Working with motors
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can connect, test and set up motors using a motor controller board.
Key learning points
- Motors convert electrical energy into motion.
- Microcontrollers cannot drive motors directly.
- Motor drivers are needed to safely control motors.
- The direction and speed of motors can be controlled with code.
Keywords
Pin - a physical connection point on a microcontroller, microprocessor or electronic component
Ground (GND) - acts as the return path for electric current and is essential for a circuit to work properly
Motor controller - hardware that takes signals and manages how a motor behaves
Library - a collection of pre-written code that you can use to make programming easier and faster
Common misconception
You can connect a motor directly to a microcontroller and it will work fine.
Microcontrollers send control signals, not power. Motor drivers act like electronic switches to take a signal and safely drive the motors with their own power supply.
Teacher tip
Reinforce the message that a motor driver or controller must always be used between the motor and the microcontroller. Microcontrollers like the Raspberry Pi Pico cannot supply enough current to drive motors directly and can be damaged if connected without protection.
Equipment
Pupils will need a microcontroller and software to program it. They also need a DC motor kit and power source. Examples in this lesson use the RPi Pico and Thonny https://oak.link/thonny
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following best describes physical computing?
Q2.What is a microcontroller usually used for?
Q3.Which device would most likely contain an embedded system?
Q4.What are the connection points on a microcontroller used to send or receive signals?
Q5.Match each component to its correct description:
produces movement when powered
lights up when powered
used to provide input by being pressed
stores data for later use
Q6.Put these steps in order to set up a circuit on a Pico to light up an LED:
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does GND (ground) do in a circuit?
Q2.Match each keyword to its correct description:
manages how a motor behaves
connection point for signals
pre-written code to help programming
return path for electric current
Q3.What hardware is needed between a microcontroller and a motor to safely control the motor’s power?
Q4.Put these steps in order for safely running a motor with a microcontroller:
Q5.What could happen if you connect a motor directly to a microcontroller?
Q6.Match each type of motor to its correct description:
spins continuously when powered; speed controlled by voltage
moves to a specific angle; often used for precise movement
rotates in steps for precise position control
To help you plan your 11 computing lesson on: Working with motors, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 computing lesson on: Working with motors, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 computing lessons from the Using physical computing to create a robot buggy unit, dive into the full secondary computing curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.