Summary
This was a very long, but fun project. We learned both about electronics, and programing with robots. With electricity we did multiple experiments. We started off using simple plier nose wires, but then we advanced to breadboards. We learned how to turn on LEDS, and how various electrical components work. We were all given electric experiment packets that were to be completed along with programming. In this packet we learned about new components and how voltage, current, and resistance work in circuits. We used CodeAcademy to learn the Python coding language. Once we completed that course, we programmed some robot cars to drive based on what controls we would press. Coding was very different than everything else this year because it was revolved completely around computers. We were given a couple of weeks to complete both our electronic experiments packet and programming.
Concepts
Electricity- A form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles (such as electrons or protons), either statically as an accumulation of charge or dynamically as a current.
Voltage- The energy or potential drop across a component.
Current- The amount of flow through a circuit
Resistance- How much the electricity is being resisted from going through an object.
Ohms Law- Ohms law is Voltage = Current x Resistance (V = IR). It shows the relation between these three measurements.
Electronic Components:
Breadboards- Breadboards are boards that contain a graph like arrangement of outlets that are connected in a pattern under that surface. You can use these to make circuits.
Resistors- Resistors are small tube like objects on wires that provide resistance. You can tell how much resistance is provided based on the color code.
Capacitor- A capacitor is a component that can store electricity, and then release it.
Series Circuits-
Resistance- Calculated with r + r + r (however many) = r
Current- Stays the same
Voltage- Splits
Parallel Circuits-
Resistance- Total resistance in parallel can be found with 1/r + 1/r + 1/r (however many) = 1/r.
Current- Divides
Voltage- Stays the same
Programming- We learned the Python language and were able to code robots to drive autonomously and to drive based on our controls. Coding is where you enter commands to a computer and it carries out the commands.
Voltage- The energy or potential drop across a component.
Current- The amount of flow through a circuit
Resistance- How much the electricity is being resisted from going through an object.
Ohms Law- Ohms law is Voltage = Current x Resistance (V = IR). It shows the relation between these three measurements.
Electronic Components:
Breadboards- Breadboards are boards that contain a graph like arrangement of outlets that are connected in a pattern under that surface. You can use these to make circuits.
Resistors- Resistors are small tube like objects on wires that provide resistance. You can tell how much resistance is provided based on the color code.
Capacitor- A capacitor is a component that can store electricity, and then release it.
Series Circuits-
Resistance- Calculated with r + r + r (however many) = r
Current- Stays the same
Voltage- Splits
Parallel Circuits-
Resistance- Total resistance in parallel can be found with 1/r + 1/r + 1/r (however many) = 1/r.
Current- Divides
Voltage- Stays the same
Programming- We learned the Python language and were able to code robots to drive autonomously and to drive based on our controls. Coding is where you enter commands to a computer and it carries out the commands.
Resistor Color Code
Circuits
Reflection
During this project I learned man valuable lessons. From programming, I learned the skills of patience and attention to detail. Programming can be hard to understand at first and a lot of the time you need to read the instructions over and over again. One small error in your code can lead to the code not passing. It can be as simple as a missed indent. This caused me to pay more attention to detail and also gave me the patience to keep on trying over and over again until it was right. With electricity, I also learned that attention to detail is important. You have to make sure every wire is in the correct spot or it may not work. Another skill I gained with electricity was the ability to solder. Soldering showed me how you must be very precise in you work. If you accidentally connect two wires, it could end badly.
In this project I think I could have worked more efficiently than I choose to. We were given time to choose between electronics or programming, and I mismanaged my time which resulted in me doing a lot at the end of our time. Next time I will try to get things done earlier in the game. Also, I fell that I could have helped others more. I saw some people stuck on their work, but a couple of times I chose not to help because I was working on my work. Next time I will help others first because that is more important than my own work. What I did well with this project was I went beyond just learning how to do the projects, I also learned why they worked how they did. I constantly asked questions to understand how things worked the way they did.
In this project I think I could have worked more efficiently than I choose to. We were given time to choose between electronics or programming, and I mismanaged my time which resulted in me doing a lot at the end of our time. Next time I will try to get things done earlier in the game. Also, I fell that I could have helped others more. I saw some people stuck on their work, but a couple of times I chose not to help because I was working on my work. Next time I will help others first because that is more important than my own work. What I did well with this project was I went beyond just learning how to do the projects, I also learned why they worked how they did. I constantly asked questions to understand how things worked the way they did.