Lesson video

Hello.

My name's Mrs. Taylor, and I'm really pleased you can be here to join me for our lesson today.

Our lesson today is Circuits in Tinkercad, and this is part of the "Functional Prototypes: Wearable Technology" unit.

I can combine input, process, and output components to create functioning circuits.

We have four key words.

Context, the situation within which something exists or happens.

System, a set of related parts or components used to create an outcome.

Cad, which is an abbreviation for computer aided design.

And simulate, which is to imitate a product or process to test it.

There are two parts to the lesson today, designing with electronics and circuit simulation in Tinkercad.

Let's begin.

The context for this unit is wearable technology.

Within this context, there are many design opportunities.

The one which we are going to focus on in this unit is keeping children safe when travelling to and from school.

Electronic systems use a range of components to create circuits with specific functions.

These components can be grouped into input, process, and output components.

This systems approach is useful when designing a circuit.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which are parts of a systems approach to designing? Is it A, start, B, output, C, end, or D, process? Pause video and have a go.

Wonderful.

Let's check.

That's right, output and process are part of a systems approach to designing, so the correct answers are B and D.

Well done.

There are three concepts which must be understood when designing electronic circuits.

Voltage, which is the electromotive force measured in vaults, abbreviated to V.

Current, the flow of electrons, which is measured in amperes, sometimes abbreviated to amps, and the symbol we use is I.

And resistance, the opposition to the flow of current, which is measured in ohms, and the symbol for this is R for resistance or the omega sign for ohms. Electronic circuits must have a power source such as a battery or USB connector.

Batteries are measured in volts.

Here we can see a nine-volt battery, a 1.

5-volt cell, a three-volt coin cell, and a five-volt USB connector.

Switches and sensors are input components.

They are used to send a signal.

Examples include a slide switch, a light dependent resistor, abbreviated to LDR or a push button switch like this.

Process components take an input signal and change it.

Here we have an example of a process component, a resistor.

A resistor is a component that restricts the flow of current.

Some components can be damaged if the current is too high.

Resistors are measured in ohms. A capacitor is also an example of a process component.

A capacitor is a component that stores electrical energy temporarily, often used to create timing delays in circuits.

Here we have a check for understanding, identify the input components.

Pause the video and have a go.

Fantastic.

Let's check.

That's right, it's B and C.

Both the LDR, which is a sensor, and the push button switch, which is a switch, are input components.

Well done.

Output components respond to a process signal and use it to emit light, sound, or movement.

For example, a bulb, a light emitting diode, abbreviated to LED, or a motor.

We now move on to task A, part one.

Describe each part of the systems approach to designing electronic circuits.

Remember, the stages are input, process, and output.

And part two, give an example of a component for each stage, pause the video and have a go.

Wonderful.

Let's have a look at some of the answers you may have come up with.

Input components are used to send a signal.

Examples are switches and an LDR, which senses light levels.

Process components take an input signal and change it, like a resistor restricting the flow of current.

Output components respond to a signal, and then show light, sound, or movement.

A motor is an example.

Well done.

Task A, part three.

Consider the design opportunity, which is keeping children safe when travelling to and from school, which outputs would be suitable for the product.

Pause the video and have a go.

Wonderful.

Let's check.

Lucas says, in the winter, children are often walking to school in the dark.

I think the most suitable output for this product will be something that lights up, such as a bulb or an LED.

Well done.

We're now going to move to the second part of the lesson today, which is circuit simulation in Tinkercad.

Tinkercad is an online computer-aided design application or cad.

It can be used to create 2D and 3D drawings, design electronic circuits, and programme control systems. Modelling using CAD is useful for testing and iterating design ideas as they can be quickly changed without wasting materials or components.

Electronic circuits and control systems can also be simulated virtually.

Simulate means to imitate a product or process to test it.

Here we have a check for understanding.

What are the advantages of virtually simulating designs? Is it A, takes a long time, B, materials or components are not wasted, or C, to test them? Pause the video and have a go.

Wonderful.

Let's check.

That's right, both B and C are correct.

Materials or components are not wasted and we can test them.

Well done.

Using Tinkercad to model an electronic circuit, log into tinkercad.

com, select Students with Class Code, type in your class code.

Select Join with Nickname, then enter your nickname, and select Create and then Circuits.

It is good practise to begin by renaming the file, and you do this by clicking in the top left and typing the name that you wish to call your file.

We can now select components from the menu and begin to create circuits.

Here is a nine-volt battery, slide switch, and bulb.

To connect the components, we use wires.

The colours can be changed.

It is good practise to use black for negative and red for positive.

Here we have a check for understanding.

What colour wire is used for the positive connection from a battery? Is it A, green, B, black, C red, or D blue? Pause the video and have a go.

Wonderful.

Let's check.

That's Right, it's red.

So C was the correct answer.

Well done.

Once a circuit has been created, we can then simulate it and test its function.

By clicking the slide switch, we can see the bulb is off in one position and on in the other.

Here is a circuit with a nine-volt battery, an LED, resistor, and slide switch.

A resistor is added to restrict the current flow to the LED, protecting it from damage.

The resistor can be placed on the negative or positive side of the circuit.

An LED, or light emitting diode, is a component that allows current to flow only in one direction.

LEDs are polarised components and must be connected correctly in a circuit.

The cathode is the negative connection, and the anode, the positive.

The flat surface of the LED case and the shorter leg indicate the negative cathode.

Here we have a check for understanding.

if A component is polarised.

What does it mean? Is it A, the current will flow in one direction.

B, the current will flow in both directions, or C, the current will not flow in any direction.

Pause the video and have a go.

Great.

Let's check.

That's right, it's A.

The current will flow in one direction.

Well done.

Here we have task B.

Create a simple bulb circuit with a nine-volt battery, slide switch, and bulb.

Simulate this circuit and describe what happened.

Now change the bulb to an LED and add a 1k ohm resistor.

Simulate this circuit and describe what happened.

Remove the resistor from the circuit and then simulate this circuit and describe what happened.

And part seven, now add multiple LEDs and change the colour of them.

And part eight, simulate this circuit and describe what happened.

Pause the video and have a go.

Wonderful.

Let's have a look at some of the answers you may have come up with.

For part one and two.

Lucas says, "The simulation didn't work the first time I tried it, and I realised I had connected the slide switch incorrectly.

It worked well and the bulb lit up the second time I tried." For parts three and four, Lucas says, "My LED circuit didn't work the first time.

I then remembered that the LED must be connected the right way round with the negative wire to the cathode.

It worked well the second time." Parts five and six.

"My LED was damaged.

The current flow across it was too high because the resistor was removed.

As this was a simulation, no physical components were damaged." And part seven and eight, Lucas says, "I added four different coloured LEDs.

All LEDs emitted light, and I could control them using the switch." And we can see here from the diagrams that Lucas tried the LEDs in series and in parallel.

Well done.

We now have a summary of our learning today.

The context for this unit is wearable technology and the design opportunity is keeping children safe when travelling to and from school.

Electronic systems have input, process, and output components which can be connected to create circuits with a specific function.

Tinkercad circuits can be used to design and simulate electronic circuits.

I'm really pleased that you could join me today.

Well done.