GARRF Virtual Lab — Experiment 02 | Series & Parallel Circuits

INTRODUCTION

⚡ Introduction — Objectives & Student Mission

Welcome to the GARRF Virtual Electronics Laboratory. In this experiment you will construct and investigate series and parallel resistor circuits using a virtual DC power supply.

🎯 Experiment Objective

To understand how voltage, current and equivalent resistance behave when resistors are connected in series and in parallel.

You will change the resistor values and supply voltage, run the virtual experiment and observe how the circuit responds.

👨‍🎓 Student Mission

Do not simply read the answer. Change the component values, run the experiment, record your observations and explain why the results change.

SECTION 1

📚 Section 1. Theory

Series Circuit

In a series circuit, the same current flows through every resistor. The equivalent resistance is the sum of all resistances.

R_eq = R₁ + R₂ + R₃

The supply voltage is divided among the resistors.

V = V₁ + V₂ + V₃

Parallel Circuit

In a parallel circuit, every branch has the same voltage. The total current is the sum of the branch currents.

1/R_eq = 1/R₁ + 1/R₂ + 1/R₃

I = I₁ + I₂ + I₃

Ohm's law is used throughout the experiment:

V = IR

SECTION 2

🧩 Section 2. Build Your Virtual Circuit

Circuit Configuration

DC Supply Voltage: 12 V

Resistor R₁: 100 Ω

Resistor R₂: 220 Ω

Resistor R₃: 330 Ω

🟢 Circuit ready. Change the values and run the experiment.

SECTION 3

🔌 Section 3. Virtual Circuit

SECTION 4

📊 Section 4. Virtual Measurement Panel

Equivalent Resistance —

Total Current —

Total Power —

Supply Voltage —

SECTION 5

📐 Section 5. Individual Measurements

Component	Resistance	Voltage	Current	Power
R₁	—	—	—	—
R₂	—	—	—	—
R₃	—	—	—	—

SECTION 6

🧠 Section 6. What Should You Observe?

Select the circuit and run the experiment to see the expected electrical behaviour.

Experimental progress increases when you run the circuit and complete the analysis.

SECTION 7

📝 Section 7. Student Observation Record

Record at least three observations by changing the circuit parameters.

Trial	Configuration	Supply	R₁	R₂	R₃	R_eq	Total I

SECTION 8

🔬 Section 8. Analysis

Run the experiment to generate an analysis.

SECTION 9

🎓 Section 9. Experiment Conclusion

Complete the experiment to generate your conclusion.

SECTION 10

❓ Section 10. Student Quiz

Q1. In a series circuit, what remains the same through all resistors? Voltage Current Resistance

Q2. In a parallel circuit, what is the same across each branch? Voltage Current Power

Q3. If another resistor is added in series, what happens to total resistance? It decreases It remains the same It increases

Q4. If another resistor is added in parallel, what happens to equivalent resistance? It increases It decreases It becomes infinite

SECTION 11

🤖 Section 11. CHITTI

GARRF Robotics & Engineering AI Mentor

Need help? CHITTI can guide you through this experiment step-by-step.

💡 Ask CHITTI:

"Why is the current the same in a series circuit?"

"Why does equivalent resistance decrease in parallel?"

"How does changing R₂ affect the circuit?"

SECTION 12

👨‍🎓 Section 12. How to Perform This Experiment

Select Series Circuit or Parallel Circuit.
Set the DC supply voltage.
Choose resistance values for R₁, R₂ and R₃.
Click RUN EXPERIMENT.
Observe the virtual circuit.
Read equivalent resistance and total current.
Study individual voltage and current values.
Change one parameter at a time.
Record your observations.
Complete the quiz.
Explain the result in your own words.

⭐ Engineering Thinking Challenge

Can you predict the result before clicking RUN EXPERIMENT?

That is the difference between simply operating a simulator and thinking like an engineer.

GopalKrishna Advanced Rural Research Foundation

GARRF Virtual Engineering & Robotics Laboratory