# A student investigates a series circuit containing a battery, two resistors, and an ammeter. The student notices that the ammeter reads the same value wherever it is placed in the series circuit. Explain why the current is the same at every point in a series circuit.

> OCR GCSE Physics A: Gateway Science (J249) — P3.2 Simple circuits · Explain · 4 marks

> In a series circuit, components are connected one after another in a single loop. A student measures the current at several different points around the loop and finds the reading is identical each time.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. There is only one path for current to flow in a series circuit
2. Current is not used up as it passes through components
3. The same charge carriers (electrons) pass through every component in sequence
4. The rate of flow of charge (current) must therefore be the same at all points

## Key terms

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

## Related

- [Revision notes for OCR GCSE Physics A: Gateway Science (J249)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-student-investigates-a-series-circuit-85c48c3e) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.