Chapter 20 DC Circuits

CAMBRIDGE A LEVEL
PHYSICS
D.C. CIRCUITS
LEARNING OUTCOMES
NUMBER
LEARNING OUTCOME
Understand what are circuits.
ii
Recall symbols of some commonly encountered circuit

element.
iii
L e a r n K i r c h o f f s 1 st a n d 2 nd L a w s .
iv
U s e K i r c h o f f s L a w s t o f i n d e q u i v a l e nt r e s i s t a n c e s f o r
series and parallel combinations.
L e a r n h o w t o a p p l y K i r c h o f f s L a w s a n d e q u i va l e nt
resistances to solve simple circuit problems.
vi
What is a potential divider?
vii
Understand the behaviour of thermistors and LDRs in

potential divider circuits
viii
What is a potentiometer?
ix
Understand the use of balanced potentiometers to find an

unknown e.m.f
CIRCUITS
A circuit is a connection of circuit
elements, connected in series or
parallel arrangements , that allow for
the flow of current in a complete
path.
A source of e.m.f. usually drives
current through the circuit (as
learned in the previous chapter).
CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
Table 9.1, page 129, Chapter 9:
Electric Current, Potential
Difference and Resistance;
Cambridge International AS
and A Level Physics
Coursebook, Sang, Jones,
Chadha and Woodside, 2nd
edition, Cambridge University
Press, Cambridge, UK,2014.
CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
Table 9.1, page 129, Chapter
9: Electric Current, Potential
Difference and Resistance;
Cambridge International AS
and A Level Physics
Coursebook, Sang, Jones,
Chadha and Woodside, 2nd
edition, Cambridge University
Press, Cambridge, UK,2014.
CIRCUIT ELEMENTS
The symbols listed in the previous two
slides are symbols of commonly
encountered circuit elements.
These symbols should be learned by
heart by the student to enable ease of
reading of the circuit, and more
importantly, how each circuit element
behaves in a circuit.
KIRC HOF F S
ST
1
LAW
Kirchoffs 1st Law is based on the

conservation of charge.
Since charges cannot be produced or
used up at any point along the circuit,
the amount of charge flowing into the
point must equal the amount of charge
flowing out of it.
KIRC HOF F S
ST
1
LAW
The rate of flow of charge is equal to the

amount of current that flows. Hence, we
can say that the rate of flow of charge
into a point must equal the rate of flow
of charge out of it.
Definition: Kirchoffs 1st Law states that
the sum of the currents flowing into any
point in a circuit must equal the sum of
the currents flowing out of that same
point.
KIRC HOF F S
Figure 7.16; Circuit symbols, Page 177, Chapter

7: Electricity, International A/AS Level Physics,
by Mee, Crundle, Arnold and Brown, Hodder
Education, United Kingdom, 2008.
ST
1
LAW
Diagram 26.7, page 856, Sears and

Zemanskys University Physics, Young and
Freedman, 13th edition, Pearson
Education, San Francisco, 2012.
EXAMPLES
Figure 7.17: Example , Page 178, Chapter 7: Electricity, International A/AS Level Physics,
by Mee, Crundle, Arnold and Brown, Hodder Education, United Kingdom, 2008.
EXAMPLES
Figure 7.18: Question 1 , Page 178, Chapter 7: Electricity, International A/AS Level
Physics, by Mee, Crundle, Arnold and Brown, Hodder Education, United Kingdom,
2008.
EXAMPLES
Figure 7.19: Question 2 , Page 178, Chapter 7: Electricity, International A/AS Level
2008.
KIRC HOF F S
ND
2
LAW
Definition: Kirchoffs 2nd Law

states the sum of all the e.m.f.s
around a loop must equal the
sum of all p.d.s around that
loop.
KIRC HOF F S
ND
2
LAW
Kirchoffs 2nd Law is based on conservation

of energy.
The sources of e.m.f in a loop provides
electrical energy to the charges to drive
them around the circuit, while the elements
that have a p.d. across them convert this
electrical energy into other forms.
Since energy is conserved, the electrical
energy provided per unit of charge by the
source must equal the amount of electrical
energy converted per unit charge into other
forms.
KIRC HOF F S
ND
2
LAW
How to use Kirchoffs 2nd law:

i.
Label all the currents at junctions (where

currents split or merge). Some currents may be
equal.
ii. Use Kirchoffs 1st law to obtain expressions
relating the currents.
iii. Identify a loop, i.e. an unbroken path from one
point and back but along the connecting leads,
iv. Based on the direction of current in ii., identify
the higher potential and lower potential ends of
all elements in the loop,
KIRC HOF F S
ND
2
LAW
How to use Kirchoffs 2nd law (contd):
v. Set your loop direction, clockwise or anticlockwise,

vi. Sum all e.m.f.s as you traverse the loop, positive
if you move from lower potential to higher
potential and negative if you move in the
opposite direction,
vii. Sum all p.d.s as you traverse the loop, positive if
you move from lower potential to higher
potential and negative if you move in the
opposite direction,
viii. Equate vi. and vii.
KIRC HOF F S
ND
2
LAW
Figure 10.9, page
146, Chapter 9:
Electric Current,
Potential
Difference and
Resistance;
Cambridge
International AS
and A Level Physics
Coursebook, Sang,
Jones, Chadha and
Woodside, 2nd
edition, Cambridge
University Press,
Cambridge,
UK,2014.
KIRC HOF F S
ND
2
LAW
Figure 10.10, page 146,

Chapter 9: Electric Current,
Potential Difference and
Resistance; Cambridge
International AS and A Level
Physics Coursebook, Sang,
Jones, Chadha and
Woodside, 2nd edition,
Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge, UK,2014.
KIRC HOF F S
ND
2
LAW

Chapter 9: Electric
Current, Potential
Difference and
International AS and A
Level Physics
Coursebook, Sang,
Jones, Chadha and
Cambridge University
Press, Cambridge,
UK,2014.
KIRC HOF F S
ND
2
LAW

Chapter 9: Electric
Current, Potential
Difference and
International AS and A
Level Physics
Coursebook, Sang,
Jones, Chadha and
Cambridge University
Press, Cambridge,
UK,2014.
R ESISTORS IN SE R IES
We can use Kirchoffs 2nd Law to find the
formula to calculate the total resistance
of two or more resistors connected in
series.
Figure 10.16, page 148, Chapter 9: Electric Current, Potential Difference and
Resistance; Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics Coursebook, Sang,
Jones, Chadha and Woodside, 2nd edition, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,
UK,2014.
In the previous slide, R1 and R2 are two
resistors connected in series.
The current flowing through both resistors is
equal.
We will use Kirchoffs 2nd Law to obtain a
formula to find the total resistance of the
three resistors in series.
If we apply a potential difference of V across
the 2 resistors, V1 + V2 + = V, based on
Kirchoffs 2nd Law.
Hence, V = IR1 + IR2 = I(R1 + R2); or

.

But,
.
Hence,
.
What this tells us is that the total resistance of
all resistors connected in series is equal to the
sum of all the individual resistances.
This derivation can be extended to be used for
more that 2 resistors in series by deduction.
We can use Kirchoffs 1st Law to find
the formula used to calculate the
total resistance of two or more
resistors connected in parallel.
R E S I S TO R S I N PA R A L L E L
Figure 10.18, page 149, Chapter 9: Electric Current, Potential Difference and
Resistance; Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics Coursebook, Sang,
Jones, Chadha and Woodside, 2nd edition, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,
UK,2014.
The diagram on the previous slide shows two
resistors, R1 and R2 connected in parallel.
The potential differences across the 2
resistors will be equal.
We will use Kirchoffs 1st Law to find the total
resistance.
The total current, based on
Kirchoffs 1st Law.

Hence,
; or,

This tells us that the inverse of the total
resistance of resistive elements connected in
parallel is equal to the sum of the inverses of
all the resistances that are connected in
parallel.
This proof can be extended for more than 2
resistors in a parallel combination by
deduction.
EXAMPLES
Figure 7.28: Example, Page 186, Chapter 7: Electricity, International A/AS Level
2008.
EXAMPLES
Figure 7.29: Question 1, Page 187, Chapter 7: Electricity, International A/AS Level
2008.
EXAMPLES
Figure 7.29: Question 2, Page 187, Chapter 7: Electricity, International A/AS Level
2008.
EXAMPLES
May/June 2008, Paper 1, question 37.
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
May/June 2008, Paper 2, question 6 (contd).
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
May/Jun 2009, Paper 21, question 7.
EXAMPLES
May/Jun 2009, Paper 21, question 7 (contd).
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
Oct/Nov 2010, Paper 12, question 35.
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
HOMEWORK
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

HOMEWORK
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.

HOMEWORK
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.

HOMEWORK
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.

HOMEWORK
33. Oct/Nov 2012, Paper 13, question 37.
POT E NT IA L DIV IDE RS

The term potential divider is for a
series connection of 2 or more
elements that divide the e.m.f of a
source.
We may use Kirchoffs 2nd law to
obtain the relationship between the
p.d.s across each element and the
e.m.f of the source.
Figure 12.6, page 172, Chapter 12: Practical Circuits; Cambridge International AS and
A Level Physics Coursebook, Sang, Jones, Chadha and Woodside, 2nd edition,
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK,2014.

The circuits a and b on the previous slide show 2
potential divider circuits that can be set up.
Circuit a. has two fixed resistors of equal resistances
that divide the e.m.f. of 6.0 V between them.
Circuit b. employs a variable resistor or conductor.
The positioning of the jockey causes the p.d. across
the conductor / variable resistor to be divided. The
p.d. is divided based on the length of each part since

Figure 7.31: Page 187, Chapter 7: Electricity, International A/AS Level Physics, by
Mee, Crundle, Arnold and Brown, Hodder Education, United Kingdom, 2008.

Lets look at how we can obtain p.d.s
across each resistive element.
Since the total and the individual
currents through both resistors and
are equal, we obtain

; and hence,

;

Note that at all instances.

If R1 and R2 are fixed resistances, then V1
and V2 will have constant values.
We can use variable resistors,
thermistors and light - dependent
resistors (LDR) to obtain variable values
of potential differences.
T HE R MISTORS
Thermistors are resistive elements
whose resistivity is effected by its
temperature.
Thermistors are represented by the
symbol
We will only look at negative
temperature coefficient thermistors; i.e.
thermistors that the values of resistivity
decrease when the temperature
increases.
T HE R MISTORS
Since the resistance of a resistor that has
fixed length and cross sectional area is
linearly proportional to its resistivity, the
resistance of a thermistor will also
decrease with increase in temperature.
For thermistors, the resistance is higher
at lower temperatures, and the
resistance decreases exponentially with
increase in its temperature as seen in
the graph on the next slide.
T HE R MISTORS
The curve on
the left shows
the resistance
vs.
temperature
curve of a
negative
temperature
coefficient
thermistor.
Figure 11.10, page 172, Chapter 11: Resistance and Resistivity; Cambridge
International AS and A Level Physics Coursebook, Sang, Jones, Chadha and Woodside,
2nd edition, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK,2014.
T HE R MISTORS
Thermistors are often connected in series
with a fixed resistor to form a potential
divider circuit.
By varying the temperature of the
thermistor, we can get different potential
differences across the fixed resistor and
thermistor.
This can be used in a fire alarm, for
example.
LIGHT - DEPENDENT RESISTORS

(LDRs)
LDRs are resistive elements that have a

resistance that depends on the
illumination (amount of light) on it.
The LDR is represented in a circuit
diagram by the symbol
The resistance of an LDR will decrease
with higher illumination, while its
resistance will increase with lower
illumination.
EXAMPLES
Example 1: Page 189, Chapter 7: Electricity, International A/AS Level Physics, by

Mee, Crundle, Arnold and Brown, Hodder Education, United Kingdom, 2008.
EXAMPLES
Figure 7.35,
Question 1: Page
190, Chapter 7:
Electricity,
International
A/AS Level
Physics, by Mee,
Crundle, Arnold
and Brown,
Hodder
Education,
United Kingdom,
2008.
EXAMPLES
Figure 7.35,
Question 1: Page
190, Chapter 7:
Electricity,
International
A/AS Level
Physics, by Mee,
Crundle, Arnold
and Brown,
Hodder
Education,
United Kingdom,
2008.
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
Oct/Nov 2008, Paper 2, question 7 (contd).
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
HOMEWORK
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

HOMEWORK
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.

HOMEWORK
POT E NT IOME T E RS
A potentiometer can be set up by using a
piece of resistance wire, and the ends are
connected across a known source of
e.m.f (the driver cell).
A potentiometer is an device that can be
used to compare p.d.s or e.m.f.s to
obtain unknown e.m.f.s or p.d.s
The diagram on the following slide shows
how a potentiometer may be used to
determine the unknown e.m.f on a cell.
Point Y is where the jockey is in contact
with the conductor AB.
By moving the position of the jockey, we
can vary the p.d.s and since
p.d.s across both sections are directly
proportional to the lengths of each
section.
Recall that the p.d. across the resistive
element is directly proportional to its
resistance, and the resistance of a
resistive element is directly proportional
to its length.
Hence, this is why p.d. across a resistive
element is directly proportional to its
length.
To obtain the e.m.f. of cell X, we move
the jockey along the length of AB until
the reading of the galvanometer = 0.
We need to record the length of AY, .
When this occurs, the p.d. across AY,
e.m.f.
of cell X, ! .

!

"

"
The following few slides explain a better
method to obtain the value of an
unknown e.m.f.
This is because we need to take into
account the internal resistance of " .
If #%
has an internal resistance,
$ " , since is now the
terminal p.d. of " .
The diagram on the previous slide shows
how to set up a potentiometer to obtain
the an unknown #( .
This method employs two known e.m.f.s,
#% and #) .
#) is used first to obtain the length of
section AD, &' .
#( is then used first to obtain the length
of section AC, &* .
From your understanding of the
relationships between lengths and p.d.s,
we will obtain the relationship
+

,

EXAMPLES
Figure 7.34:
Example 2, Page
189, Chapter 7:
Electricity,
International
A/AS Level
Physics, by Mee,
Crundle, Arnold
and Brown,
Hodder
Education, United
Kingdom, 2008.
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
HOMEWORK
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.


Chapter 20 DC Circuits

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CAMBRIDGE A LEVEL

Understand what are circuits.

Recall symbols of some commonly encountered circuit

What is a potential divider?

Understand the behaviour of thermistors and LDRs in

Understand the use of balanced potentiometers to find an

Kirchoffs 1st Law is based on the

The rate of flow of charge is equal to the

Figure 7.16; Circuit symbols, Page 177, Chapter

Diagram 26.7, page 856, Sears and

Definition: Kirchoffs 2nd Law

Kirchoffs 2nd Law is based on conservation

How to use Kirchoffs 2nd law:

Label all the currents at junctions (where

How to use Kirchoffs 2nd law (contd):

v. Set your loop direction, clockwise or anticlockwise,

Figure 10.10, page 146,

Figure 10.12, page 147,

Figure 10.13, page 147,

Oct/Nov 2008, Paper 1, question 35.

May/Jun 2010, Paper 11, question 34.

Oct/Nov 2010, Paper 23, question 8.

Oct/Nov 2011, Paper 12, question 38.

POT E NT IA L DIV IDE RS

POT E NT IA L DIV IDE RS

POT E NT IA L DIV IDE RS

POT E NT IA L DIV IDE RS

POT E NT IA L DIV IDE RS

POT E NT IA L DIV IDE RS

LIGHT - DEPENDENT RESISTORS

LDRs are resistive elements that have a

Example 1: Page 189, Chapter 7: Electricity, International A/AS Level Physics, by

May/June 2009, Paper 1, question 35.

Oct/Nov 2011, Paper 13, question 40.

May/June 2008, Paper 1, question 38.

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