Lesson 5_Getting Started With Circuits

Digital and Analog Signals

Signals are used by devices to transmit information from one device to the other.
A digital signal is a discrete wave that carries information in binary form, while an analog signal is a continuous wave that that changes over a time period.
Analog can take on any range of values unlike with digital that only has two values, either 0 or 1, which in Arduino is either LOW or High

Getting Started with Circuits

This lesson will focus on how to build one's own prototype. A prototype refers to a model of an application or device to demonstrate its design concept and requirements.

Circuits

Electronic circuit - refers to different electronic components including resistors, transistors, capacitors, diodes, and others that are conductively connected through wires that allow electricity to flow. Circuits create a closed loop of wires allowing electricity to flow from the power source or (+) positive form of energy to its ground (GND) or (-) negative form. This kind of circuit is often referred to as direct current (DC).

Circuits

Current- is the amount of electrical charge flowing in the circuit that is usually measured in ampere or amps (A).
Voltage - is the potential difference in electric energy from one point to the other in the electric circuit that is measured in volts (V).
Resistance - is a measure of how much the components resist or oppose the flow of the current in the circuit that is measured in ohms (Ω).
Tolerance - is the percentage error of how much more or less resistance can be expected from its actual measure to its stated resitance.

Solderless Breadboard

Also known as breadboard is an important component in building your temporary electronic circuit without the need for soldering. It is a board with tiny holes that will be used to insert or connect wires and other electronic components to create a circuit.

This is a horizontal crevasse that separates the two sides of the breadboard in the middle. It serves as support for the dual in-line package (DIP) chip. DIP chip is an integrated circuit (IC) with legs on both sides.

1. Ravine

This is a serial connection that runs horizontally. It is usually labeled with (+) and (-) and sometimes with a color code to suggest that a red stripe indicates the positive side while a blue, green, or black stripe indicates the negative side.

2. Power rails

These allow vertical serial connections. These are where the main components of the circuit are connected.

3. Terminal strips (column)

Jumper Wires

Jumper wires are short electrical wires that are used to interconnect the different components of an electronic circuit in the breadboard and the Arduino board.

There are also other variations of jumper wires that can be used to easily connect the circuits in your board.

Jumper wires typically come in three versions: male-to-male, male-to-female, and female-to-female. The difference between each is in the end point of the wire. Male ends have a pin protruding and can plug into things, while female ends do not and are used to plug things into.

Types of jumper wire

Resistors

A resistor is a passive two-way electronic component that is commonly used to regulate power, divide voltage, or resist the flow of electric current in circuits.

Passive means that resistors do not generate power but only consume it. Resistors are nonpolarized, which means that electric current will flow through them in any direction.

Finding the required resistor for an electronic device can be manually computed using the modified version of Ohm's Law.

Computing the Value of Resistors

The value of the resistor can be computed manually using its colored bands. It is believed that the color code was developed in the 1920s because they found it very difficult to write or print digits on tiny objects like resistors.

Computing the Value of Resistors

Quiz time: answer the following within the allotted time. Use small letters only. Good luck!

Fill in the Blanks

It refers to different electronic devices that are connected through wire allowing electricity to flow.

Fill in the Blanks

It is a measure of how much the components resist or oppose the flow of the current in the circuit that is measured in ohms.

Fill in the Blanks

This is the potential difference in electric energy from one point to the other in the circuit that is measured in volts (V).

Fill in the Blanks

This short electrical wire is used to interconnect the different components of an electric circuit in the breadboard and the Arduino board.

Fill in the Blanks

It is the amount of electrical charge flowing in the circuit that is usually measured in amperes or amps (A).