Lesson 3.2.1

3.2.1 Current and potential difference in circuits Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Physics, Unit 3

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

In partnership with Revision Ninja

Lesson 3.2.1, Current and potential difference in circuits: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel Physics (9PH0), Unit 3: Electric Circuits, written with Revision Ninja.

Host it live on the board and students join with a game code on their own devices, or revise alone with Free Play. The answers are revealed in the game.

Host this setFree Play

The 20 questions

  1. Kirchhoff's first law is a statement of the conservation of which quantity?

    • Voltage
    • Energy
    • Momentum
    • Charge

  2. Kirchhoff's second law is a statement of the conservation of which quantity?

    • Energy
    • Current
    • Charge
    • Resistance

  3. In a series circuit with a 12 V supply and resistors of 4.0 ohm and 2.0 ohm, what is the current?

    • 2.0 A
    • 3.0 A
    • 0.5 A
    • 6.0 A

  4. Using the same series circuit (12 V, 4.0 ohm and 2.0 ohm, 2.0 A), what is the potential difference across the 4.0 ohm resistor?

    • 12 V
    • 8.0 V
    • 4.0 V
    • 2.0 V

  5. In a parallel junction, one branch carries 1.5 A and another carries 0.5 A. What is the total current from the supply?

    • 2.0 A
    • 1.0 A
    • 0.75 A
    • 3.0 A

  6. At a junction, 3.0 A flows in. One outgoing branch carries 1.2 A. What is the current in the other outgoing branch?

    • 1.8 A
    • 0.6 A
    • 4.2 A
    • 3.6 A

  7. Two identical lamps are connected in series with a 6.0 V cell. Each lamp is 3.0 ohm. What is the current in each lamp?

    • 3.0 A
    • 1.0 A
    • 0.5 A
    • 2.0 A

  8. A 9.0 V supply is connected across a 3.0 ohm resistor and a 6.0 ohm resistor in parallel. What is the total current from the supply?

    • 4.5 A
    • 1.5 A
    • 6.0 A
    • 3.0 A

  9. Two identical lamps are connected in series. How does their brightness compare to one lamp?

    • Brighter
    • Same brightness
    • Dimmer
    • Turned off

  10. How must an ammeter and a voltmeter be connected in a circuit?

    • Series and parallel
    • Both in parallel
    • Parallel and series
    • Both in series

  11. If one lamp breaks in a parallel circuit, what happens to remaining lamps?

    • They turn off
    • Unaffected
    • They get dimmer
    • They get brighter

  12. A 12 V cell drives current through a 2.0 ohm resistor in series with a 4.0 ohm resistor. What is the power dissipated in the 2.0 ohm resistor?

    • 4.0 W
    • 16 W
    • 32 W
    • 8.0 W

  13. Which electrical quantity is identical at every point in a series circuit?

    • Current
    • Resistance
    • Power
    • Potential difference

  14. In a parallel circuit, which quantity is the same across each branch?

    • The power
    • The potential difference
    • The resistance
    • The current

  15. A 6.0 V cell drives a current through a 2.0 ohm resistor and a 4.0 ohm resistor in series. What is the potential difference across the 4.0 ohm resistor?

    • 6.0 V
    • 1.5 V
    • 2.0 V
    • 4.0 V

  16. A 12 V supply is connected across two identical resistors in series. What is the potential difference across one resistor?

    • 3.0 V
    • 6.0 V
    • 24 V
    • 12 V

  17. Three branches of a parallel circuit carry currents of 2.0 A, 1.0 A and 0.5 A. What is the total current?

    • 3.5 A
    • 5.0 A
    • 1.5 A
    • 2.5 A

  18. Adding another lamp in series to a circuit causes total current to do what?

    • Decrease
    • Increase
    • Double
    • Stay the same

  19. How is total supply current calculated for components connected in parallel?

    • Difference of currents
    • Sum of currents
    • Same in each
    • Product of currents

  20. A 5.0 V supply powers a circuit with a 2.0 A current through a single resistor. What is the resistance?

    • 3.0 ohm
    • 0.4 ohm
    • 10 ohm
    • 2.5 ohm

All Pearson Edexcel Physics quizzes