# A student builds a series circuit containing a battery, a switch, and three resistors. Describe what happens to the current in the circuit and the voltage across each resistor when the switch is closed and the circuit is complete.

> WJEC GCSE Physics (Wales) — 1.1 Electric circuits · Describe · 4 marks

> A battery of fixed voltage is connected in series with a switch and three different resistors. When the switch is open, no current flows.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. The current is the same at every point in the series circuit
2. The total voltage of the battery is shared (divided/split) across the three resistors
3. A larger resistor has a greater voltage across it (compared to a smaller resistor)
4. Adding the three individual voltages across the resistors gives the total (battery) voltage

## Key terms

- [series circuit](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/series-circuit)
- [current](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/current)
- [voltage](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/voltage)
- [resistor](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/resistor)

## Related

- [Revision notes for WJEC GCSE Physics (Wales)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Describe" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

---
Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-student-builds-a-series-circuit-892f917d) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.