Basic Electronics

LED

(Light emitting diode) emits light only when current/ a large enough voltage is applied across its positive and neg electrodes, passing does not light up when current is absent (The LED is a type of "diode", which is like a one-way street for current flow. Current only flows in one direction, and is blocked in the other direction.Usually LEDs only work in one direction.)

piezo sounder

A Piezo Sounder is a Piezoelectric speaker and is used to convert electrical signals into sound just like a speaker.

Breadboard

A circuit board for wiring temporary circuits, usually used for prototypes or laboratory work.

Stepper Motor

A motor that rotates a predefined angle with every electrical impulse.

Temperature sensor

A sensor system that produces an electrical signal related to its temperature and, as a consequence, senses the temperature of its surrounding area

Analog sensor

A sensor that reads a value from a range of possible values.

Transistor

A small electronic device used in a circuit as an amplifier or switch.

Push Button Switch

A switch that can be opened or closed by pressing buttons on the switch.

Potentiometer

A switch that can provide variable motion control. It can vary the resistance within the switch, which affects both the current and voltage flowing out of the switch.

Binary

A way of representing information using only two options.

Resistor

An electrical device that resists the flow of electrical current

2 Wire Motor

An electro magnetical device that converts electrical energy into kinetic (physical) energy on demand.

Servo Motor

Any motor that is modified to give feedback concerning the motor's speed, direction of rotation, and number of revolutions. Usually gives you precise control over a range of motion

Arduino

Arduino is used to describe the microcontroller board and also programming language \ environment

Digital Sensor

Device that measures a physical quantity and converts it to binary

DC motor

Electrical machines which convert electrical power into mechanical power from DC electricity

measure current

I ( I = V/R)

Line Follower

Measures the difference in light. (i.e. will follow a line if you set it to follow the lighter or darker shade). There needs to be contrast in the colors.

3 wire Motor

Servo type Radio Control signal output and are generally low current

VEX Cortex

The "brain" of the robot. The microcontroller contains the robot's program and processes all signals received from both human operators and on board sensor systems. It also manages power allocation on board the robot and directly controls the motors.

Photocell Resistor

This is an input device. It detects levels of light.

Ultrasonic sensor

Uses reflected sound waves to measure distance between the sensor and any objects in its path.

Battery

a combination of two or more electrochemical cells in a series

capacitator

a component that stores up electricity and releases it at particular intervals

loop

a programming construct that repeats a group of commands.

potentiometer

a simple mechanical device that provides a varying amount of resistance when its shaft is turned. (a three-terminal resistor with a sliding or rotating contact that forms an adjustable voltage divider.)

breadboard

allows us to build complicated circuits without the need for soldering

AC voltage source

alternating current power source( represented with a circle with a wavy line inside, wavy line inside represents the sine wave that an alternating current source provides)

Raspberry Pi

an inexpensive single-board computer designed primarily for use in schools

inverter

apparatus that changes direct current to alternating current

what are the 2 basic categories of conductivity

conductor, insulator

DC voltage source

direct current power source

insulator

does not allow current flow at all

Conductor

enables current to flow easily

conductivity

is a measure of how easily electrons flow through a material. This flow of electrons is called a Current its units are called Amperes or Amps

diode

is represented by a triangle with a line , it is an electrical component that only lets current pass one way

Pushbutton

lets current through momentarily when it is pushed

microcontrollers

little brains

short leg of LED

negative leg called cathode (usually black)

LED

positive leg called anode (usually red)

inductor

resembles a coil it consists of a conductor (such as wire, usually wound into a coil) when a current flows thru it energy is stored temporarily in the magnetic field in the coil. when the current flowing through an inductor changes, the time varying magnetic field induces a voltage in the conductor which opposes the change in current that created it

resistors

resist the flow of electricity, lower the voltage

microprocessor

small brain of the computer

parallel circuit

the voltage in each branch is the same, If a component is removed from the circuit the other components will continue to function because it is still a closed circuit.they both receive power from the battery independently.

jumper wires

they are used to make connections between the arduino and the breadboard

void loop

void loop() { // put your main code here, to run repeatedly: } After creating a setup() function, this function does precisely what its name suggests, and loops consecutively, allowing your program to change and respond as it runs

void setup

void setup() { // put your setup code here, to run once: } The setup() function is called when a sketch starts. Use it to initialize variables, pin modes, start using libraries, etc. The setup function will only run once, after each powerup or reset of the board.