Workshop: Introduction to electronics
(Generally, this workshop is offered at least once a week on a rotating basis. Check the Lab calendar for up-to-date availability!)
Contents
Basics of Electricity and Electronics
To understand electronics one must first understand electricity. Electricity is the movement of electron wave fronts. There are three main quantities used in measuring electricity, those being, Voltage, Current, and Resistance.
Volts
volts or voltage are energy per charge, it is measured in either AC or DC, depending on the power source, its unit is V, and its variable is also V.
Current
Current is charge per time, it is measured in amps, its unit is A, and its variable is I.
Resistance
Resistance is the opposition to current flow, its unit is omega, and its variable is R
Equations and laws
The way Volts, Current, and Resistance are equated is through various laws. Some of those laws being Ohms law, Kirchhoff’s voltage law, Kirchhoff’s current law , and the voltage divider law.
Ohms Law V=IR and P=IV "V" volts "I" Current "R" Resistance "P" Power This law equates volts, Current, Resistance, and Power Kirchhoff’s voltage law the sum of all the voltage is equal to 0 ΣV=0 Kirchhoff’s current law the sum of the currents of currents at the node is equal to 0 used when currents are split at a node. ΣI=0 voltage divider law Vx=(Rx/Rt)*Vs There is also rules for parallel resistors and resistors in series Resistor in series add linearly Rx=R1+R2 Parallel Resistors Rt=(1/Ra+1/Rb)^(-1)
Basics about Electronics
After understanding the basic laws and concepts of electricity and electronics you must also learn fundamental contextual ideas about electronics.
Complete circuit
A complete circuit is a system that allows energy to flow from the energy source to wherever it is needed then back to the energy source
LED
a Light emitting diode a diode is a one way voltage control current valve which will only open in one direction depending on the amount of pressure emitted. Usually only requires 20mA to run.
Resistors
Resistors are used in circuits to equalize the energy being outputted by a energy source and the thing receiving the energy. A typical system will draw no more than half an amp. Because resistors are universally necessary there is many kinds of resistors. Also as a general rule if the thing receiving the energy and the resistor are in series, they can be reordered but not reorientated.