Year 9 · Science · beta

Resistance and parallel circuits

This unit covers electrical circuits, compares appliance power ratings, and understands domestic fuel use and costs. It explores electric current, potential difference, resistance, and the differences between conductors and insulators, focusing on calculations and applications in circuits.

This is an attributed Oak National Academy lesson sequence, not a completed or academically approved DASKEREL course. Supporting transcripts may depend on video, images, practical equipment or teacher explanation. Follow each lesson’s supervision guidance. For religious education and RSHE, follow the school’s syllabus, policy and safeguarding procedures.

Prior knowledge

  • An ammeter measures the size of current flowing through it without affecting the current in the circuit it is connected into.
  • Electric current is measured in amps (A), which is short for ampere.
  • The current in a series circuit is the same everywhere.
  • Adding a component to a series circuit changes the current everywhere, on both sides of the component.
  • A voltmeter is used to measure the voltage of a battery or the voltage across a component in an electric circuit.
  • A voltmeter is connected to each side of a battery or component.
  • Voltage (or potential difference) is measured in volts (V).
  • The voltage of a battery measures the strength with which it can ‘push’ current around a circuit.
  • The voltage of a component in an electric circuit measures the size of ‘push’ that is moving current through it.
  • The voltage across each component in a series electric circuit adds up to the voltage of the battery.

Source curriculum references

  • Comparing power ratings of appliances in watts (W, kW)
  • Domestic fuel bills, fuel use and costs
  • Electric current, measured in amperes, in circuits, series and parallel circuits, currents add where branches meet and current as flow of charge
  • Potential difference, measured in volts, battery and bulb ratings; resistance, measured in ohms, as the ratio of potential difference (p.d.) to current
  • Differences in resistance between conducting and insulating components (quantitative)

Oak source metadata. DASKEREL has not independently verified school-level coverage.

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