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Physics Paper 1 · P2 · Lesson 2.5

Series circuits: one path

One loop means the same current through every component.

Key ideas1 of 3

Series means one path

Components in series are connected in one path. The current is the same through every component. If the path breaks anywhere, all the components stop working.

A cell and two lamps connected one after the other in a single closed loop.

The two lamps are in the same loop.

Next: Parallel circuits: separate branches →
Topic resources and sources

Daily 5 · Exam practice · Extra calculation practice · A4 revision sheet

Start with lessons 2.1–2.6 for the circuit basics. Lesson 2.15 offers extra calculation practice. The P2 specification content is shared by Foundation and Higher Tier; extra practice is not Higher Tier-only.

AQA Combined Science Trilogy specification · 6.2.2. Original notes, questions and diagrams. Circuit animations are simplified; motion is deliberately slowed. Measurements and example values are illustrative. All practical circuits use suitable supervised low-voltage apparatus.

Photographs: Photograph of the inside of a UK plug by Alby Reid, Public domain, released by the copyright holder; Electricity pylons near Grafham Water by Mat Fascione, CC BY-SA 2.0; Photoresistor 2 by oomlout, CC BY-SA 2.0. Images displayed without cropping or alteration.