Day 6: Reward – Understanding and Using Resistors

Day 6: Reward – Understanding and Using Resistors

Welcome to Day 6 of your adventure with Kai and Orion! Today, we’ll learn how to use resistors to control current and protect components in a complex circuit. This will help us optimize our circuit performance as we uncover the plan hidden in the stolen information. Let’s dive into our mission!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will:

• Understand Ohm’s Law and how it applies to circuits.
• Learn how resistors work and their role in controlling current.
• Use Ohm’s Law to calculate the resistance needed for different circuit components.
• Integrate various resistors into your circuits to optimize performance.

Materials Needed

• Raspberry Pi Pico W
• USB cable
• Breadboard
• Multiple LEDs
• Multiple resistors (220 ohm, 1K, 10K, 100K)
• Jumper wires (Male to Male)

Story:

Scene Introduction:

The safe house was a haven of calm amid the chaos of Neon City. Dim lights and quiet hums of technology filled the room as Kai and Orion settled in. The stolen information lay before them, waiting to be decoded.

“Orion, how do we optimize our circuits for better performance?” Kai asked, eager to make the most of their time in the safe house.

Orion’s eyes glowed with purpose. “Kai, today we’ll learn about resistors and how they control current. Understanding Ohm’s Law will help us protect our components and optimize our circuits.”

Kai: “Resistors? How do they help us?”

Orion: “Resistors control the flow of current in a circuit, protecting components from damage. Ohm’s Law will guide us in calculating the resistance needed for different components.”

“Let’s get started,” Kai said, his hands already reaching for the breadboard.

Orion hovered closer, projecting a holographic display to guide Kai through the process. “First, we need to understand Ohm’s Law and how to use resistors in our circuits.”

Gather your materials and prepare your workspace

Kai: Arranging the components on the workbench “Okay, I’ve got everything we need. What’s next, Orion?”

Orion: Hovering near the workbench, his eyes glowing with excitement “First, we need to understand Ohm’s Law and how resistors work. Let’s begin.”

Activity: Ohms Law, How Resistors Work, and their applications

Orion’s Explanation: “Ohm’s Law states that the current (I) through a conductor between two

points is directly proportional to the voltage (V) across the two points and inversely proportional to the resistance (R) between them. The formula is V = IR.“

Kai: Examining the hologram “So, if we know the voltage and the current, we can find the resistance?”

Orion: “Exactly, Kai. Resistors help us control the current, protecting sensitive components. Let’s calculate the resistance needed for our LEDs.”

Activity: Use Ohms Law to calculate the resistance needed for the different circuit components

Orion’s Tutorial on Using Resistors:

1. Orion: “First, let’s calculate the resistance needed for an LED. Suppose our LED operates at 3.3V and we want a current of 20mA. Using Ohm’s Law, we find R = V/I.”
2. Kai: Calculating “R = 3.3V / 0.02A = 165 ohms.”
3. Orion: “Great, Kai. Now, let’s use a 220-ohm resistor to ensure the current is safe for the LED.”
4. Orion: “Connect the 220-ohm resistor to the anode of the LED and then to GPIO pin 25 on the Raspberry Pi Pico W.”
5. Orion: “Connect the cathode of the LED to the ground rail on the breadboard.”
6. Orion: “Repeat the process with different resistors for other LEDs to see how varying resistance affects current and brightness.”

Kai: Placing the components with care, his brow furrowed in concentration “I think I’ve got it. How does this look?”

Orion: Inspecting the setup