Research Check 14

- Resistance in electronics is a lot like friction in mechanical systems; it puts a stop on electrons as they move through materials.
- resistors are components that control amounts of resistance for electronic circuits.
- resistance is a measure of an object's opposition to the flow of electrons.
- resistance makes it possible to generate heat and light, restrict the flow of electric current, and ensures that the correct voltage is supplied to the device.
- resistance depends on several factors like material, cross-sectional area,length, and temperature.
- "R" is used to represent resistance in an electronic circuit.
- resistance is measured in ohms.
- kilohms is thousands of ohms and megohms is millions of ohms.
- LEDs eat up current and drain as much as they can, but can burn themselves out if they draw too much current and a resistor limits the amount of current sent to the LED.
- resistors also protect sensitive components such as a transistor.
- resistors come in two basic functions, fixed and variable.
- a fixed resistor supplies a constant, factory determined resistance.
- the actual resistance of a fixed resistor may vary up or down.(ex: a 1,000 ohm resistor with a 5% tolerance could range from 950-1050 ohms)
- high precision resistors come within a 1% of their nominal value.
- standard precision resistors can vary from 2% to 20% of their nominal values.
- a variable resistor also known as a potentiometer allows you to continually adjust the resistance from zero ohms to factory determined maximum value.

Research Check 13

- electron flow can be induced by moving a wire near a magnet and is called electromagnetic induction.
- alternating current is constantly changing and it's strength cannot be described with a single number.
- a common way in which to describe the variations is to look at a waveform or the pattern of the current over time.
- instantaneous current is the strength of the current at a single point in time.
- peak current is the magnitude of the current at its highest and lowest points.
- when the change in electron flow makes a complete loop it is called a cycle.
- the number of cycles per second in ac is known as frequency and is measured in hertz.
- AC is usually generated at 13,800 volts and then stepped up for transmission across long distances.
- when it reaches its destination, it is stepped down to 240 volts or 120 volts for distribution to homes and businesses.
- heaters, lamps, hair dryers, and electric razors are some electrical devices that use 120 volts AC directly.
- clothes dryers use 240 volts AC directly from a special wall outlet.
- many electronic devices like laptops require a steady DC supply.
- if you're using AC to supply power an AC-to-DC adapter is required to convert the AC power to DC power.
- solar cells produce a small voltage when you shine light on them.
- the voltage of solar cells is constant no matter how much light you shine on them.
- conventional current is the flow of a positive charge from positive to negative voltage and is just the reverse of real electron flow.
- In AC current the current is constantly reversing direction.
- a light bulb converts electrical energy into heat energy.
- voltage is sometimes called voltage drop, potential difference, or potential drop.
- a fundamental law of physics is that energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only change form.

Self Reflection

1. Maybe a "P". My senior project is going pretty well except for the fact that I need to focus more on electronic components. Knowing the different types of electronic components is necessary when you are an electronic engineering.
2. I have done really well on my service learning, because i already have 50 hours done and am now working on my 30 hours for my independent component.
3.I would like to improve on memorizing different electronic components. By memorizing the different electronic components I will be able to do my science fair project and presentation with more ease.

What I've Learned So Far

1) I have learned how to test GPS products and how to wire them. I have also learned that technology will not always work 100% all the time and that is what a lot of people think.

2)  http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/535/17338610.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/195/26523683.jpg/

3) The research that helped me learn this is my service learning. One of the employees at Star Sensor Technology, Alberto, taught me how to test the GPS products and how to wire them.

Senior Project

My topic is electronic engineering. I chose this topic because I've always loved creating things and thought it would be something I could even get paid for. I also chose this topic because my uncle is an electronic engineer and is very successful at it. I hope to accomplish a basic understanding of what I would be doing if I choose this as my career. I would like to know if I worked for a comapny of any sort what they would have me do and the different tasks I would have to accomplish like working on a new product or upgrading an old product. I would also like to learn the building blocks for electronic engineers like basic wiring of a component of some sort of program.