Lesson 6.2.2

6.2.2 Series and parallel circuits Quiz: AQA Combined Science, Unit 19

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 6.2.2, Series and parallel circuits: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE Combined Science (8464), Unit 19: Electricity, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. How does the current compare through each component in a series circuit?

    • It is the same
    • Largest at the start
    • It divides equally
    • Zero at the end

  2. What is the total resistance of a 4 ohm resistor and a 6 ohm resistor connected in series?

    • 2.4 ohms
    • 24 ohms
    • 6 ohms
    • 10 ohms

  3. How is the total potential difference shared across components in a series circuit?

    • Concentrated on one
    • Shared between them
    • Zero across resistors
    • Equal across each

  4. What is true for the potential difference across separate branches in a parallel circuit?

    • It is the same
    • Zero in branches
    • Proportional to current
    • It is shared

  5. How does total current relate to branch currents in a parallel circuit?

    • Difference of branches
    • Equal to one branch
    • Sum of branches
    • Product of branches

  6. How does the total resistance of two resistors in parallel compare to the smallest resistor?

    • Equal to smallest
    • Sum of both
    • Less than smallest
    • Greater than largest

  7. Why does adding a resistor in series increase total circuit resistance?

    • Extra opposition
    • Higher voltage source
    • Extra current path
    • Shorter wire length

  8. What best describes the layout of a series circuit?

    • Multiple independent loops
    • A single path
    • Crossed mesh network
    • Parallel branches

  9. Two 5 ohm lamps are connected in series to a 12 V supply. What is the current in the circuit?

    • 1.2 A
    • 2.4 A
    • 0.42 A
    • 6 A

  10. A 3 ohm and a 9 ohm resistor are in series with a current of 2 A. What is the supply potential difference?

    • 6 V
    • 18 V
    • 54 V
    • 24 V

  11. In a series circuit with a 6 V supply, a 2 ohm and a 4 ohm resistor are connected. What is the potential difference across the 4 ohm resistor?

    • 2 V
    • 6 V
    • 4 V
    • 1.5 V

  12. Three 10 ohm resistors are connected in series. What is their total resistance?

    • 10 ohms
    • 100 ohms
    • 3.3 ohms
    • 30 ohms

  13. What happens to circuit current when an extra lamp is added in series?

    • It decreases
    • It stays the same
    • It increases
    • It drops to zero

  14. Two identical bulbs are connected in parallel across a 6 V cell. What is the potential difference across each bulb?

    • 0 V
    • 3 V
    • 6 V
    • 12 V

  15. Why does a parallel circuit stay lit if one branch lamp is disconnected?

    • Current stops flowing
    • Resistance becomes zero
    • Voltage increases
    • Other paths remain

  16. A supply of 9 V is connected across two equal resistors in series. What is the potential difference across each resistor?

    • 4.5 V
    • 9 V
    • 18 V
    • 3 V

  17. A series circuit has a total resistance of 15 ohms and a current of 0.4 A. What is the supply potential difference?

    • 2.4 V
    • 6 V
    • 15.4 V
    • 37.5 V

  18. Three series resistors of 2 ohms, 3 ohms and 5 ohms are on a 12 V supply. What is the potential difference across the 5 ohm resistor?

    • 2.4 V
    • 12 V
    • 1.2 V
    • 6 V

  19. Why does adding a branch in parallel reduce total circuit resistance?

    • Blocks current flow
    • Removes components
    • Increases resistivity
    • Provides another path

  20. Resistors R1 = 3 ohms and R2 = 7 ohms are in series on a 20 V supply. What potential difference appears across R2?

    • 14 V
    • 20 V
    • 6 V
    • 10 V

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