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Series and parallel circuits
Explore series and parallel circuits within electrical circuits. Use conservation of charge at junctions and conservation of energy around loops. Real sources have internal resistance, so terminal voltage can change with current.
Specification outcomes (6)
- 4.3.1(a) Apply Kirchhoff’s second law as conservation of energy in electrical circuits.
- 4.3.1(b) Apply Kirchhoff’s first and second laws to analyse electrical circuits.
- 4.3.1(c) Calculate total resistance of resistors in series using R = R₁ + R₂ + …
- 4.3.1(d) Calculate total resistance of resistors in parallel using 1/R = 1/R₁ + 1/R₂ + …
- 4.3.1(e) Analyse circuits with components including both series and parallel arrangements.
- 4.3.1(f) Analyse circuits with more than one source of e.m.f.
H156 v2.0 · May 2026
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