Context (Why this caught my attention)
physical. I wanted to build a few small circuits where voltage, current, and resistance aren’t just calculated—they show up in measurable, tangible ways.
I’m looking to connect the equation to behavior:
- How current actually responds to resistance changes
- How power limits show up in a real component (a 1/4 W resistor)
- How voltage distributes itself in series circuits (KVL)
- How current splits in parallel paths (KCL)
The Relationship (anchor idea)
At the center of all of this is: $ V = IR$ where V = voltage (volts), I = current (amps), R = Resistance (ohms).
Setup (What I put together)
I worked with a small DC supply, a digital multimeter, and a handful of resistors and LEDs.
The circuits were simple:
- LED with a series resistor
- Two resistors in series and in parallel
- Three resistors in series (for KVL)
- One resistor feeding two in parallel (for KCL)
I measured resistance directly, then voltages across components, and currents through branches.
What I Did
Rather than building one “perfect” circuit, I moved through variations:
- Started with an LED and a series resistor, adjusting resistance to see how brightness and current changed
- Chose resistor values that would push toward (but not exceed) the 1/4 W rating
- Reconfigured the same resistors into series and parallel arrangements
- Built a simple three-resistor string to watch voltage division
- Then split current into two parallel branches and compared the currents
At each step, I measured rather than assumed.