Sunday, December 29, 2013

Week 5 Post 1-3


a.     Which labs, activities and/or videos have you completed?   

I have completed the third simulation and have written the report for it. I have also selected a partner for the circuits project. Ray and I will be working together. 

b.     What did you learn and what questions do you still need to ask? 

s     After completing the lab on the relationships between resistance, current, and voltage, I was able to learn a number of new things. First of all, I learned that the resistance of a circuit has no effect on the voltage. However, the resistance does have an effect on the current. The greater the resistance is in a circuit, the lesser the current. Similarly, voltage has no effect on the resistance, however, it does have an effect on the current. The greater the voltage, the greater the current. I also learned that one can manipulate the current by increasing or decreasing the resistance of the circuit, since the resistance does not depend on the current but the current depends on the resistance. Similarly, one can manipulate the current by increasing or decreasing the voltage, since current also depends on the voltage but voltage does not depend on the current. In a circuit, both the voltage and the resistance are the independent variables, while the current in the dependent.  
o    In conclusion, this activity has given me a deeper understanding of what Ohm's law is and how it works.
s
     c.     How will what you learn help you to complete the projects for this unit? 

T    This activity on the relationships between resistance, current, and voltage has helped me to better understand what Ohm's Law is and how it works. This new understanding will help me on the upcoming quiz on Ohm's Law, the circuits project, as well as the final assessment on the unit for I now know not only what the formula for the law is, but also the relationships and how it works. Understanding how the components relate to each other and understanding how the law works will be important on answering questions on upcoming assessments that need you to answer questions where you are to find the resistance given only the voltage and current or where anyone those components are missing.



     d.     What do you plan to do next and when do you think you will complete your next step?  
      
      I plan to work on the circuits project next. I am not sure if our will be able to complete it in the next week or so, but we will try our absolute best to do so.
  
      Day 1: School- Complete floor-plan sketch   Home- find out wattages of appliances and lights, buy poster

      Day 2: School- Begin work on circuit sketch, finalize the floor plan diagram Home: work on written requirement 

      Day 3: School-  Finalize circuit sketch, work on written requirement.  Home: Finish project during the break






Sunday, December 8, 2013

Week 4 Post 1-3



a.     Which labs, activities and/or videos have you completed? 

    I have completed the second simulation (the one on resistance) and watched the Bozeman science video on current and resistance. 

b.     What did you learn and what questions do you still need to ask?

      After watching the video and completing the simulation, I learned a number of things. First of all, I learned that voltage is potential energy, current is the amount of energy flowing, and resistance is anything that slows down that flow. I also learned the unit of measurement for each of these these terms. For example, voltage is measured in volts, current in amps, and resistance in ohms.  
      
      After that, I learned what ohm's law was and the formula for it. Ohms law is
      the formula thats used to find either the voltage, current, or resistance, when only two out of the three different values are known. It also tells you that there is an inverse relationship between the resistance and current and a direct relationship between the current and voltage. The formula for Ohm's law is V= IR.  
      
      The simulation also helped me understand the relationships between the three factors a bit better. For example, I was able to learn that voltage divided by current gives you the resistance and the voltage divided by resistance gives you the current. Also, resistance multiplied by the current will give you the voltage, like the formula states. 

      
c.     How will what you learn help you to complete the projects for this unit?

      The information that I learned this week will help me on my upcoming projects, for it will help me understand what I will need to do to complete the projects. For example if the project asks for me to find the resistance, I will be able to do so. Similarly, if the upcoming quiz asks me to find the resistance, voltage, or even the current, I will be able to do so. 

d.     What do you plan to do next and when do you think you will complete your next step? 
    
      Schedule for NEXT WEEK:
      Day 1:    Class: Simulation 3        Home: Finish Simulation
      Day 2:    Class: Write Lab report  Home: Finish Lab Report 
      Day 3:    Class: Simulation 4        Home: Finish Simulation 4, Begin lab report, Blog     


Monday, December 2, 2013

Week 3 Post 1-3


a.     Which labs, activities and/or videos have you completed? 

      I have completed the lab report for the first simulation, completed two sets worksheets on circuits, watched the khan academy video on electrostatics, begun to work on the second simulation.

b.     What did you learn and what questions do you still need to ask?

     I was able to learn a number of new things this week. I learned that charge is a property that objects and particles have. I learned that there are also two types of charge. There is positive charge and negative charge. Positives repel other positives and negatives do the same to other negatives. However, positively charged particles and negatively charged particles attract.  
      I learned that charge can in fact, be measured using a unit called a Coulomb. I learned that the formula for finding charge is C= 6.24 x 10^18 e. The e stands for elementary charge, which is basically the charge of the protons or electrons. 
     
      The worksheets also solidified my knowledge of circuits and what we have learned about them. For example the questions on what components are needed to have a flow of electricity in a circuit reminded me that a circuit must always have a source of power and a closed conducting loop to function. The questions on the diagrams relating to this question further solidified my knowledge for it showed pictures and visuals are always important for understanding and applying concepts.
     
      The questions that involved definitions also helped to reinforce prior knowledge attained from watching the Khan Academy videos. They reminded me of important definitions of concepts, as well as what is important to remember for the upcoming assessments and assignments. For example, the question on where current exists reminded me that current exists whenever there is a charge moving through a loop. It also told me that this piece of information may possibly be on one of the upcoming tests or quizes  and that it is important. 

c.     How will what you learn help you to complete the projects for this unit?

      The information that I learned will allow for me to have a strong understanding of the concepts and topics of the next few projects. They will allow for me to understand what I will be asked to investigate and therefore are crucial for completing future assignments and projects. 

d.     What do you plan to do next and when do you think you will complete your next step? 
     
I plan to finish the second simulation by the end of week 4. 


Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Week 2 Post 2-3

Post 2 and 3
a.     Which labs, activities and/or videos have you completed? 

      I have completed the first PHET simulation on constructing parallel circuits.

b.     What did you learn and what questions do you still need to ask?

      While constructing the parallel and series circuits, I was able to learn a number of things, as well as solidify knowledge attained from the videos.
     
The first piece of information, which I learned, was the importance of resistors. Prior to completing the simulation, I understood what a resistor was, what it was used for, and how it worked. However, I did not know why it was important. I did not know why the electrons passing through the wire needed to be slowed down and what effect not having resistors would have on the overall circuit. I learned that slowing down the electrons passing through the wire is essential because it controls the flow of electrons. If too many electrons are travelling, too fast, then that can have serious negative effects on the battery. For example this overload in electrons can cause for instability and ultimately cause for the battery to explode or catch fire.
     
      Another piece of information that I learned from this simulation was that the electrical flow in parallel and series circuits is a bit different. The current seemed to be flowing a lot faster in the parallel circuit. Also, the voltage was the same on each tier. In addition, the voltage was higher in the parallel circuits and the bulbs were brighter than in the series circuit. This happened despite the fact that both circuits used two batteries with the same 18V combined output.

      I think that this can be explained by the fact that there is more resistance in the series circuit, but I am unsure? 
     

c.     How will what you learn help you to complete the projects for this unit?

This will be very useful further along because it helps us understand relationships between the two types of circuits, as well as their similarities and differences. I think simulations such as this one will lay down a solid foundation for much more complicated and advanced work that we will complete in the following weeks. We are still focusing on basic concepts and relationships. These concepts will help our understanding of the more complicated ones since you need to understand these to move on and have any sense of the more complicated aspects of electrical engineering.

d.     What do you plan to do next and when do you think you will complete your next step? 
     
      I plan to finish the lab report for this and have it done by the end of the week. I also plan to begin work on the next simulation and watch some more videos (if I have the time to do so).




QUETIONS: 
Would a post such as this one be sufficient if I am to do 2 posts a week?


Friday, November 22, 2013

Week 2 post 1

Post 1
a.     Which labs, activities and/or videos have you completed? 

     I have watched the bozeman science video. 

b.     What did you learn and what questions do you still need to ask?

      This video has taught me, more in-depth about circuits. I have learned about what the various components of circuits are, such as batteries, wires, resistors, switches, etc. I learned what their abbreviations and symbols are. For example the symbol for a battery is composed of two t's, one upside down, on top of each other with + and - signs next to each t. I also learned a little bit about bread boards and how then can use potentiometers to control the flow of electricity. Once you can control the flow, you can control the brightness of the bulb.
      The demonstrations and diagrams from the video helped me understand more of where the guy from the khan academy videos was coming from. I thought that this teacher's explanations and diagrams were clearer and easier to understand. For example, the definitions and explanations of how the various components relate to each other made my understanding much more clear after watching this video. I was able to better understand how batteries, wires, and switches work together to create a circuit. I was able to better understand how switches use air to disrupt the flow of electricity.  

c.     How will what you learn help you to complete the projects for this unit?

      I believe that this video has answered most of the questions that I had. My understanding of how circuits work and what they are made up of is much clearer. I now know how all the parts of a circuit work, and more importantly how they work together. I think this knowledge will be crucial for the lab that I am currently working on, which involves creating a simulated circuit. It will also help me in future labs and activities where I will be expected to already have a solid understanding of circuits and their components. 


d.     What do you plan to do next and when do you think you will complete your next step? 
      I plan to have the first lab completed. I also plan to watch the next few videos and complete the second lab, by early next week.

e. Questions

      I still do not fully understand why having resistors to slow down the electrons is important. I understand it controls their flow, to some extent, but why are they so important?

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Week 1 Post 3


Post 3

a.     Which labs, activities and/or videos have you completed? 

      I have finished watching all of the khan academy videos on circuits. I am working on the first lab. 

b.     What did you learn and what questions do you still need to ask?

      I learned how calculate the voltage of a circuit which has multiple parallel and series resistors by putting together the formulas and my knowledge of circuits and resistors.
      I was also able to polish my skills on a how to calculate the voltage of circuits with parallel resistors as well as series resistors. The videos reinforced and refreshed all of what I learned in the previous videos on circuits. Can you also please post the khan academy video on resistivity that he was talking about in the fourth video on circuits. 

c.     How will what you learn help you to complete the projects for this unit?

      This material will has given me a pretty good understanding of what circuits are, what they are made up of, and how to calculate their voltage. Now, I will be able to apply those skills to upcoming work, especially to the circuit projects. Also I will understand what is going on in the simulations, something I would not have if I had not watched the videos. I knew close to nothing about circuits prior to watching the videos. 


d.     What do you plan to do next and when do you think you will complete your next step? 

      I plan to finish watching the videos on Bozeman science and finish the first simulation. I feel that I have been getting work done on that, but not as much as I would have liked. I will have it done before the next lesson. I will have also watched the bozeman science videos before the next lesson. 

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Need to Know Board (Experiment 1)

What I Know: 

I do not know very much about circuits and electrical engineering, however, I think I might know a few things about electricity. I think that electricity is a form of energy where charged particles are emitted or present. I think that conductors allow for electrical current to travel and that insulators do not. I think I know that many metals, such as pure copper are really good conductors. I also know that rubber is a good insulator.

Questions:

I will need to answer several questions and solve a number of problems such as:

  • What is a circuit? 
  • How do circuits work?
  • What are the different types of circuits, and how does one build them?
  • What are the parts of a circuit? 
  • What is ohm's law?
  • What is total electrical power and how may it be reduced? 

Explore: 

I think that I will need to explore how electricity works and what exactly electricity is. I will also need to explore the basics of electrical engineering (ie: circuits and wiring) as well as search for the answers of the above questions.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Post 1- Week 1


Post 1

a.     Which labs, activities and/or videos have you completed? 

      I have finished watching the first three khan academy videos on circuits and have begun to work on the first lab. 


b.     What did you learn and what questions do you still need to ask?

      I learned about circuits, conductors, and resistors, and how they function. I also learned about how to calculate voltage and the strength of the resistors. I do not have any questions at the moment.

c.     How will what you learn help you to complete the projects for this unit?

      The material that I learned has given me a better understanding of how circuits, switches, and resistors work. I will need this information in the next lab, for it involves creating a circuit. 


d.     What do you plan to do next and when do you think you will complete your next step? 

      I plan to continue to work on the lab and to finish watching the remaining videos on circuits. I plan to have the first lab completed by the end of next week.