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How to Set Up a Parallel Circuit & Series Circuit

Series and parallel circuits are some of the most basic of circuit designs. Each design has different characteristics. Series circuits provide only one path for the current to follow. As current flows through a component, such as a resistor, there is a drop in voltage across each component. Parallel circuits provide multiple paths for the current to follow. This allows each component to use a different amount of current. The voltage across each component, however, is constant.

Five 10K ohm resistors
One 9V battery
Three feet of 18 gauge stranded electrical wire
Wire cutters
Wire strippers

Instructions

Series Circuit
- 1
  Pick two 10K resistors. Cut two 5 inch pieces of electrical wire and remove a half inch of insulation from all four ends. Connect one end of the first wire to the positive terminal of the battery.
- 2
  Connect the second end of the first wire to side "A" of resistor 1. Connect side "B" of resistor 1 to side "A" of resistor 2.
- 3
  Connect side "B" of resistor 2 to the positive terminal of the battery.
Parallel Circuit
- 4
  Connect side "A" of resistors 1, 2 and 3 together.
- 5
  Connect side "B" of resistors 1, 2 and 3 together.
- 6
  Cut two 5 inch pieces of electrical wire and strip a half inch of insulation off all four ends. Connect one end of wire 1 to side "A" of the resistors. Connect the other end of wire 1 to the positive side of the battery. Connect one end of wire 2 to side "B" of the resistors and connect the other side of wire 2 to the negative terminal of the battery.

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