Potential divider practice
Calculate outputs, choose a resistor and predict LDR, thermistor and loading effects.
DC circuit questions
Solve series, parallel and mixed networks; calculate charge, energy and power.
Practise
Current in a branchA 70 Ω resistor and a 60 Ω resistor are in parallel across an ideal 12 V supply. Find current through the 70 Ω branch. Give your answer to 3 significant figures.
Ideal DC supply, wires and meters. Resistors have constant resistance; heating does not change their values.
Larger diagram
Treat the given values as exact unless an uncertainty is stated.
Hint
Each parallel branch has the full supply potential difference. Use that branch’s resistance.
Worked solution
- I_1 = 12/70 A.
- Answer: 0.171 A (3 significant figures).
Question type: Current in a branch
Report a problem
Follow current and potential difference
Series components carry the same current; their potential differences add. Parallel branches have the same potential difference; their currents add. Kirchhoff’s junction rule expresses conservation of charge, and the loop rule expresses conservation of energy.
Reduce a network in stages
Series resistances add. For two parallel resistors, R = R1R2/(R1 + R2); this result is smaller than either branch resistance. Find a parallel pair’s resistance before adding a series resistor. Supply current and branch current need different resistance values.
Charge, energy and power
Q = It, E = VQ, and P = VI = I²R = V²/R for the same resistor. Convert minutes to seconds before finding charge. These tasks use an ideal supply and constant resistances. Internal resistance, sensors and dividers have separate practice pages; multiple-source loops and nonlinear components are not covered here.
A-level relevance
AQA 7408: 3.5.1.1, 3.5.1.4 (selected); OCR A H556: 4.1.1; 4.2.1–2; 4.3.1 (selected). Tasks cover the selected skills listed above.