Project Outline:
In this unit, we learned a lot about the physics phenomenon: electricity. We spent a couple weeks wiring circuits with bilbs, resistors, alligator clip wires, and resistors, just learning the basics. Then, we moved onto using a breadboard, potentiometers, smaller wires, 555 timers, and capacitors. Using our knowledge on circuits, we then learned how to solder.
Below is a picture of one of our electronic experiments involving the breadboard. You can see the 555 timer in the center (the black rectangle), and the LED light that's glowing. There's also the (gray) potentiometer and multiple resistors.
In this unit, we learned a lot about the physics phenomenon: electricity. We spent a couple weeks wiring circuits with bilbs, resistors, alligator clip wires, and resistors, just learning the basics. Then, we moved onto using a breadboard, potentiometers, smaller wires, 555 timers, and capacitors. Using our knowledge on circuits, we then learned how to solder.
Below is a picture of one of our electronic experiments involving the breadboard. You can see the 555 timer in the center (the black rectangle), and the LED light that's glowing. There's also the (gray) potentiometer and multiple resistors.
Physics Concepts - Electric Circuits:
Circuit: a complete loop of conductive material with a power source
Resistors: poor conductors that reduce voltage (ex: light bulbs)
Voltage: power that electricity gives off, push/pull of electricity, pressure or Potential Energy difference
Series circuits: draws less electricity because each additional bulb is extra resistance. Voltage changes, but current remains the same throughout.
Parallel circuits: draws more electricity because as the number of bulbs increases, the resistance in turn goes down. Parallel circuits are independent, unless they're in series with another set of parallel circuits.
Kirchoff's 1st Rule: "The total current out of a node equals the total current into the node."
Breadboards: vertical rows are connected in the outermost columns on both the left and right side; in the center columns, horizontal rows are connected
[ When resistors are in series, add up each individual resistance and that is the total. ]
[ When resistors are in parallel, add up each individual resistance, and that total becomes the denominator, with numerator 1. ]
Resistor's Code:
First band: 1st digit
Second band: 2nd digit
Third band: number of zero's in the amount of resistance
Fourth band: tolerance
0 Black
1 Brown
2 Red
3 Orange
4 Yellow
5 Green
6 Blue
7 Violet
8 Gray
9 White
0.1 (+/- 5%) Gold
0.01 (+/- 10%) Silver
For example, using the Resistor's Code above:
a resistor's band with color order [ yellow + violet + brown + gold ] = [ 4 7 0 Ohms ] plus or minus 5% of resistance
Ohm's Law:
Voltage = Current x Resistance
Circuit: a complete loop of conductive material with a power source
Resistors: poor conductors that reduce voltage (ex: light bulbs)
Voltage: power that electricity gives off, push/pull of electricity, pressure or Potential Energy difference
Series circuits: draws less electricity because each additional bulb is extra resistance. Voltage changes, but current remains the same throughout.
Parallel circuits: draws more electricity because as the number of bulbs increases, the resistance in turn goes down. Parallel circuits are independent, unless they're in series with another set of parallel circuits.
Kirchoff's 1st Rule: "The total current out of a node equals the total current into the node."
Breadboards: vertical rows are connected in the outermost columns on both the left and right side; in the center columns, horizontal rows are connected
[ When resistors are in series, add up each individual resistance and that is the total. ]
[ When resistors are in parallel, add up each individual resistance, and that total becomes the denominator, with numerator 1. ]
Resistor's Code:
First band: 1st digit
Second band: 2nd digit
Third band: number of zero's in the amount of resistance
Fourth band: tolerance
0 Black
1 Brown
2 Red
3 Orange
4 Yellow
5 Green
6 Blue
7 Violet
8 Gray
9 White
0.1 (+/- 5%) Gold
0.01 (+/- 10%) Silver
For example, using the Resistor's Code above:
a resistor's band with color order [ yellow + violet + brown + gold ] = [ 4 7 0 Ohms ] plus or minus 5% of resistance
Ohm's Law:
Voltage = Current x Resistance
For this course we were tasked with completing the python section of it. We looked at the approximate course time and it said 13 days. so we buckled down and decided to get it over with.
At the beginning it was more difficult than i expected, but i got through it. Doing the last 13% the night before it was due was stressful.
Once were done with our programming, all we had left to do was our card board chairs. The cardboard chairs were trying to see if we could build supportive cardboard chairs. These cardboard chairs had to look good, support a lot of weight and not use much cardboard. My group and I set this off to the side until the last minute, where we got it done. It didn't look aesthetically pleasing, but it supported very well, and did not use very much cardboard.
I think the most interesting part of this was the cardboard chairs. It taught me teamwork and time management.
There are many things we could have done better as a group and as individuals. Time manegment was a large issue, many times we waited until the last minute to get something done, and it could have ended up better if we had used our time more wisely.
We could have also improved upon the quality of our work. sometimes it wasn't the best we could do because, again last minute.
We did somethings well though. we helped each other very much during the coding and the electrical wiring.
Lastly, my presentation skills have definitely improved over the year, as shown through this project.
At the beginning it was more difficult than i expected, but i got through it. Doing the last 13% the night before it was due was stressful.
Once were done with our programming, all we had left to do was our card board chairs. The cardboard chairs were trying to see if we could build supportive cardboard chairs. These cardboard chairs had to look good, support a lot of weight and not use much cardboard. My group and I set this off to the side until the last minute, where we got it done. It didn't look aesthetically pleasing, but it supported very well, and did not use very much cardboard.
I think the most interesting part of this was the cardboard chairs. It taught me teamwork and time management.
There are many things we could have done better as a group and as individuals. Time manegment was a large issue, many times we waited until the last minute to get something done, and it could have ended up better if we had used our time more wisely.
We could have also improved upon the quality of our work. sometimes it wasn't the best we could do because, again last minute.
We did somethings well though. we helped each other very much during the coding and the electrical wiring.
Lastly, my presentation skills have definitely improved over the year, as shown through this project.