Final answer:
To set up a series circuit, connect all components in a loop so the same current flows through each. In a series circuit, the total resistance is the sum of all resistors and the current is constant throughout.
Step-by-step explanation:
To set up a series circuit in a physics lab experiment, you need to connect all components in a loop, one after another. The correct answer is (b) Connect all components in a loop because this allows the same current to flow sequentially through each resistor. A series connection means that the output current of one resistor flows into the input of the next resistor in the circuit. When resistors are connected in series, the total resistance is the sum of the individual resistances, and the current is the same through all components.
For a parallel circuit, on the other hand, all of the resistor leads on one side are connected together, and all the leads on the opposite side are connected together. In a parallel configuration, each resistor has the same potential difference, or voltage, across it, while the currents through each resistor may differ based on their resistance. In parallel connections, the total resistance is less than the smallest individual resistor, and the sum of the individual currents equals the current that flows into the parallel branch.