1.26.21
LAB 1 - BASIC ELECTRONICS
Assignment:
This mini-project is an introduction to simple circuits and basic electronics. You will learn how electricity flows through components and will practice setting up and documenting a circuit on your breadboard. You will learn about components including your power sources, conductors, resistors, using an LED, and adding the first sensor.
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Part 1: Setting up and understanding your breadboard with an LED circuit
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You will be replicating the simple paper circuit we saw in yesterday's lecture on your breadboard.
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Make sure to add the breadboard voltage regulating circuit board with the correct orientation (so + and - correspond to the right breadboard markings)
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Set the Jumper to the correct voltage (5V)
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Add the LED and a 220 Ohm resistor to the breadboard and connect with the jumper wires. Learn to read resistor values by their color bands.
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Document this circuit on your blog
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Part 2: Adding a sensor: light dependent resistor
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Think about: What does the resistor do? What happens to the LED when you change the resistor for a higher (try 1k Ohm) or a lower value (10 Ohm)?
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Find the light-dependent resistor (LDR) in your kit and swap out the fixed resistor for the LDR. Why does the LED change brightness when you cover it or when you shine your cellphone flashlight at it?
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Document the LDR circuit on your blog
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Part 1 Documentation
Step 1: Gather all materials: breadboard, jumper wire, 220 ohm resistor, LED, breadboard power supply, 9V battery, and the connector clip for the battery.
Step 2: Place the power supply on the breadboard and make sure the + and - line up. Make sure the white bracket is on 5V mark (bottom left of the power supply), so the correct amount of voltage is going flowing throughout the circuit.
Step 3: Attach the battery to the clip and plug it into the power supply.
Step 5: Add the LED, and make sure the long leg, or anode (+), is in the same row as the right end of the jumper wire on the left side of the breadboard. Place the short leg, or cathode (-), on the right side of the breadboard.
Close up of Step 6.
Video of my circuit!
Step 4: Take one jumper wire and place one end into the + column on the far left side of the breadboard. Place the other end into a slot on the left side too.
Step 6: Add the resistor and make sure the left side is in the same row as the cathode on the LED. Insert the right end onto the far right negative column on the breadboard.
Step 7: Turn on the switch and the LED should light up!
Schematic Diagram
Part 2 Documentation
Replace the 220 ohm resistor with the LDR.
Close-up of the LDR in the circuit.
Video of the new circuit showing sensitivity to light.
Schematic diagram.