Tom's Main Menu Physical Computing Home Intro to Physical Computing Syllabus Networked Objects Sustainable Practices blog Resources code, circuits, & construction my del.icio.us links	Lab Assignment
	Basic Electronics
	Minimum parts needed: (new parts in bold. see parts list for details) Prototyping board (breadboard) Power supply connector 5-15VDC power supply Assorted wires 5V regulator LED's Switch Variable resistor 220 ohm resistors Step 1: Make a light that you control with a switch. Wire an LED in series with a switch, a resistor, and a 5V DC power supply, and make the switch turn on the LED.
	Step 2: Wire several LED's in series with a 5V DC power supply. Notice the effect on all of them as you add each new one.
	Step 3: Wire an LED in series with a variable resistor and a fixed resistor and a 5V DC power supply. Notice the effect on the LED as you change the resistance of the pot.
	Step 4: Experiment with different combination of switches and pots in parallel and series with LED's. Come up with an interesting application of electronic pieces: a combination lock, a puzzle, a trip switch, or something of your own devising. Try making your own switch as well, using two conductors as the contacts. *Note: An LED in series with a 220-ohm resistor is a wise thing to add to every circuit board you build. It will let you know whether you have power to the board correctly, regardless of what else is wrong on the board. Get in the habit of doing something like this: Note: in this image, the resistor is soldered directly to the leg of the LED It will save you loads of troubleshooting time.