# A student has a series circuit containing a battery and two bulbs. The student reconnects the circuit so that the two bulbs are in parallel with each other. Describe how the current and potential difference change for each bulb when the circuit is changed from series to parallel.

> AQA GCSE Physics (8463) — 4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits · Describe · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. In a series circuit the potential difference is shared between the two bulbs, but in a parallel circuit each bulb has the full potential difference (of the supply) across it.
2. In a series circuit the same current passes through both bulbs, whereas in a parallel circuit the current splits between the two branches.
3. The total resistance of the parallel circuit is less than in the series circuit, so the total current drawn from the battery is greater in parallel.
4. Each individual bulb in the parallel circuit is brighter than in the series circuit because each has the full supply potential difference across it (whereas in series the pd was shared).

## Key terms

- [series](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/series)
- [parallel](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/parallel)
- [potential difference](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/potential-difference)
- [current](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/current)

## Related

- [Revision notes for AQA GCSE Physics (8463)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Describe" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-student-has-a-series-circuit-f7e89900) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.