Preview
During this unit we worked on two projects, Robot Art Show and Power Novato; both will be covered on this page. The Robot Art Show was to learn about programming using Arduino kits, and create our own code to make an art show. It's purpose was is to satisfy the robots of the future that will be exterminating the human race in hope they will let us live a while longer by proving we can make robot art in their robot liking.
The objective of Power Novato was to design a micro grid for either Novato or San Marin so that it may run off the main grid. During this project we learned a lot about electricity and electronics, we even took a field trip to a micro grid on a farm. However we only had about three days to work on this project therefore there are many holes in our design.
The objective of Power Novato was to design a micro grid for either Novato or San Marin so that it may run off the main grid. During this project we learned a lot about electricity and electronics, we even took a field trip to a micro grid on a farm. However we only had about three days to work on this project therefore there are many holes in our design.
Robot Art Show
Circuits Terms
These are the terms we used for this unit of our project.
Concept |
Variable |
Definition |
Equation |
Coulomb's Law
------------------ Kirchhoff's Laws ------------------ Circuit ------------------- Voltage ------------------ Current ------------------ Resistance ------------------ Series Circuit ------------------ Parallel Circuit ------------------ Power |
F=force q=charge
-------------------------- NA -------------------------- NA -------------------------- V=Volts -------------------------- i -------------------------- r -------------------------- NA -------------------------- NA -------------------------- P |
The relationship between charges used to find force of attraction/repulsion between two charges.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1st Law- Current flowing into node is equal to current flowing out. 2nd- Zero is the sum of all the voltages in any closed loop in a circuit. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Complete loop of conductive material from one side(+) of a power source to the other(-). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Potential energy difference from one side of a component to the other "push" "drop." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Flow" of charge through a current. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The amount the current is slowed or resisted through an obstacle. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Resistors/components are one after another in a loop or current has to go through all components. l-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The resistors/components are on separate paths and current can go through either or any path. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rate a which electrical energy is transferred by a circuit. |
F=k(q1)(q2)/d²
-------------------------------------- NA -------------------------------------- NA -------------------------------------- V=ir -------------------------------------- V=ir or i=V/r -------------------------------------- Depends on type of circuit -------------------------------------- r(total)=r(1)+r(2)+r(3) -------------------------------------- 1/r(total)=1/r(1)+1/r(2)+1/r(3) -------------------------------------- P=iv P=i²r |
Prep Experiments
Here are some of the experiments we did before doing the programming experiments. These helped us learn and practice setting up circuits.
Robot Art Show
Using Arduino we learned about programming and made a program of our own. Our group decided to use a piano buzzer and program it to play the Mario theme song, and have lights brink corresponding to whatever note was playing.
Here is our code for our art show.
These are some pictures of the art show.
This is our program in motion!
Power Novato
This is the project were we designed a micro grid for San Marin.
Wind Turbine Design |
Dissect a Motor Experiment |
Using different fins we experimented to see what type of fin was the most effective.
|
During this experiment we dissected motors to see how that work.
|
Electrical Field Lab
With these labs we experimented with electrical fields.
|
|
Electromagnetic Experiment
This is the experiment where we learned that an electrical field can lead to a magnetic field with electromagnets.
Micro Grid Design
Reflection
During this project I was able to improve on my individual researching skills and independent scheduling skills. However I could still work on focusing with my peers and dividing work between team members. Since the teacher had a looser grip on our researching progress and let us do our own thing, I was able to see what it was like to research on my own. This meant that I had to keep myself in check and not get off task and search random things not relating to the project. Although I did get off task a little here and there I was able to research a lot on my own. There was less of a set schedule for this project so as a group and an individual I had to make sure I was completing things in time to complete the project. Now I am able to time myself better with projects and tasks, meaning that I will make sure I will complete things in a timely order and not cram at the last minute. As a group however we did get off task, like when searching up information on the Tesla power packs we ended up on Twitter. Next time I will work on making sure that not only myself but the whole group is on task and completing things in a timely order. During the project there were times when a member wasn't doing anything because they weren't sure what to do, next time I hope to be able to divide the tasks better to ensure that doesn't happen again. Overall I hope to work on improving my group skills.