Programming and Electric Circuits Inquiry
Programing
For our next project we needed to learn how to program. The point of us learning to program was in order to program robots. Unfortunately the robots weren’t working so that part of the project was dropped. To learn how to program, our whole class took the online code academy Python course. The reason we chose Python out of the other coding languages is because Python is what we were supposed to use for the robots. Python was a long course to take and learn, but it will become a useful skill some day.
For our next project we needed to learn how to program. The point of us learning to program was in order to program robots. Unfortunately the robots weren’t working so that part of the project was dropped. To learn how to program, our whole class took the online code academy Python course. The reason we chose Python out of the other coding languages is because Python is what we were supposed to use for the robots. Python was a long course to take and learn, but it will become a useful skill some day.
Electric Circuits Inquiry
The next thing we studied was how to wire a circuit. We started this by learning the very basics, like connecting a light bulb to a battery. We did this this by using alligator clips, a light bulb, and a battery to make this work. From this and other experiments like it, we learned about series and parallel connections throughout circuits. The next step we learned was how to set up breadboards. We learned about different resistors and how to place them in series and parallel to make the circuit work. Our final part of the breadboards was to create a circuit that made a LED bulb blink(at top of page). This one took a little time to figure out but in the end seemed very simple and was easy to recreate. The final part of our electric circuit inquiry section was to learn how to solder a raspberry pie circuit board. This was a fairly simple task to learn as long as you can keep a steady hand and see well. It requires pieces to be put in the right places, facing the right ways and then simply melting a small bit of led on the back to hold it on place.
The next thing we studied was how to wire a circuit. We started this by learning the very basics, like connecting a light bulb to a battery. We did this this by using alligator clips, a light bulb, and a battery to make this work. From this and other experiments like it, we learned about series and parallel connections throughout circuits. The next step we learned was how to set up breadboards. We learned about different resistors and how to place them in series and parallel to make the circuit work. Our final part of the breadboards was to create a circuit that made a LED bulb blink(at top of page). This one took a little time to figure out but in the end seemed very simple and was easy to recreate. The final part of our electric circuit inquiry section was to learn how to solder a raspberry pie circuit board. This was a fairly simple task to learn as long as you can keep a steady hand and see well. It requires pieces to be put in the right places, facing the right ways and then simply melting a small bit of led on the back to hold it on place.
Physics Concepts
· Python- programing language
· Circuit- is a complete loop of conductive materials that starts with a power source. We used this every time we did electrical experiments to make them work.
· Voltage- is the change in potential energy from one point to another. Voltage is measured in volts.
· Current- is the amount of of electricity or the flow of electricity. Current is symbolized by an "I" and is measured in amps.
· Resistance- is the degree that an object slows the electric current of a series.
· Ohm's Law- is the law that states that voltage is equal to current times resistance. It's also seen as V = I * R.· Series- is when the wires in a circuit all run in the same direction. Voltage is split in series and current stays the same.
· Parallel- is when the wires in a circuit run next to each other but are still connected. Voltage stays the same in parallel but current is split in parallel.
· Python- programing language
· Circuit- is a complete loop of conductive materials that starts with a power source. We used this every time we did electrical experiments to make them work.
· Voltage- is the change in potential energy from one point to another. Voltage is measured in volts.
· Current- is the amount of of electricity or the flow of electricity. Current is symbolized by an "I" and is measured in amps.
· Resistance- is the degree that an object slows the electric current of a series.
· Ohm's Law- is the law that states that voltage is equal to current times resistance. It's also seen as V = I * R.· Series- is when the wires in a circuit all run in the same direction. Voltage is split in series and current stays the same.
· Parallel- is when the wires in a circuit run next to each other but are still connected. Voltage stays the same in parallel but current is split in parallel.
ReflectionThe programing was very interesting to learn. It was challenging and yet very interesting so I always wanted to keep going. I have never actually coded before or learned any coding languages, so this was all new to me and took a more than the estimated 13 hours to complete. I learned from this assignment that you couldn’t just give up but need to persevere through because in the end it is worthwhile. I also learned that coding is very detail oriented and in the future will remember to put things like capitalizations or colons in first so it works.
The electric circuits started out very easy and slowly progressed to be harder. In the begging it was mainly common sense and later became more of making sure the flow of electricity continues. It was easier to set up a circuit in a breadboard and I learned that it’s easier to fix a problem if its spaced out more on the breadboard. One thing I could improve on is to make sure on the breadboard that all the wires are in the right direction. I also learned that soldering is very precise and it’s not the easiest to have to redo a solder. Overall I enjoyed soldering since it was a nice break from programing. Overall both of these project were very interesting and I'm gland I have these new skills.
The electric circuits started out very easy and slowly progressed to be harder. In the begging it was mainly common sense and later became more of making sure the flow of electricity continues. It was easier to set up a circuit in a breadboard and I learned that it’s easier to fix a problem if its spaced out more on the breadboard. One thing I could improve on is to make sure on the breadboard that all the wires are in the right direction. I also learned that soldering is very precise and it’s not the easiest to have to redo a solder. Overall I enjoyed soldering since it was a nice break from programing. Overall both of these project were very interesting and I'm gland I have these new skills.