Start with the slides for the quick version, then go deeper with the full study notes.
Short Study Notes in the form of Slides
Read the notes first. If the method in a worked example clicks, you're ready for the questions.
Short Study Notes — Electric Circuits
Start with these resources to cover the key concepts, then work through the practice questions.
Page 1 / 0
Detailed Notes
Full prose, callouts and a recap — built for A* mastery, not just a quick scan.
Take these study notes with you
Download a branded PDF — full prose, callouts, recap and memorise list for Electric Circuits, ready to print or save offline.
Electric Circuits — Cambridge IGCSE 0625 Physics Extended (2026)
Series and parallel circuits, the rules for current and voltage, combined resistance, plus thermistors, LDRs and the potential divider. The skill of reading a circuit diagram.
What you’ll learn
Mapped to the Cambridge IGCSE 0625 syllabus (2026-2028).
4.3 — State the current and voltage rules for series and parallel circuits.
4.3 — Calculate combined resistance for series and parallel arrangements.
4.3 — Describe action of thermistor and LDR.
4.3 — Use the potential divider rule.
Series circuits
Same I through every component; V is shared, sum equals supply.
Series circuit. Components connected end-to-end in a single loop. Only one path for current.
Rules.
Current: SAME at every point in the circuit.
Voltage: total supply voltage = sum of voltages across each component.
Resistance: Rtot=R1+R2+R3+…
Why current is the same. Charge has nowhere else to go — what flows in must flow out at every point.
One path: current is identical throughout; the resistor voltages add to the 9 V supply.
Worked. A 9V battery in series with R1=2Ω and R2=4Ω.
Rtot=2+4=6Ω.
I=V/Rtot=9/6=1.5A.
V1=IR1=1.5×2=3V.
V2=IR2=1.5×4=6V. (3+6=9V ✓.)
Disadvantage. If one bulb fails (open), the WHOLE circuit breaks — like Christmas lights in older designs.
Series: same I everywhere.
Voltages add up to supply.
Rtot=R1+R2+…
One bulb fails → all fail.
Parallel circuits
Same V across each branch; total I = sum of branch currents. Total R less than smallest.
Parallel circuit. Components on separate branches between the same two points. Multiple paths for current.
Rules.
Voltage: SAME across each parallel branch (= supply voltage if branches connect directly to the cell).
Current: total current from supply = sum of currents in each branch.
Resistance:
Rtot1=R11+R21+…
The total resistance is LESS than the smallest individual resistor.
Worked. Two resistors in parallel: R1=4Ω, R2=6Ω.
Rtot1=41+61=123+122=125.
Rtot=12/5=2.4Ω.
Confirm: less than 4 ✓.
Each branch sees the full supply voltage; branch currents add up — total R is below the smallest resistor.
Two-resistor shortcut.Rtot=R1+R2R1R2.
Worked. Same as above: Rtot=(4×6)/(4+6)=24/10=2.4Ω ✓.
Advantage. If one bulb fails, the others stay on (each on its own branch). Used for household wiring.
Parallel: same V across branches.
Branch currents add to total.
1/Rtot=∑1/Ri.
Two-resistor: R1R2/(R1+R2).
Total R < smallest individual.
Thermistors and LDRs
Thermistor: R drops when hot. LDR: R drops in light.
Thermistor (NTC type).
Resistance DECREASES as temperature increases.
Used in: temperature-sensing circuits, fire alarms, oven controllers.
Rule of thumb: at room temp ∼ kΩ, at boiling point ∼ tens of Ω.
LDR (Light-Dependent Resistor).
Resistance DECREASES as light intensity increases.
Used in: street lights (turn on at dusk), camera light meters, automatic doors (sometimes).
Both are non-linear, non-ohmic components. A graph of R vs temperature (thermistor) or R vs light intensity (LDR) is a curve, not a straight line.
Cambridge tip. When asked "describe the action of a thermistor" — say something like "as temperature rises, the resistance of the thermistor falls". Cambridge mark schemes look for this exact phrasing.
Thermistor: R DROPS when HOTTER.
LDR: R DROPS in BRIGHTER light.
Both non-ohmic.
Used in sensing circuits.
Potential divider
Two resistors in series across a supply: voltage splits in ratio of the resistors.
Potential divider. Two resistors R1 and R2 in series across a supply Vin. The output voltage taken across R2 is:
Vout=Vin×R1+R2R2.
So the supply voltage divides between the two resistors in proportion to their values.
The larger resistor takes the larger share: Vout = 12 × 400 ÷ (200 + 400) = 8 V.
Worked.Vin=12V, R1=200Ω, R2=400Ω. Find Vout across R2.
Vout=12×400/(200+400)=12×400/600=8V.
Use with sensors. Replace one of the resistors with a thermistor or LDR. Then Vout varies with temperature or light — useful for triggering alarms or switches.
Worked qualitative. Light-sensitive circuit: replace R2 with an LDR. In darkness LDR has high R → Vout across it is large. In bright light LDR has low R → Vout small. Feed Vout to a transistor that switches a streetlight: light goes ON in the dark.
Vout=Vin×R2/(R1+R2).
Larger resistor takes larger voltage.
Replace one resistor with LDR/thermistor for a sensor circuit.
How it’s examined
Circuits appear every Paper 4 (8-12 marks) — combined resistance, current and voltage rules, often combined with a sensor and potential divider. Examiner reports flag forgetting to take the reciprocal in parallel resistance, and mixing up series and parallel rules in mixed circuits.
Worked examples, formulae, definitions and the mistakes examiners flag — everything you need to push from a pass to an A*.
Take this whole topic with you
Download a branded revision sheet — worked examples, formulae, definitions and common mistakes for Electric Circuits, ready to print or save as PDF.
Step-by-step worked examples — Electric Circuits
Step-by-step solutions to past-paper-style questions on electric circuits, written exactly the way a tutor would explain them at the board.
1Resistors in series
Core• series
▼
Question
Three resistors 4Ω, 6Ω, 10Ω in series. Find the total resistance.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1
Add directly.
RT=4+6+10=20Ω
Answer
20Ω
2Resistors in parallel
Extended• Adapted from 0625/42 May/Jun 2024 Q17• parallel
▼
Question
Two resistors 6Ω and 3Ω in parallel. Find the total resistance.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1
RT1=R11+R21.
RT1=61+31=61+62=63
Step 2
Invert.
RT=2Ω
Answer
2Ω
Examiner tip
Parallel resistance is ALWAYS less than the smallest individual resistor.
3Current in a parallel branch
Extended• current
▼
Question
A 12V supply drives the parallel pair above. Find the current through the 6Ω resistor.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1
PD across each branch in parallel = supply pd = 12V.
Step 2
I=V/R.
I=612=2A
Answer
2A
4Potential divider
Extended• divider
▼
Question
A 9V battery is connected across 4Ω and 5Ω in series. Find the pd across the 5Ω resistor.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1
V=Vtotal×RtotalRbranch.
V5Ω=9×4+55=5V
Answer
5V
5Ammeter and voltmeter readings — mixed circuit
Extended• Adapted from 0625/42 Oct/Nov 2023 Q9• ammeter, voltmeter, mixed
▼
Question
A 12V battery is connected to a 4Ω resistor in SERIES with a parallel combination of 6Ω and 3Ω. An ammeter reads the total current; a voltmeter reads the pd across the parallel block. Find both readings.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1
Parallel block: Rp1=61+31=21, so Rp=2Ω.
Step 2
Total circuit resistance: RT=4+2=6Ω.
Step 3
Total current (ammeter): I=V/RT.
I=12/6=2.0A
Step 4
Voltmeter reads pd across parallel block: Vp=IRp.
Vp=2.0×2=4.0V
Answer
Ammeter: 2.0A. Voltmeter: 4.0V.
6Find a missing resistor in parallel
Extended• parallel, missing R
▼
Question
Two resistors are connected in parallel. One is 12Ω and the total resistance is 4Ω. Find the second resistor.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1
Use the parallel formula and rearrange for the unknown.
RT1=R11+R21⇒R21=RT1−R11
Step 2
Substitute.
R21=41−121=123−1=122
Step 3
Invert.
R2=6Ω
Answer
6Ω
7Currents at a junction
Core• Kirchhoff, junction
▼
Question
At a junction, currents of 0.6A and 0.9A flow in along two wires. A third wire carries the rest away from the junction. Find this current.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1
Kirchhoff's first law: total current in = total current out (conservation of charge at a junction).
Step 2
Solve.
Iout=0.6+0.9=1.5A
Answer
1.5A
8LDR in a potential divider
Extended• LDR, divider
▼
Question
A 5.0V supply is connected to a 2kΩ fixed resistor in series with an LDR. The output is taken across the LDR. In bright light the LDR has resistance 500Ω; in darkness 20kΩ. Find Vout for each case.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1
Vout=Vin×Rfixed+RLDRRLDR.
Step 2
Bright (LDR =500Ω).
Vout=5.0×2000+500500=5.0×2500500=1.0V
Step 3
Dark (LDR =20kΩ=20000Ω).
Vout=5.0×2000+2000020000=5.0×2200020000≈4.5V
Answer
Bright: ≈1.0V. Dark: ≈4.5V.
Examiner tip
The examiner report flags candidates often forgetting that 'output across the LDR' means the LDR's resistance appears in the NUMERATOR of the divider fraction.
9Thermistor as a temperature switch
Extended• thermistor, divider
▼
Question
A 9.0V supply, a thermistor and a 3kΩ fixed resistor are connected in series. The output is taken across the FIXED resistor. As temperature RISES, state qualitatively what happens to Vout and explain.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1
Thermistor resistance DECREASES as temperature rises (negative temperature coefficient — standard 0625 thermistor).
When the thermistor's R falls, the denominator falls, so the fraction → 1 and Vout rises towards Vin=9.0V.
Answer
Vout RISES as temperature increases (approaches 9V when the thermistor's resistance becomes very small compared with 3kΩ).
10Current splitting between two parallel branches
Extended• parallel, current
▼
Question
A 9.0V supply is connected across two resistors in parallel: R1=6Ω and R2=3Ω. Find the current in each branch and the total supply current.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1
In parallel, each branch has the same pd as the supply: 9.0V.
Step 2
Branch currents: I=V/R.
I1=9.0/6=1.5A;I2=9.0/3=3.0A
Step 3
Total supply current (Kirchhoff at the junction): I=I1+I2.
I=1.5+3.0=4.5A
Answer
I1=1.5A, I2=3.0A, total 4.5A.
Examiner tip
The examiner report flags candidates often calculating one branch current then assuming the OTHER branch carries the rest of an assumed total — start from the supply pd, not from a guess at total current.
A 12V battery is connected to a circuit consisting of a 2Ω resistor in SERIES with a parallel combination of an unknown R and a 6Ω resistor. The total current from the battery is 3.0A. Find R.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1
Total resistance: RT=V/I=12/3.0=4Ω.
Step 2
Series chain: RT=2+Rp, so Rp=2Ω.
Step 3
Parallel of R and 6Ω equals 2Ω:
21=R1+61⇒R1=21−61=63−1=31
Step 4
Invert.
R=3Ω
Answer
R=3Ω
12Potential divider with a load — synoptic
Challenge• Adapted from 0625/42 May/Jun 2022 Q10• divider, Kirchhoff, synoptic
▼
Question
A 12V supply is connected across a series chain of two 6Ω resistors (R1 on top, R2 on bottom). The output is taken across R2. Now an external load of 6Ω is connected in parallel with R2. Find the new output voltage and the current drawn from the supply.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1
With the load attached, the bottom half is R2 (6Ω) in parallel with the load (6Ω).
Rbottom=6+66×6=3Ω
Step 2
Total resistance: RT=R1+Rbottom=6+3=9Ω.
Step 3
Supply current: I=V/RT.
I=12/9≈1.33A
Step 4
Output pd (across the parallel block): Vout=I×Rbottom.
Vout=1.33×3=4.0V
Step 5
Compare with the unloaded value of Vout=6.0V — connecting a load PULLS DOWN the divider's output.
Answer
Vout≈4.0V, supply current ≈1.33A. The load loads the divider, dropping the output from 6V to 4V.
Examiner tip
The examiner report flags candidates often applying the unloaded divider formula even when a load is connected — once a load draws current, the bottom resistor is in parallel with the load and must be recombined first.
Key Formulae — Electric Circuits
The formulae you need to memorise for electric circuits on the Cambridge IGCSE 0625 paper, with every variable defined in plain English and a note on when to use it.
Resistors in series
RT=R1+R2+…
When to use
All current flows through every resistor in turn.
Resistors in parallel
RT1=R11+R21+…
When to use
Current splits between separate paths.
Potential divider
Vn=VT×RTRn
When to use
Read off pd across one resistor in a series chain.
Series vs parallel rules
Series: same current.Parallel: same pd.
When to use
Quickly checking your answer.
Key Definitions and Keywords — Electric Circuits
Definitions to memorise and the exact keywords mark schemes credit for electric circuits answers — sharpened from recent examiner reports for the 2026 0625 sitting.
Series
Examiner keyword
Components connected end-to-end so the same current flows through each.
Parallel
Examiner keyword
Components connected across the same two nodes — same pd; current splits between them.
Thermistor
Examiner keyword
A resistor whose resistance falls when temperature rises. Used in temperature sensors.
Light-dependent resistor (LDR)
Examiner keyword
Resistance falls in brighter light. Used in light-level sensors.
Diode
Examiner keyword
Allows current in one direction only (low resistance forward; very high reverse).
Common Mistakes and Misconceptions — Electric Circuits
The traps other students keep falling into on electric circuits questions — taken from recent Cambridge IGCSE 0625 examiner reports and mark schemes — and how to avoid them.
✕Forgetting to invert at the end of the parallel calculation
0625/42 — every series
▼
Why it happens
Stopping at 1/RT.
How to avoid it
After summing reciprocals, INVERT to get RT.
✕Getting parallel resistance larger than each individual
▼
Why it happens
Adding instead of using the reciprocal rule.
How to avoid it
Parallel total must be SMALLER than the smallest of the resistors. If not, recheck.
✕Saying current is the same in every branch of a parallel combination
▼
Why it happens
Mixing series and parallel rules.
How to avoid it
Series → same CURRENT. Parallel → same PD. Switch your reasoning to match the topology.
✕Inverting the potential divider fraction
▼
Why it happens
Memory slip.
How to avoid it
V across one resistor = VT×sumthat resistor. The bigger the resistor, the bigger its share of pd.
Practice questions
Exam-style questions with step-by-step worked solutions. Try one before checking the method.
Past paper style quiz
Get a report showing which sub-topics you've nailed and which ones still need work.
4. Exam Quiz
Assess your understanding
Attempt a past paper style quiz for this sub-topic and get instant feedback to identify your strengths and weaknesses.
Instant AI marking SchemeExaminer's feedbackAI Detailed report
Video lesson
Short walkthrough of the concepts students most often get stuck on.
Electric Circuits — frequently asked questions
The things students keep getting wrong in this sub-topic, answered.