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Subjects · Leaving Cert Physics

Leaving Cert Physics: Circuits

How often Circuits comes up on the Physics papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 8 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

OL Asked on 9 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

June 2027 is the first exam on the new Physics course. These come from the 2016–2026 papers, so read them as a guide.

Circuits, Higher Level(8 marks)

Quick ones on Circuits.

(a)Total resistance of two 6.0 Ω resistors in series?
  1. 3.0 Ω
  2. 12 Ω
  3. 6.0 Ω
(b)Power of a lamp carrying 2.0 A at 12 V?
  1. 0.17 W
  2. 6.0 W
  3. 24 W
(c)Total resistance of two 6.0 Ω resistors in parallel?
  1. 3.0 Ω
  2. 0.33 Ω
  3. 12 Ω
Show the answers

(a) 12 Ω

(b) 24 W

(c) 3.0 Ω

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Circuits.

Higher Level

Asked on 8 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q6(h)
2025Q11
2024Not asked
2023Q6(h), Q14(c)
2022Q9
2021Not asked
2019Q5(g)
2018Q5(i)
2017Q8
2016Q10

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Circuits questions

Circuits, 2 marks

What is the emf of a battery?

  1. The force it exerts on each electron in the circuit
  2. The current it supplies through a 1 Ω resistor
  3. The energy it gives each coulomb passing through it
Show the answer

The energy it gives each coulomb passing through it

Emf is measured in volts, i.e. joules per coulomb. A 9 V battery gives 9 J to each coulomb of charge that passes through it.

Circuits, 3 marks

A 2.0 kΩ and a 4.0 kΩ resistor are in series across 9.0 V. What is the voltage across the 4.0 kΩ resistor?

  1. 4.5 V
  2. 6.0 V
  3. 3.0 V
Show the answer

6.0 V

The same current flows in both, so the voltage divides in the ratio of the resistances: 9.0 × 4.0 ÷ (2.0 + 4.0) = 6.0 V.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 9 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q6(g), Q10
2025Q6(e)
2024Q11
2023Q11
2022Q6(f), Q11
2021Q9
2019Q9
2018Q9
2017Not asked
2016Q8

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Circuits questions

Circuits, 3 marks

Why are the lights in a house wired in parallel?

  1. It means the same current flows through every light in the house
  2. It uses the least amount of wire to connect all the lights
  3. Each light gets the full mains voltage and can be switched on its own
Show the answer

Each light gets the full mains voltage and can be switched on its own

In parallel each branch has the full 230 V. If one bulb blows, the others stay lit.

Circuits, 3 marks

Total resistance of 4 Ω, 6 Ω and 10 Ω resistors in series?

  1. 240 Ω
  2. 20 Ω
  3. 1.9 Ω
Show the answer

20 Ω

In series just add: R = 4 + 6 + 10 = 20 Ω. 1.9 Ω is the parallel value; 240 comes from multiplying.

Circuits, 3 marks

Power of a 230 V kettle that draws a current of 10 A?

  1. 2300 W
  2. 23 W
  3. 240 W
Show the answer

2300 W

P = VI = 230 × 10 = 2300 W (2.3 kW). 23 comes from dividing; 240 from adding.

Other Physics topics

All of Leaving Cert Physics