This higher tier covers Higher Tier Only: Potential Divider Circuits within Series & Parallel Circuits for GCSE Physics. Revise Series & Parallel Circuits in Electricity for GCSE Physics with 20 exam-style questions and 30 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 13 of 16 in this topic. This section is most useful once the core foundation idea is secure, because it adds the detail that pushes answers higher.
🎓 Higher Tier Only: Potential Divider Circuits
A potential divider uses two resistors in series to "divide" the supply voltage into a useful fraction. The voltage across each resistor is proportional to its resistance:
If R₂ is replaced with a thermistor or LDR, the output voltage changes with temperature or light intensity. This is how sensor circuits work: the changing resistance of the sensor changes the voltage output, which can trigger a switch or alarm.
Practice questions for Series & Parallel Circuits
In a series circuit, what is true about the current at all points?
A student adds an extra lamp to a parallel circuit. Explain how this affects the total current from the supply and the brightness of the original lamps.