Electronic Components
Arduino Uno Arduino Uno is a microcontroller (a simple computer), it has no way to interact. Building circuits and interface is necessary.
Battery Snap Battery Snap is used to connect a 9 volt battery into a breadboard or Arduino.
Breadboard Breadboard are for connecting wires and components with out soldering.
Ceramic Capacitor Stores electrons like a battery but once power to the circuit is removed it will discharge all its electrons at once. Appearance Schematic Symbol
Electrolytic Capacitor Stores electrons like a battery but once power to the circuit is removed it will discharge all its electrons at once. It has two (2) leads called a cathode (c-) (cathode is denoted by a shorter lead or by symbols on the side of the capacitor) and an anode (a+). Appearance Schematic Symbol
DC Motor DC motors coverts electrical energy to mechanical energy.
Gels filters Gel filters (red, green and blue) are used to filter out different wavelengths of light.
H-Bridge H-bridge allow the control of the polarity of voltage applied to a motor.
Battery Is electrical storage device with electrochemical cells to produce electricity. Appearance Schematic Symbol
Jumpers Jumper wires connect components to each other on a breadboard.
LED s Stands for Light Emitting Diode. This is a special kind of diode that emits light when a current flows through it. It has two (2) leads called a cathode (c-) (denoted by a shorter lead ) and an anode (a+). Appearance Schematic Symbol
LCD Liquid Crystal Display LCD is a alphanumeric graphic display with 2 rows and with 16 characters.
Male Header Pins Male Header pins is to make a connection between two devises.
Optocoupler Optocoupler is used to connect two circuits that do not share a common power supply.
Piezo Piezo is used to detect vibrations and create noises.
Photocell A photocell will act like a variable resistor. As more light is shined on the photocell the lower the resistance it will have and the more electrons will flow through the circuit. Appearance Schematic Symbol
Potentiometer This is a variable resistor. It controls the flow of electrons through a circuit but allows the resistance to be changed/controlled from a resistance of 0 to a maximum value. Appearance Schematic Symbol or
Switch Push Button Break (interrupts) or connects (delivers) current to an electrical circuit. Appearance Schematic Symbol
Resistors Limits the amount of current flowing through a circuit by presenting opposition or resistance to the current flow. Appearance Schematic Symbol
Servo Motor Servo motor is a geared motor that can only turn 180 degrees and is controlled by electrical pulses.
Temperature Sensor Temperature Sensor is a switch that opens and closes based on temperature.
Transistors NPN (2N3904) Are used to amplify electricity. There are two types of transistors, a NPN transistor (Not Pointing In). Transistors have three leads, the Emitter (E), the Base (B) and the Collector (C). Appearance Schematic Symbol
Transistors PNP (2N3906) Are used to amplify electricity. There are two types of transistors, a PNP transistor (Pointing In). Transistors have three leads, the Emitter (E), the Base (B) and the Collector (C). Appearance Schematic Symbol
SCR Allows current to flow through it, only after a momentary positive voltage is applied to its gate. An SCR is like a diode in that it has an Anode and a Cathode, and allows current to flow through it only in one direction. If when the positive charge is removed from the gate the SCR will continue to conduct. Appearance Schematic Symbol
Diode A diode act like a one-way street, it will only allow current to only flow one way. A diode has a positive (anode+) end and a negative (cathode-) end. A band of color around it denotes the negative end of the diode. Appearance Schematic Symbol
Integrated circuits (IC) Integrated circuits have several of the components condensed into one unit such as transistors, diodes, resistors, etc.. Each lead of the IC 555 Timer is numbered. The number one lead is designated by the small circle impression in one corner. The numbers run sequential, as seen on the schematic symbol below. Appearance Schematic Symbol