Measuring current in
a parallel circuit
Science
Unit: Resistance and parallel circuits
Teacher Guidance
Oak’s lesson structure Useful links
Oak’s lessons are structured around learning cycles. How our teaching resources are designed for
These are indicated through colour in the slide deck: the classroom
Each learning cycle covers several phases:
Outcome
I can describe how to measure current through each
branch of a parallel circuit.
Keywords
ammeter a device that measures the current
flowing in a circuit
amps the unit that current is measured in (short for
amperes), represented by the symbol A
branch a separate loop in a parallel circuit
parallel circuit a circuit with more than one complete loop, from one
end of a battery round to the other end
Lesson outline
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
The rule for current in parallel circuits
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Explanation
An ammeter measures the current that flows in a
wire in amps (A).
Current in a wire is the amount of electric charge that moves
through a branch of wire each second.
charges moving
through a wire
GIF from a simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Explanation
The animation below shows how current flows in a
parallel circuit.
a large current
flows in the
battery branch
smaller currents
flow in the other
branches
GIF from a simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Check
True or false?
The current in all parts of a parallel circuit is the same.
T True F False
Justify your answer
a
At a junction, the current splits and
so is reduced.
b Each branch has the same
resistance and so the same current.
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Explanation
The current in each branch is measured differently.
To measure the current
break the
through the cell …
circuit …
A
then connect
the ammeter.
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Explanation
The ammeter must be
directly connected to the cell.
or here
A A
It can be placed
or here A A
here …
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Explanation
The ammeter can be connected anywhere along the
top branch, before the junctions.
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Check
Which of the following circuits show an ammeter in the correct
position to measure the current through the cell?
a b c
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Explanation
To find the current through the resistor, the ammeter
should be connected in the middle branch.
here or here
A A
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Check
Which of the following circuits show an ammeter in the correct
position to measure the current through the resistor?
a b c
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Explanation
To find the current through the lamp, the ammeter
should be connected in the lower branch.
in any of
A A
these
positions A A
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Check
Which of the following circuits show an ammeter in the correct
position to measure the current through the lamp?
a b c
Task A Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Practice
1) Set up circuit A and measure the current through the cell.
2) Measure the current through each branch.
3) Record all of your measurements.
4) Repeat steps 1 to 3 for circuits B and C.
A B C
5Ω 5Ω 10 Ω
10 Ω
Task A Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Feedback
Sample results of current in branches:
A B
cell: 0.45 A cell: 0.50 A
5Ω 5Ω
5 Ω resistor: 0.30 A 5 Ω resistor: 0.30 A
10 Ω
10 Ω resistor: 0.15 A lamp: 0.20 A
C
cell: 0.35 A
10 Ω
10 Ω resistor: 0.15 A
lamp: 0.20 A
Lesson outline
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
Measuring current in a parallel circuit
The rule for current in parallel circuits
The rule for current in parallel circuits
Explanation
In circuit A, the currents in the branches were:
cell: 0.45 A
0.30 + 0.15 = 0.45 A
5Ω 0.30 A The current in the cell branch is
equal to the sum of the current in
10 Ω
0.15 A the other branches.
The rule for current in parallel circuits
Explanation
In circuit B, the currents in the branches were:
cell: 0.50 A
0.30 + 0.20 = 0.50 A
5Ω 0.30 A
The current in the cell branch is
equal to the sum of the current in
0.20 A the other branches again.
The rule for current in parallel circuits
Explanation
In circuit C, the currents in the branches were:
cell: 0.35 A
0.15 + 0.20 = 0.35 A
10 Ω 0.15 A
Again, the current in the cell
branch is equal to the sum of the
0.20 A current in the other branches.
The rule for current in parallel circuits
Check
What is the current through the cell in the circuit shown?
a 0.2 A
b 0.3 A
c 0.4 A
d 0.5 A
0.2 + 0.3 = 0.5 A
The rule for current in parallel circuits
Explanation
The rule for current at junctions is that the total
current flowing into the junction equals the total
current flowing out of the junction.
current going in
equals current
going out
GIF from a simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0
The rule for current in parallel circuits
Explanation
The total current flowing into and out of a junction is
the same.
0.45 A flows
into the
junction 5Ω
0.30 + 0.15 = 0.45 A 0.30 A
flows out of the
0.15 A
junction 10 Ω
The rule for current in parallel circuits
Explanation
The total current flowing into and out of a junction is
the same.
0.45 A flows out
of the junction
5Ω
0.30 A 0.30 + 0.15 = 0.45 A
flows into the
0.15 A
10 Ω junction
The rule for current in parallel circuits
Check
What is the current through the lamp in the circuit shown?
a 0.2 A
b 0.4 A
c 0.6 A
d 0.8 A
The rule for current in parallel circuits
Explanation
The current in the branch with a lower resistance is
higher. lower
resistance
5Ω 0.30 A
higher
10 Ω 0.15 A current
The rule for current in parallel circuits
Check
Which of the following gives the correct current through the
resistor and the lamp in the circuit shown?
a resistor 0.6 A lamp 0.6 A
b resistor 0.6 A lamp 0.4 A
c resistor 0.3 A lamp 0.3 A
d resistor 0.2 A lamp 0.4 A
The rule for current in parallel circuits
Explanation
With the same cell, the current through identical
components (with the same resistance) is the same.
0.45 A 0.50 A 0.35 A
5Ω 0.30 A 5Ω 10 Ω
0.30 A 0.15 A
10 Ω 0.15 A 0.20 A 0.20 A
The rule for current in parallel circuits
Check
True or false?
The current through the lamp in the circuit shown will be 0.3 A if it
has a resistance of 7 Ω.
T True F False
Justify your answer
Fewer components on a branch will
a
cause the current to change.
The voltage pushing the current
b
through each branch is the same.
Task B The rule for current in parallel circuits
Practice
Laura and Lucas have built the circuit shown and are predicting the size
of the current through the lamp and resistor.
A larger current flows A larger current flows
through the resistor than through the lamp than
the lamp because it has a the resistor because it is
smaller resistance. closer to the cell.
Laura Lucas
Identify whether each pupil is correct or incorrect and explain why?
Task B The rule for current in parallel circuits
Feedback
Identify whether each pupil is correct or incorrect and explain why?
Laura is correct and Lucas is incorrect.
The voltage across both branches is the same.
There will be a bigger current through the resistor since it has a lower
resistance than the lamp.
The distance of the components from the cell does not affect the
current as the wires do not resist the current.
Summary Measuring current in a parallel circuit
In a parallel circuit, current flows in all the branches.
The current splits at the junctions, and the total current going
into a junction is the same as the total current coming out of
the junction.
When measuring the current in a loop, an ammeter must be
placed in between the junctions at each end of the loop.
Each loop will have the same voltage across it, so the current
in the loop will depend on the resistance of the loop. A high
resistance will give a lower current.
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