- The microcontroller development board that will be at the heart of your projects. It a simple computer but one that has no way for you to interact with it yet. You will be building the circuits and interfaces for interaction and telling the microcontroller how to interface with other components
Arduino Uno
- Used to connect a 9V batter to power leads that can be easily plugged into a breadboard or your Arduino
Battery Snap
A board on which can you can build electronic circuits. It’s like a patch panel, with rows of holes that allow you to connect wires and components together
Breadboard
These components store and release electrical energy in a circuit. When the circuit’s voltage is higher than what is stored in the capacitor, it allows the current to flow in giving the capacitor a charge. When the circuit’s voltage is lower, the stored charge is released. Often placed across power, and ground close to a sensor/motor to help smooth fluctuations in voltage.
Capacitors
Converts electrical energy into mechanical energy when electricity is applied to its leads. Coils of wire inside the motor become magnetized when current flows through them. These magnetic fields attract and repel magnets causing the shaft to spin. If the direction of the electricity is reversed, the motor will spin opposite direction.
DC Motor
Ensures electricity flows only in one direction. Useful when you have a motor or other high current/ voltage load in your circuit. Diodes are polarized, meaning that the direction that they’re placed in a circuit matters. Placed one way, they allow current to pass through. Placed the other way, they block it. The anode side generally connects to the point of higher energy in your circuit. The cathode typically connects to the point of lower energy or to the ground. The cathode is usually marked with a brand on one side of the component’s body.
Diode
A type of diode that illuminates when electricity passes through it. Like all diodes, electricity only flows in one direction through these components. You’re probably familiar with these as indicators on a variety of electronic devices. The anode, which typically connects to power, is usually the longer leg, and the cathode is the shorter leg.
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)
A type of alphanumeric or graphic display based on liquid crystals. LCDs are available in many sized, shaped, and styles. You has 2 rows with 16 characters each.
Liquid Crystals Display (LCD)
An electrical components that can be used to detect vibrations and create noises
Piezo
- Also called photocell, light dependent resistor
- A variable resistor that change its resistance based on the amount of light that falls on its face
Photoresistrs
- A variable resistor with 3 pins. Two of the pins are connected to the ends of a fixed resistor. The middle pin, or wiper moves across the resistor dividing it into two halves. When the external side of the potentiometer are connected to voltage and ground, the middle leg will give the difference in voltage as you turn the knob. Often referred to as a pot.
Potentiometer
- Resist the flow of electrical energy in a circuit. Changing the voltage and current as a result. Resistor values are measured in ohms (represented by Greek omega character). The colored stripes on the side of resistors indicate their value
Resistors
- A type of geared motor that can only rotate 180 degrees. It is controlled by sending electrical pulses from your Arduino. These pulses tell the motor what position it should move to.
Servo Motor
- Changes the voltage output depending on the temperature of the component. The outside legs connect to the power and ground. The voltage on the center pin changes as gets warmer or cooler
Temperature Sensor
A type of switch that will open or close depending on its orientation. Typically they are hollow cylinders with a metal ball inside that will make a connection across two leads when tilted in the proper direction.
Tilt Sensor
A three legged device that can operate as an electronic switch. Useful for controlling high current/high voltage components like motors. One pin connect to ground, another to the component being controlled, and the third connects to the Arduino. When the component receives voltage on the pin connected to an Arduino, it closes the circuit between the ground and the other component.
Transistor
- This allows you to connect your Arduino Uno to your personal computer for programming. It also provides power to the Arduino
USB Cable
