Maria | Ch. 8

Kayla Evans Fritzing of perma board from final proect

Xbee - Fail

I was working on this and was having issues and then pulled the SparkFun USB XBee Explorer  and XBee Series Radio apart too quickly. I'm so sorry :(

Manga 4

1. What is an example of a semiconductor device?

Resistor

2. Why is silicon used in the manufacture of semiconductors? 

It is refined to be virtually 100% pure.

3. Discuss the difference using an example of the difference between and N-type and P-type semiconductor.

P means it is Positive for holes. N means Negative for electrons. N-type is a negative semiconductor. P-type is a positive semiconductor. P-type has excess holes and missing electrons while n-type has free electrons.

4. In your own workd describe what a dioode does and the role of N and P type semiconductors.

A diode allows electrical current to flow in one direction. A diode is made up of p-type and n-type semiconductors.  Made from p-n junction.

5. What is rectification?

It allows current to flow in one direction.

6. What causes color in an LED? Give and example of what causes a particular color.
An LED emits light when it is activated at the P-N junction. An LED releases photons(energy) and the light color correlate. The material used in the semiconducting element of an LED determines its color. LED's that emit different colors are made of different semi-conductor materials.

7. What is the relationship between base current and collector current in a transistor?
Base current is where the current flows from the base to the emitter with collector current as the base current flows, current from the collector begins to flow to the emitter as well.

8. What are the advantages of a transistor over a switch? 

Transistor has no contact, it’s easy to use, less likely to have damage, faster, and you have more control.

Manga 3

What is the relationship between heat and electricity. Please provide a metaphor.

When the electricity flows through a resistance heat is generated. A metaphor is like when you are driving it’s like the electric flow, traffic is the resistance, and heat is when your able to drive progressively (and get to class on time).

Why is it warm near an incandescent light bulb?

It’s warm because of the Thermal Emission. The thermal energy is emitted because the temperature of substance increases.

What is a superconductor? What are they used for in real life? You may have to look this up. How could one make a metal a superconductor?

Superconductors are materials that conduct electricity with zero resistance below a certain temperature. Mercury was historically the first to show superconductivity. “Magnetic-levitation is an application where superconductors perform extremely well. Transport vehicles such as trains can be made to "float" on strong superconducting magnets, virtually eliminating friction between the train and its tracks.” You lower the pressure and cool a metal to make a superconductor.

http://www.superconductors.org/uses.htm

What is Ampere's Law?

When the current flow goes through the electrical wire magnetic fields are generated and create a circular pattern. This is Ampere's Law.

If current of the same size flows in the same direction in two electric wires placed side by side, what happens?

They will be attracted to one another.

What happens if current of the same size flows in opposite directions in two electric wires placed side by side?

They will resist one another.

Please read about Flemings Left and Right Hand Rule. Think about this Rule with respect to the motors we have made this week.

It how the direction of flow is controlled. The left hand rule is in charge of direction of the current, the DC motors left hand force is in charge of the way the motor turns.

11/18 - CATCHING UP Labeling a Circuit Board

circuit board of a wifi router

11/18 - CATCHING UP Tom Igoe

I really love what Tom Igoe has to say in this interview, particularly the bit where he talks about his ex-students. He is asked if they manage to live from their art and what paths are available to them after graduation and he responds that he does not want his students to "think of their careers in such a cut-and dried way." Basically, he says that "pure" artists who work solely in the art world are missing out. He says that those who work at art and commercial work create much more interesting work because "you learn so much from working for and with others that strengthens your artwork" and that "you'd be a fool not to collaborate to work for others from time to time."
This really resonates me because our field is so interdisciplinary. Many of us want to have careers that don't really fit in the art world but would also prefer to not be cookie-cutter commercial workers. I think it is heartening to know that someone else agrees that the most interesting work comes from those who do not think so black and white. I hope to have a commercial job someday in which I can utilize all that I have learned from studying art and hopefully,t hat will make me that much better.