Grade 11 Physical Sciences · Electricity and Magnetism · Paper 1 (Physics)

Electric Circuits Grade 11

Real Electric Circuits past paper questions and answers from 2022 to 2026, with each memo split into the ticks examiners give. Try one, mark yourself, and see exactly which skill cost you marks.

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Question 8.5 · May/June 2025 · Paper 1 · National (DBE) · 3 marks

In the circuit diagram below, the battery has an emf of

24

V and an internal resistance of

0, 3 Ω

. Light bulb L has a resistance of

9, 5 Ω

and R is a resistor of unknown resistance. Ignore the resistance of the ammeters and the connecting wires. Diagram for this question

The letters A to F represent different quantities in the circuit, as shown in the table below.

Switch

S_{1}

is now OPENED, while switch

S_{2}

is CLOSED. Diagram

8.5 Write down the LETTERS of the quantities that will now be equal to zero.(3)

Work it out on paper first. Then mark yourself with the official memo, one tick at a time.

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More Electric Circuits Grade 11 questions and answers

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4. Question 1.8 · November 2022 · Paper 1 · National (DBE) · 2 marks
Various options are provided as possible answers to the following questions. Each question has only ONE correct answer.
1.8 The emf of a battery is $ε$ and its internal resistance is $r$ . The battery is connected to three resistors and four voltmeters, as shown below. The resistance of the conducting wires is negligible, while the voltmeters have very high resistances.

Which ONE of the following equations represents the reading on voltmeter $V_{1}$ in terms of the readings on the other voltmeters?(2)
1. A $V_{1} = V_{2} + V_{3}$
2. B $V_{1} = V_{2} + \frac{1}{2} V_{3}$
3. C $V_{1} = V_{2} + V_{3} + V_{4}$
4. D $V_{1} = V_{2} + 2 V_{3}$
Show the memo (1 tick)Memo
1. ✓
  Voltage in series and parallel $V_{1}$ measures the potential difference across the battery terminals, i.e. across the whole external circuit.
  $R_{2}$ and $R_{3}$ are in parallel, so $V_{3} = V_{4}$ (the potential difference across the parallel combination).
  $R_{1}$ is in series with the parallel combination, so $V_{1} = V_{2} + V_{3}$ .
  
  Answer: A
  2 marks · Use series and parallel circuit rules
5. Question 1.8 · September 2026 · Paper 1 · Provincial · 2 marks
Various options are provided as possible answers to the following questions. Choose the answer and write only the letter (A–D) next to the question numbers (1.1 to 1.10) in the ANSWER BOOK, for example 1.11 B.
1.8 A battery of emf $ε$ and negligible internal resistance is connected in a circuit, as shown in the diagram below. The resistances of $R_{1}$ and $R_{2}$ are high.

Which ONE of the following combinations about the ammeter readings will be CORRECT when switch S is open and when switch S is closed?(2)
1. A Switch open: ammeter reads only the current in $R_{1}$ . Switch closed: ammeter reads only the current in $R_{2}$ .
2. B Switch open: ammeter reads only the current in $R_{2}$ . Switch closed: ammeter reads the current in both $R_{1}$ and $R_{2}$ .
3. C Switch open: ammeter reads the current in both $R_{1}$ and $R_{2}$ . Switch closed: ammeter reads the current in both $R_{1}$ and $R_{2}$ .
4. D Switch open: ammeter reads the current in both $R_{1}$ and $R_{2}$ . Switch closed: ammeter reads the current in $R_{2}$ only.
Show the memo (1 tick)Memo
1. ✓
  Choose the correct optionSwitch open: $R_{1}$ , $R_{2}$ and the ammeter are in series, so the same current flows through $R_{1}$ and $R_{2}$ and the ammeter reads it.
  Switch closed: the switch is connected across $R_{1}$ and has (almost) no resistance, so it short-circuits $R_{1}$ . The current takes the switch path, no current flows in $R_{1}$ , and the ammeter reads only the current through $R_{2}$ .
  C is the trap: it forgets that a closed switch across a resistor bypasses it.
  
  Answer: D
  2 marks · Use series and parallel circuit rules
6. Question 8.1 · September 2026 · Paper 1 · Provincial · 2 marks
Grade 12 learners conducted an experiment to determine the emf, $ε$ and the internal resistance $r$ of a battery by connecting three resistors one after the other in the circuit diagram below. Each time they read and recorded the reading of the voltmeter and ammeter.

The readings obtained are recorded in the table below.
8.1 Sketch this circuit in your ANSWER BOOK. Show in your sketch where the learners connected the ammeter and the voltmeter.(2)
Show the memo (2 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  Ammeter in seriesThe ammeter is connected in series in the circuit (in the main line).
  1 mark · Use series and parallel circuit rules
2. ✓
  Voltmeter in parallelThe voltmeter is connected in parallel across the resistor(s) (or across the battery).
  1 mark · Use series and parallel circuit rules
7. Question 1.8 · September 2026 · Paper 1 · Provincial · 2 marks
Four options are provided as possible answers to the following questions. Choose the answer and write only the letter (A–D) next to the question numbers (1.1 to 1.10) in the ANSWER BOOK.
1.8 The circuit diagram below shows four identical bulbs, 1, 2, 3, and 4, connected to a cell. The currents through bulbs 1, 2, 3, and 4 are $I_{1}$ , $I_{2}$ , $I_{3}$ , and $I_{4}$ , respectively.

Which ONE of the following expressions is correct for the current passing through light bulb 4?(2)
1. A $I_{4} = I_{2} + I_{3}$
2. B $I_{4} = I_{1} + I_{2} + I_{3}$
3. C $I_{4} = 2 \times I_{3}$
4. D $I_{4} = 3 \times I_{2}$
Show the memo (1 tick)Memo
1. ✓
  Correct optionBulb 4 carries the total current. It splits between bulb 1 (resistance R) and the branch with bulbs 2 and 3 in series (resistance 2R). The parallel branches have the same potential difference, so the branch with half the resistance gets twice the current: $I_{1} = 2 I_{2}$ , and $I_{2} = I_{3}$ .
  
  $I_{4} = I_{1} + I_{2} = 2 I_{2} + I_{2} = 3 I_{2}$
  
  Answer: D
  2 marks · Use series and parallel circuit rules
8. Question 9.2 · September 2026 · Paper 1 · Provincial · 2 marks
Three resistors and a $64$ W electrical apparatus are connected to a $60$ V battery with an internal resistance r as shown in the diagram below. The ammeter A $_{1}$ has a reading of $2, 5$ A. Switch S is open.
9.2 How does the reading on ammeter A $_{1}$ compare to the reading on ammeter A $_{2}$ ? Choose from LARGER THAN, SMALLER THAN or THE SAME AS.
Explain the answer(2)
Show the memo (2 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  ComparisonSMALLER THAN
  1 mark · Use series and parallel circuit rules
2. ✓
  ExplanationA $_{1}$ is in a parallel connection, A $_{2}$ is the total current.
  1 mark · Use series and parallel circuit rules
9. Question 1.9 · September 2026 · Paper 1 · Provincial · 2 marks
Four options are provided as possible answers to the following questions. Each question has only ONE correct answer. Choose the answer and write down ONLY the letter (A–D) next to the question number (1.1–1.10) in the ANSWER BOOK, e.g. 1.11 E.
1.9 Four voltmeters, $V_{1}$ , $V_{2}$ , $V_{3}$ and $V_{4}$ , are connected in a circuit, as shown in the diagram below.

Which voltmeter(s) will have the same reading as voltmeter $V_{1}$ when the switch S is open?(2)
1. A $V_{2}$ and $V_{4}$
2. B $V_{3}$ only
3. C $V_{4}$ only
4. D $V_{2}$ only
Show the memo (1 tick)Memo
1. ✓
  Choose the correct optionWith S open there is no current in the circuit.
  $V_{1}$ reads the emf of the battery (no current, so no lost volts).
  $V_{2}$ : no current through R, so $V = I R = 0$ .
  $V_{4}$ : across the ammeter, which has (almost) no resistance and no current, so it reads 0.
  $V_{3}$ : across the open switch. The gap is the only place where the potential drops, so $V_{3}$ reads the full emf, the same as $V_{1}$ .
  
  Answer: B
  2 marks · Use series and parallel circuit rules
10. Question 1.9 · November 2025 · Paper 1 · Provincial · 2 marks
Various options are provided as answers to the following questions. Choose the answer and write only the letter (A–D) next to the question numbers (1.1 to 1.10) in your ANSWER BOOK, for example, 1.11 D.
1.9 The battery in the circuit diagram below has a potential difference of $12$ V and negligible internal resistance. Two voltmeters, $V_{1}$ and $V_{2}$ , are connected to the circuit, as shown in the diagram below.

When the switch is open, the CORRECT readings on $V_{1}$ and $V_{2}$ will be as follows:(2)
1. A $V_{1} = 12$ V; $V_{2} = 12$ V
2. B $V_{1} = 0$ V; $V_{2} = 12$ V
3. C $V_{1} = 12$ V; $V_{2} = 0$ V
4. D $V_{1} = 0$ V; $V_{2} = 0$ V
Show the memo (1 tick)Memo
1. ✓
  Correct option CWith the switch open no current flows, so there is no potential difference across the bulb: $V_{2} = 0$ V. $V_{1}$ is connected across the gap of the open switch, so it is joined to both battery terminals through the rest of the circuit and reads the full $12$ V.
  
  Answer: C
  2 marks · Use series and parallel circuit rules

Electric Circuits Grade 11 videos

Short lessons from South African teachers first. Videos load only when you tap play, to save your data.

Ohm's Law Grade 11 Electric Circuits (Electricity grade 11 & 12)Miss Martins Maths and Science

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