student then investigates an unknown component. She records values for current through the component and the potential difference across the component.

Potential difference (V)Current (A)
1.00.5
2.01.0
3.01.5
4.02.0
5.02.5
(b)(i)

Plot a graph of the data and draw a line of best fit.

One of the points has already been completed for you.

Figure for question 11
[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 11(b)(i)
(b)(ii)

Describe what these results show.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 11(b)(ii)
(b)(iii)

Calculate the resistance of the unknown component.

Use the equation: Resistance = Potential difference ÷ Current

[2]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 11(b)(iii)

Physics Paper 5 June 2018 Foundation tier, Question 16, also on the Higher paper 12 marks

(a)

A student uses a small motor to lift a toy car through a vertical distance of 1.0 m.

Figure for question 16

The car has a weight of 0.05 N.

(a)(i)

Calculate the work done when lifting the car through this distance.

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 16(a)(i)
(a)(ii)

Calculate the power of the motor if the car takes 5.0 seconds to travel the 1.0 m distance.

State the unit.

[4]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 16(a)(ii)
(b)

The motor uses 2 cells in series.

Each cell has a potential difference of 1.5 V.

(b)(i)

Write down the total potential difference of the cells.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 16(b)(i)
(b)(ii)

The motor has a resistance of 6.0 maths symbol.

Calculate the current in the circuit when the motor is in use.

Use the equation: Potential difference = Current × Resistance

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 16(b)(ii)
(c)

The student wishes to increase the time taken to lift this toy car vertically through the 1.0 m distance shown.

Suggest a change he could make to this experiment to achieve this.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 16(c)

Physics Paper 11 June 2018 Higher tier, Question 11, also on the Foundation paper 12 marks

(a)

A student uses a small motor to lift a toy car through a vertical distance of 1.0 m.

Figure for question 11

The car has a weight of 0.05 N.

(a)(i)

Calculate the work done when lifting the car through this distance.

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 11(a)(i)
(a)(ii)

Calculate the power of the motor if the car takes 5.0 seconds to travel the 1.0 m distance.

State the unit.

[4]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 11(a)(ii)
(b)

The motor uses 2 cells in series.

Each cell has a potential difference of 1.5 V.

(b)(i)

Write down the total potential difference of the cells.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 11(b)(i)
(b)(ii)

The motor has a resistance of 6.0 maths symbol.

Calculate the current in the circuit when the motor is in use.

Use the equation: Potential difference = Current × Resistance

[3]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 11(b)(ii)
(c)

The student wishes to increase the time taken to lift this toy car vertically through the 1.0 m distance shown.

Suggest a change he could make to this experiment to achieve this.

[1]
Reveal mark scheme Mark scheme for question 11(c)

Report a problem with a question on this page
What is wrong?

Goes to whoever maintains the question split. No account needed and nothing is published on this page.

Memes

Certified Combined Science memes. Peer-reviewed by nobody.

Laugh now. Cry in the exam hall later. Then come back and do a past paper.

Revise all three sciences
Just revise the fun one
Me the night before the chemistry paper
Knowing it's three sciences
Knowing which teacher does which
Remembering which equations are given
Remembering which science you're actually sitting today
Science enlightenment, combined

Mum 💖

which science is it today? 🥰

all of them somehow

go on genius!!! 💪

📱 Screen time this week · YouTube6h 21m

None of them were revised

Combined Science starter pack

Goggles worn on foreheadBunsen on the yellow flamePractical write-up, half doneThis website
Three sciences, four items