Circuits for teaching physics - Revision history

Shawn: /* Example circuits */ Added Data-graphing

2024-06-16T21:30:17Z

Example circuits: Added Data-graphing

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:30, 16 June 2024
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	====Data-logging====		====Data-logging====
	Have the micro-controller write data from whatever input to a memory-chip, or internal memory if sufficient, for retrieval later.		Have the micro-controller write data from whatever input to a memory-chip, or internal memory if sufficient, for retrieval later.

			====Data-graphing====
			Have the micro-controller write data from whatever input to a connected computer, for graphing. See [[Distance grapher]].

	====Voltmeter====		====Voltmeter====

Shawn: /* Example circuits */

2024-04-05T01:12:14Z

Example circuits

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:12, 4 April 2024
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	====Magnetometer====		====Magnetometer====
	Read values from a Hall-effect sensor or an integrated-chip, multi-axis magnetometer. See [[magnetometer]] for more discussion.		Read values from a Hall-effect sensor or an integrated-chip, multi-axis magnetometer. See [[magnetometer]] for more discussion.

			====Light-to-sound====
			The conductivity of a light-dependent resistor is proportional to the light falling on it. It can be placed in different parts of a 555-timer circuit to play a variable pitch through a speaker. https://energyteachers.org/project_detail.php?project_id=15

	====Ammeter====		====Ammeter====

Shawn: recategorized from teaching physics to physics teaching, joining other pages.

2023-01-04T01:07:23Z

recategorized from teaching physics to physics teaching, joining other pages.

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:07, 3 January 2023
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	<references />		<references />

	[[Category:~~Teaching physics~~]][[Category:Teaching electronics]]		[[Category:Physics teaching]][[Category:Teaching electronics]]

Shawn: /* Learning physics with circuits */

2022-12-08T19:57:29Z

Learning physics with circuits

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:57, 8 December 2022
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	Traditionally, physics students learn about circuits as a topic of physics after learning about electricity and magnetism. Instead, here I am suggesting we teach students about circuits as tools for learning in a wider range of fields of physics, from mechanics to astronomy, with rich opportunities to learn the traditional things about circuits scattered along the way.		Traditionally, physics students learn about circuits as a topic of physics after learning about electricity and magnetism. Instead, here I am suggesting we teach students about circuits as tools for learning in a wider range of fields of physics, from mechanics to astronomy, with rich opportunities to learn the traditional things about circuits scattered along the way.

	So, ~~for starters~~, students ~~should~~ be expected to learn about the traditional topics in circuits, such as resistance, capacitance, induction, EMF, parallel and series combinations, amplification, and various more advanced topics.		So, to start, students could be expected to learn about the traditional topics in circuits, such as resistance, capacitance, induction, EMF, parallel and series combinations, amplification, and various more advanced topics.

	But ''using'' circuits they can investigate waves, interference, optics, kinematics, dynamics, electric and magnetic fields, energy transfers, thermodynamics, the spectrum, and more.		But ''using'' circuits they can investigate waves, interference, optics, kinematics, dynamics, electric and magnetic fields, energy transfers, thermodynamics, the spectrum, and more.

Shawn: /* On-off sensors */ added USD

2021-02-18T18:53:48Z

On-off sensors: added USD

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:53, 18 February 2021
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	;Switches:Switches can be purchased or hand-made from all sorts of materials, like chewing-gum wrappers. A multitude of types of switches can be salvaged from old electronic equipment, like remote controls, tape players, and phones. They connect one or more conduits to one or more other conduits, and may make the connection when pushed, or disconnect when pushed, or toggle between connected and disconnected when pushed and released. They may spring back to a default position or they may stay in any state.		;Switches:Switches can be purchased or hand-made from all sorts of materials, like chewing-gum wrappers. A multitude of types of switches can be salvaged from old electronic equipment, like remote controls, tape players, and phones. They connect one or more conduits to one or more other conduits, and may make the connection when pushed, or disconnect when pushed, or toggle between connected and disconnected when pushed and released. They may spring back to a default position or they may stay in any state.
	;Tilt switches:These switches consist of a metal ball or mercury that makes contact only when it is tilted a certain amount. This is how mercury thermostats work.		;Tilt switches:These switches consist of a metal ball or mercury that makes contact only when it is tilted a certain amount. This is how mercury thermostats work.
	;Vibration ~~switch~~:These switches consist of a stiff wire surrounded by a metal coil that only contacts the wire when shaken.		;Ultrasonic distance sensors:These sensors send a train of ultrasonic pings when their trigger pin is taken high or low, then set an echo pin high or low for the duration of the flight of the pings to a reflecting object and back.
			;Vibration switches:These switches consist of a stiff wire surrounded by a metal coil that only contacts the wire when shaken.

	====Digital-value sensors====		====Digital-value sensors====

Shawn: /* More resources */

2018-09-25T20:01:39Z

More resources

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:01, 25 September 2018
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	===More resources===		===More resources===
	EnergyTeachers.org is building a list of where to buy electronics components, tools, and kits: http://energyteachers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=3375		EnergyTeachers.org is building a list of where to buy electronics components, tools, and kits: http://energyteachers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=3375

			OpenTP is creating lessons for students to study physics in a way to move away from labs merely confirming ancient physics. (in French) https://opentp.fr

	==References==		==References==

Shawn: /* Teachers using circuits */ MobileScience as presented at AAPT WM 2016 by Kyle Forinash

2016-01-11T17:33:13Z

Teachers using circuits: MobileScience as presented at AAPT WM 2016 by Kyle Forinash

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:33, 11 January 2016
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	;Andy Cave, Polytechnic Institute of New York University:http://www.teachengineering.org/view_activity.php?url=collection/nyu_/activities/nyu_train/nyu_train_activity1.xml		;Andy Cave, Polytechnic Institute of New York University:http://www.teachengineering.org/view_activity.php?url=collection/nyu_/activities/nyu_train/nyu_train_activity1.xml
	;Jason Harper:http://pobox.com/~JasonHarper/TimeCatcher.html		;Jason Harper:http://pobox.com/~JasonHarper/TimeCatcher.html
			;Kyle Forinash and Ray Wisman:Kyle and Ray have developed many activities that use mobile devices and electric circuits to measure physical phenomena. http://mobilescience.wikispaces.com

	===More resources===		===More resources===

Shawn at 00:11, 9 April 2015

2015-04-09T00:11:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:11, 8 April 2015
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	;Andy Cave, Polytechnic Institute of New York University:http://www.teachengineering.org/view_activity.php?url=collection/nyu_/activities/nyu_train/nyu_train_activity1.xml		;Andy Cave, Polytechnic Institute of New York University:http://www.teachengineering.org/view_activity.php?url=collection/nyu_/activities/nyu_train/nyu_train_activity1.xml
	;Jason Harper:http://pobox.com/~JasonHarper/TimeCatcher.html		;Jason Harper:http://pobox.com/~JasonHarper/TimeCatcher.html

			===More resources===
			EnergyTeachers.org is building a list of where to buy electronics components, tools, and kits: http://energyteachers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=3375

	==References==		==References==

Shawn: /* Sensors */ added outputs

2014-12-10T01:50:01Z

Sensors: added outputs

@@ Line 71: / Line 71: @@
 ====Commercial sensors====
 There are ways to connect sensors from commercial systems, the most well-known companies being Vernier and PASCO, to circuits—Some sensors output analog values on one wire when powered on two others, while some speak a digital code that may be open to the public. For example, Vernier publishes a guide to connecting their sensors to the Arduino. <ref>http://www.vernier.com/engineering/arduino/</ref> PASCO explains how the wires on various sensors function.<ref>http://www.pasco.com/support/technical-support/technote/techIDlookup.cfm?TechNoteID=436</ref>
 ===Example circuits===

Shawn: /* Sensors */ vernier and pasco links, more sensors

2014-12-08T23:21:46Z

Sensors: vernier and pasco links, more sensors

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:21, 8 December 2014
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	====Analog sensors====		====Analog sensors====
			;Humidity sensors:Humidity sensors may output relative or absolute humidity values, and are often packaged with a temperature sensor so we can convert to the other value through software.
	;Light-dependent resistors:LDRs are usually cadmium sulfide, which changes resistance according to how much light is falling on the cell. Cadmium is a toxic metal, so we usually use non-toxic alternatives like photo-transistors or photo-diodes or solar cells, especially for children's use. They react to changes in light more slowly than diodes and transistors, but they are easy to model as predictable, variable resistors.		;Light-dependent resistors:LDRs are usually cadmium sulfide, which changes resistance according to how much light is falling on the cell. Cadmium is a toxic metal, so we usually use non-toxic alternatives like photo-transistors or photo-diodes or solar cells, especially for children's use. They react to changes in light more slowly than diodes and transistors, but they are easy to model as predictable, variable resistors.
	;Potentiometers and rheostats:Variable resistors are usually a knob or a slider that change resistance from zero to some given value. Some, marked α (alpha) or A, are logarithmically tapered so that they can control audio or light over a wide, exponential range of values. Linear variable resistors are marked β (beta) or B.		;Potentiometers and rheostats:Variable resistors are usually a knob or a slider that change resistance from zero to some given value. Some, marked α (alpha) or A, are logarithmically tapered so that they can control audio or light over a wide, exponential range of values. Linear variable resistors are marked β (beta) or B.
			;Thermistors:Temperature-dependent resistors may have a negative or positive temperature coefficient, according to whether their resistance goes down or up when their temperature goes up. See wikipedia for more information, including a discussion of how they can increase temperature because the circuit is adding energy via the current used to sense its resistance. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermistor
			;Thermopiles:Thermopiles are semiconductor devices that change resistance or voltage in a circuit depending on their temperature, and they are thermally shielded so that they rise and fall in temperature with remote objects they face through a window in their otherwise heavy insulation. The window is usually made of a material that doesn't allow visible light, so that it is tuned to sensing temperatures corresponding to a peak wavelength in far infrared. These are the sensors used for non-contact thermometers, like those medical personnel use to take a person's temperature via ear or mouth.
	====On-off sensors====		====On-off sensors====
	;Passive infrared motion detectors:PIR devices often output a voltage between their supply and 1.5V when not detecting changing infrared light, then short their output to ground when they do detect changing infrared light. When using such PIR detectors with a micro-controller or similar logic ICs, pull the output up with a resistor, which may be an internal feature in micro-controllers like the Arduino, so that the output is clearly high or low.		;Passive infrared motion detectors:PIR devices often output a voltage between their supply and 1.5V when not detecting changing infrared light, then short their output to ground when they do detect changing infrared light. When using such PIR detectors with a micro-controller or similar logic ICs, pull the output up with a resistor, which may be an internal feature in micro-controllers like the Arduino, so that the output is clearly high or low.
			;Switches:Switches can be purchased or hand-made from all sorts of materials, like chewing-gum wrappers. A multitude of types of switches can be salvaged from old electronic equipment, like remote controls, tape players, and phones. They connect one or more conduits to one or more other conduits, and may make the connection when pushed, or disconnect when pushed, or toggle between connected and disconnected when pushed and released. They may spring back to a default position or they may stay in any state.
	;Tilt switches:These switches consist of a metal ball or mercury that makes contact only when it is tilted a certain amount. This is how mercury thermostats work.		;Tilt switches:These switches consist of a metal ball or mercury that makes contact only when it is tilted a certain amount. This is how mercury thermostats work.
	;Vibration switch:These switches consist of a stiff wire surrounded by a metal coil that only contacts the wire when shaken.		;Vibration switch:These switches consist of a stiff wire surrounded by a metal coil that only contacts the wire when shaken.
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	====Commercial sensors====		====Commercial sensors====
	There are ways to connect sensors from commercial systems, the most well-known companies being Vernier and PASCO, to circuits—Some sensors output analog values on one wire when powered on two others, while some speak a digital code that may be open to the public. <ref>http://www.vernier.com/engineering/arduino/</ref>		There are ways to connect sensors from commercial systems, the most well-known companies being Vernier and PASCO, to circuits—Some sensors output analog values on one wire when powered on two others, while some speak a digital code that may be open to the public. For example, Vernier publishes a guide to connecting their sensors to the Arduino. <ref>http://www.vernier.com/engineering/arduino/</ref> PASCO explains how the wires on various sensors function.<ref>http://www.pasco.com/support/technical-support/technote/techIDlookup.cfm?TechNoteID=436</ref>

	===Example circuits===		===Example circuits===