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Series Vs. Parallel Circuits - Questions

The Series vs. Parallel Circuits Concept Builder is comprised of 36 questions. The questions are organized into 18 different Question Groups. Questions in the same group target the same type of property with one qustion (typically) being relevant for series circuits and the other for parallel circuits. The Concept Builder is coded to select at random a question from each group until a student is successful with that group of questions.

There are three different difficulty levels that can be engaged in through the Concept Builder. Those three levels are differentiated as follows:
 
  • Apprentice Difficulty Level: Question Groups 1-6. Identify a given description as being characteristic of a series or a parallel circuit. Includes our 6 easiest Questions.
  • Master Difficulty Level: Question Groups 7-12. Identify a given description as being characteristic of a series or a parallel circuit. Includes 6 Questions of moderate difficulty.
  • Wizard Difficulty Level: Question Groups 13-18. Identify a given description as being characteristic of a series or a parallel circuit. Includes our 6 most difficult Questions.

The questions from each group are shown below. Teachers are encouraged to view the questions in order to judge which activities are most appropriate for their classes. We recommend providing students two or more options. 

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Series Versus Parallel Circuits

 

Apprentice Difficulty Level

Question Group 1
Question 1
There is a single pathway by which charge can flow through the circuit from the + terminal to the - terminal of my batteries.
 
Question 2
There are multiple pathways by which charge can flow through the circuit from rom the + terminal to the - terminal of my batteries.
 
 
 
Question Group 2
Question 3
Any charge flowing through one of my light bulbs will flow through all of my light bulbs.
 
Question 4
Any charge flowing through one of my light bulbs will not flow through any of my other light bulbs.
 
 
 
Question Group 3
Question 5
When one of my light bulbs goes out, all the light bulbs will go out.
 
Question 6
When one of my light bulbs go out, the other light bulbs will remain lit.
 
 
 
 

 
Question Group 4
Question 7
The arrangement of bulbs in my circuit looks like this ...
 
 
 
 
 
Question 8
The arrangement of bulbs in my circuit looks like this ...
 
 
 
 
 
 
Question Group 5
Question 9
If a fourth light bulb were added to my circuit with the same arrangement as the other bulbs, the current in the battery would decrease.
 
Question 10
If a fourth light bulb were added to my circuit with the same arrangement as the other bulbs, the current in the battery would increase.
 
 
 
Question Group 6
Question 11
If a fourth light bulb were added to my circuit with the same arrangement as the other bulbs, the overall resistance would increase.
 
Question 12
If a fourth light bulb were added to my circuit with the same arrangement as the other bulbs, the overall resistance would decrease.
 
 
 

Master Difficulty Level

Question Group 7
Question 13
If a fourth light bulb were added to my circuit with the same arrangement as the other bulbs, then the current in each of the three other light bulbs would decrease.

 
Question 14
If a fourth light bulb were added to my circuit with the same arrangement as the other bulbs, then the current in each of the three other light bulbs would not change.
 
 
 
Question Group 8
Question 15
The current in one of my light bulbs is always the same as the current in my other light bulbs.
 
Question 16
The current in one of my light bulbs is different than the current in my other light bulbs.
 
 
 
Question Group 9
Question 17
The bulbs with the greater resistance have the same current in them as the bulbs with the smaller resistance.
 
Question 18
The bulbs with the greater resistance have a lower current in them than the bulbs with the smaller resistance.
 
 
 
Question Group 10
Question 19
If one of the wires connected directly to the battery is disconnected, then all of my light bulbs will go out.
 
Question 20
When the circuit is turned on, all of my light bulbs will seem to light at the same time.
 
 
 

 
Question Group 11
Question 21
When ammeters are used to measure the current in each of my bulbs, the readings look like this ...
 
 
 
Question 22
When ammeters are used to measure the current in each of my bulbs, the readings look like this ...
(Diagram showing different ammeter readings)
 
 
 
Question Group 12
Question 23
When voltmeters are used to measure the voltage drops across each of my bulbs, the readings look like this ...
 (Diagram showing different voltmenter readings)
 
 
 
Question 24
When voltmeters are used to measure the voltage drops across each of my bulbs, the readings look like this ...
(Diagram showing identical voltmenter readings)
 
 

 

Wizard Difficulty Level

Question Group 13
Question 25
My light bulbs have different voltage drops across them.
 
Question 26
The voltage drop across each of my light bulbs is the same value.
 
 
 
Question Group 14
Question 27
The bulbs with the greater resistance have a greater voltage drop across them than the bulbs with smaller resistance.
 
Question 28
The bulbs with the greater resistance have the same voltage drop across them as the bulbs with smaller resistance.
 
 
 
Question Group 15
Question 29
If a fourth light bulb were added to my circuit with the same arrangement as the other bulbs, then the voltage drop across each of the three other light bulbs would decrease.
 
Question 30
If a fourth light bulb were added to my circuit with the same arrangement as the other bulbs, the voltage drop across each of the three other light bulbs would not change.
 
 
 
Question Group 16
Question 31
The overall resistance of my circuit is equal to the sum of the resistance values of the individual bulbs.
 
Question 32
The overall resistance of my circuit is smaller than the resistance any one of the bulbs..
 

 
Question Group 17
Question 33
The bulbs with the greater resistance have a smaller voltage drop across them than the bulbs with smaller resistance.
 
Question 34
The bulbs with the greater resistance have a larger current in them than the bulbs with the smaller resistance.
 
 
 
Question Group 18
Question 35
If a fourth light bulb were added to my circuit with the same arrangement as the other bulbs, the overall resistance would not be affected.
 
Question 36
If a fourth light bulb were added to my circuit with the same arrangement as the other bulbs, the current in the battery would not be affected.