Electricity Worksheet - GCSE - Beginner

Electricity worksheet for GCSE (Key Stage 4 / GCSE (Ages 14-16)). Beginner level science practice, aligned to the UK National Curriculum. Print-ready with answer key included.

Science•Key Stage 4 / GCSE (Ages 14-16)•Electricitybeginner

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Electricity: Current, Potential Difference and Resistance

GCSE Physics | Ages 14–16 | Beginner level

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Instructions: Work through the activities in order, using the equations and reminders provided to help you. Show your working for calculations, include units in your answers, and use the answer key to check your work when you have finished.

Key ideas and units

Complete each statement using the correct physics term or unit. Use the word bank once for each answer. Remember that current describes the flow of charge, while potential difference describes energy transferred per unit charge.

Word bank: amperes (A), coulombs (C), joules (J), ohms (Ω), potential difference, resistance, volts (V)

1. The rate of flow of electric charge is called ___.

2. The unit of current is the ___.

3. The unit of electric charge is the ___.

4. The unit of potential difference is the ___.

5. The unit of resistance is the ___.

Apply V = IR

Use the equation V = I × R. Here, V is potential difference in volts, I is current in amperes, and R is resistance in ohms. Rearrange the equation when needed, substitute the values, and show your working with units.

Equation reminder: V = I × R; I = V ÷ R; R = V ÷ I

1. A 4 Ω resistor carries a current of 2 A. Calculate the potential difference across it.

2. A 12 V battery is connected across a 6 Ω resistor. Calculate the current.

3. A component has a potential difference of 9 V and a current of 0.3 A. Calculate its resistance.

4. A 5 Ω resistor is connected to a 15 V supply. Calculate the current.

Series-circuit reasoning

In a series circuit, the current is the same at every point, the potential differences across components add to the supply potential difference, and the total resistance is the sum of the resistances. Apply these rules to each circuit described below.

1. A series circuit has a 12 V supply and two resistors. One resistor has a potential difference of 5 V. Calculate the potential difference across the other resistor.

2. Two resistors of 3 Ω and 5 Ω are connected in series. Calculate the total resistance.

3. The current entering a lamp in a series circuit is 0.4 A. What is the current leaving the lamp?

4. Explain what happens to the total resistance when another resistor is added in series.

Parallel-circuit reasoning

In a parallel circuit, each branch has the same potential difference as the supply. The total current is the sum of the currents in the branches. Read each circuit description carefully and include units where appropriate.

1. A 6 V supply is connected across two parallel branches. What is the potential difference across the first branch?

2. The currents in two parallel branches are 0.2 A and 0.5 A. Calculate the total current from the supply.

3. A total current of 1.2 A enters a junction. One branch carries 0.7 A. Calculate the current in the other branch.

4. State what happens to the other branches when one lamp in a parallel circuit is removed.

Compare series and parallel circuits

Use the completed comparison table to answer the questions. The table summarises the key GCSE rules; refer to a specific row when explaining your choice.

Feature	Series circuit	Parallel circuit
Current	Same throughout the circuit	Split between branches
Potential difference	Shared between components; component voltages add to supply	Same across each branch
If one lamp is removed	The whole circuit is broken	Other branches can still work

1. In which type of circuit is the current the same throughout?

2. In which type of circuit is the potential difference the same across each branch?

3. A household lamp must keep working if another lamp is switched off. Which circuit arrangement is suitable?

Check and explain your understanding

Choose the single best answer for each question. For the final question, use the circuit rules and the equation V = IR to explain your reasoning clearly.

1. Which quantity is measured in amperes?

2. A 10 V potential difference is across a 5 Ω resistor. What is the current?

3. Which statement describes a parallel circuit?

4. A resistor carries 3 A when connected across 12 V. Explain how to calculate its resistance and give the answer.

Answer Key

Activity 1: current ; amperes (A) ; coulombs (C) ; volts (V) ; ohms (Ω)

Activity 2: 8 V ; 2 A ; 30 Ω ; 3 A

Activity 3: 7 V ; 8 Ω ; 0.4 A ; Total resistance increases because the added resistance is added to the existing resistances.

Activity 4: 6 V ; 0.7 A ; 0.5 A ; The other branches can still work because they remain complete circuits.

Activity 5: Series circuit ; Parallel circuit ; Parallel circuit

Activity 6: Current ; 2 A ; Potential difference is the same across each branch ; R = V ÷ I = 12 V ÷ 3 A = 4 Ω