Evidence of Work
Throughout the electricity unit we worked on two main projects. Those were the Robot Art Show Project and the Power Novato Project. In the Robot Art Show Project we used the Arduino kits and code to program something. Before creating our own code we set up the Arduino with pre-existing code that would execute different functions. We then edited the pre-existing code to do exactly what we wanted to present to the class. My group and I decided on a song and the song we chose was Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. To know how to do this we used code from sketch 11 and then incorporated the notes and beats for our song. We also had some extra time on our hands so we included some lights that synced in with our song and blinked every time the song played a note. We were able to sync it by connecting the LEDs to the same line as the buzzer, so whenever a signal was sent to tell the buzzer to go off it also sent a signal to the LEDs. For the Power Novato Project we were asked to create a power grid to provide electricity for San Marin or Novato as a whole. My group and I decided to only power San Marin using solar and wind power. In our microgrid design we incorporated 2705 solar panels which ended up with a total setup and equipment cost of $5,883,375 and an additional 2 10 kW wind turbines that added 200,000 to the total cost. For storage we used 320 Tesla Power Packs which added 47,000,000 to the total cost. And we put all of these sources of energy on the top of campus where it doesn't interfere with sports practices.
Content
Wind Turbine Design: Unfortunately I was sick during this project ,but from what I have heard from my peers and seen from the posters, in this project we were told to make our own blades for the windmills and see what combination of shape and size was the most efficient in terms of how much electricity they generated.
Electrical Fields: In part of the Power Novato project we did three mini experiments, those being the static electricity lab, the sticky tape lab,and the electrical field hockey lab. These mini experiments gave us a better understanding of how electrical fields work and how we can apply them to our daily lives.
Electromagnet Lab: For this lab our group made an electromagnet using a nail, insulated copper wire, and a battery. We were all asked to change one thing about the magnet and run several trials. My group chose to change the gauge of wire and see how it affected the strength of the magnet. We found that electromagnetic strength was proportional to gauge of wire.
Dissect a Motor: Over a couple days we took apart and put back together motors of varying shapes and sizes. We did this by learning the parts that are included in a motor and knowing how to find them regardless of the type of motor we are working with.
Circuits: During the electricity unit we used the equation V=ir; V stands for voltage, i stands for current, and r stands for resistance.
Voltage is defined as an electromotive force or potential difference expressed in volts.
Current is defined as the flow of electric charge and is measured in amps.
Resistance is defined as the measure of the degree to which a conductor opposes an electric current through that conductor and is measured in ohms.
Electronics: Electronics is defined as a branch of physics that has to do with the movement of electrons and the design of circuits.
Breadboards: In this unit we also used breadboards to execute different tasks. We were able to create a circuits by plugging in wires, resistors, potentiometers, batteries, and more. In the blinky light experiment we used an LED and a potentiometer to change the blink rate.
Programming and Arduino: This was a huge part of the robot art show project and allowed us to connect the Arduino Redboard to our computer and and used code from 17 precreated programs, then edit the programs to make it our own, but at the same time execute the function that we were taught in that programs.
Electrical Fields: In part of the Power Novato project we did three mini experiments, those being the static electricity lab, the sticky tape lab,and the electrical field hockey lab. These mini experiments gave us a better understanding of how electrical fields work and how we can apply them to our daily lives.
Electromagnet Lab: For this lab our group made an electromagnet using a nail, insulated copper wire, and a battery. We were all asked to change one thing about the magnet and run several trials. My group chose to change the gauge of wire and see how it affected the strength of the magnet. We found that electromagnetic strength was proportional to gauge of wire.
Dissect a Motor: Over a couple days we took apart and put back together motors of varying shapes and sizes. We did this by learning the parts that are included in a motor and knowing how to find them regardless of the type of motor we are working with.
Circuits: During the electricity unit we used the equation V=ir; V stands for voltage, i stands for current, and r stands for resistance.
Voltage is defined as an electromotive force or potential difference expressed in volts.
Current is defined as the flow of electric charge and is measured in amps.
Resistance is defined as the measure of the degree to which a conductor opposes an electric current through that conductor and is measured in ohms.
Electronics: Electronics is defined as a branch of physics that has to do with the movement of electrons and the design of circuits.
Breadboards: In this unit we also used breadboards to execute different tasks. We were able to create a circuits by plugging in wires, resistors, potentiometers, batteries, and more. In the blinky light experiment we used an LED and a potentiometer to change the blink rate.
Programming and Arduino: This was a huge part of the robot art show project and allowed us to connect the Arduino Redboard to our computer and and used code from 17 precreated programs, then edit the programs to make it our own, but at the same time execute the function that we were taught in that programs.
Reflection
Over the course of the Robot Art Show project and Power Novato Project there were a lot of things I thought I did well. One of which was bringing the attention of my group members back to the task at hand because there were times where they would doze off because we were done or thought we were and when we went back to they project we were a lot more productive. Another thing I thought I did well was always trying to improve whatever we were doing by adding a small detail or a little bit more information to something. I also thought I did a good job of being a leader and helping the group be decisive in choosing how we would move forward in the given project.
I also feel that there were a few things I could improve upon in the future projects. One thing I thought I could have done better on throughout these projects was keeping everybody involved because in the Robot Art Show project there was usually someone that wasn't doing anything. I also think I could improve when it comes to being prepared for a presentation because the presentation for the Power Novato presentation we finished right before we presented and just did it on the fly, and in the past when I have rehearsed and known exactly what to say the whole presenting process went a lot better.
I also feel that there were a few things I could improve upon in the future projects. One thing I thought I could have done better on throughout these projects was keeping everybody involved because in the Robot Art Show project there was usually someone that wasn't doing anything. I also think I could improve when it comes to being prepared for a presentation because the presentation for the Power Novato presentation we finished right before we presented and just did it on the fly, and in the past when I have rehearsed and known exactly what to say the whole presenting process went a lot better.