Lesson 4.2.1

4.2.1 Circuit symbols Quiz: OCR Physics, Unit 3

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 4.2.1, Circuit symbols: 20 multiple choice questions for the OCR Physics (H156), Unit 3: Electrons, waves and photons, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What standard symbol represents a fixed resistor in a circuit diagram?

    • Open circle
    • Circle with cross
    • Zigzag line
    • Rectangular box

  2. Which feature of a cell circuit symbol indicates its positive terminal?

    • Shorter thick line
    • Longer thin line
    • Central circle
    • Dotted line

  3. What standard symbol represents an ammeter in a circuit diagram?

    • Rectangle with arrow
    • Circle with letter A
    • Circle with letter V
    • Square with letter A

  4. How should a voltmeter be connected across a component in a circuit diagram?

    • In reverse
    • In diagonal
    • In parallel
    • In series

  5. How is a variable resistor represented in a circuit diagram?

    • Rectangle with line
    • Circle with arrow
    • Resistor with arrow
    • Resistor with cross

  6. Which shape forms the main body of a semiconductor diode circuit symbol?

    • Parallel broken lines
    • Circle with arrow
    • Rectangle with cross
    • Triangle pointing to bar

  7. What feature distinguishes a light-emitting diode symbol from a standard diode symbol?

    • Enclosing circle
    • Two outward arrows
    • Central dot
    • Two inward arrows

  8. How many electrical loops exist in a simple series circuit?

    • Two parallel loops
    • Multiple branching loops
    • One single loop
    • Three separate loops

  9. How must an ammeter be connected to measure current through a resistor?

    • Across the supply
    • In a bridge
    • In parallel
    • In series

  10. How must a voltmeter be connected to measure potential difference across a lamp?

    • In parallel
    • In sequence
    • In series
    • In short circuit

  11. What do inward-pointing arrows on a light-dependent resistor circuit symbol represent?

    • Heat transfer
    • Incident light
    • Emitted light
    • Electric current

  12. Which physical quantity directly controls the resistance of a thermistor?

    • Light intensity
    • Potential difference
    • Electric current
    • Temperature

  13. What is the standard circuit symbol for electromotive force?

    • R
    • V
    • I
    • E

  14. Which circuit component is represented by a rectangle with a wire passing straight through it?

    • Fuse
    • Diode
    • Thermistor
    • Resistor

  15. What circuit component is shown as a line with a gap bridged by a tilted line?

    • Open switch
    • Closed switch
    • Diode
    • Variable resistor

  16. Which visual feature represents the positive terminal in a cell circuit symbol?

    • Thicker line
    • Longer line
    • Dotted line
    • Shorter line

  17. What are the resistance values of an ideal ammeter and an ideal voltmeter respectively?

    • Zero and zero
    • Infinite and infinite
    • Infinite and zero
    • Zero and infinite

  18. What does a dot placed at the intersection of two wire lines in a circuit diagram indicate?

    • No connection
    • Open switch
    • Electrical connection
    • High resistance

  19. Why must an ideal voltmeter have an infinitely high resistance?

    • Maximum current draw
    • Minimal current draw
    • High power dissipation
    • Zero voltage drop

  20. What primary danger arises from a low-resistance short circuit?

    • Reduced voltage
    • Zero current flow
    • Infinite resistance
    • Excessive heating

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