MISSION 09 · BASIC ELECTRONICS
Can the same darkness sensor warn you with sound instead of light?
4 · Make It Respond
Your new skill: Reuse the same sensor rule with a different output.
Revisit the skill you will reuse: Previous main-path mission
Match the names to your parts before you build. New parts appear when you first need them. You can point, say the name or show a grown-up.
A battery supplies energy that can make a light glow or a motor turn. A holder keeps its connections in place.
Look for: Find the + and - marks and the matching holder or snap connector.
Before using it: Use only the supply named in this mission. Never join + straight to -; disconnect before rewiring.
Your turn: With power disconnected, trace the path from + through the parts and back to -.
This reusable building board joins some holes with hidden metal strips, so we can connect parts without soldering.
Look for: Find the centre gap, row numbers and power rails. The gap separates the two halves.
Before using it: Five holes in one numbered strip usually join; the strip across the gap does not. Some power rails have a break. Match your board diagram.
Your turn: Point to two holes on the same connected strip, then two that are separated by the gap.
A wire makes an electrical connection between two points. A clip lead grips a terminal.
Look for: Jumpers have small plug ends; clip leads have metal jaws. Colour helps us track a connection.
Before using it: Colour does not change a wire's job. Check both ends and keep bare metal away from other terminals.
Your turn: Follow one wire from start to finish and name what it joins.
A resistor limits current in a path. Beside our LED it helps protect the light from too much current. Its resistance is measured in ohms.
Look for: Look for a small body with two legs and coloured bands; match its labelled value to the mission.
Before using it: A resistor can face either way. Values such as 1 kΩ and 10 kΩ are different: k means one thousand. Keep the specified value.
Your turn: Point to the resistor in the LED path. Explain why replacing it with a plain wire is not our test.
An LED turns electrical energy into light and works in one direction. We use it to show what a circuit is doing.
Look for: An untrimmed ordinary LED often has a longer anode leg and a shorter cathode leg. A flat rim often marks the cathode.
Before using it: Confirm polarity with the part card if legs are trimmed. Use the mission's resistor in series; never connect an LED straight across the battery.
Your turn: With power off, identify the two legs and point to its protective resistor.
Our active buzzer makes a sound when it receives suitable power. Short and long taps let us send a code.
Look for: Look for the sound opening and + mark; match its voltage range to the part card.
Before using it: An active buzzer has its own sound-making circuit. Switching it on and off changes the rhythm, not a musical pitch.
Your turn: Without powering it, point out + and -. Plan a short tap and a long tap.
A transistor lets a small electrical signal control current in another path. Here we use it as an electronic switch.
Look for: Find the three-legged part labelled 2N3904 and its matching E B C pin card. E is emitter, B is base and C is collector.
Before using it: Look-alike transistors can have different leg orders. Use this exact part card and the mission's resistors.
Your turn: Point to E, B and C on the card, then match them to your unpowered part.
A video demonstration will appear here when it is ready. You can follow the written step now.
Before we build, match these names to the parts in front of you. Battery and holder. A battery supplies energy that can make a light glow or a motor turn. A holder keeps its connections in place. Find the + and - marks and the matching holder or snap connector. Use only the supply named in this mission. Never join + straight to -; disconnect before rewiring. Breadboard. This reusable building board joins some holes with hidden metal strips, so we can connect parts without soldering. Find the centre gap, row numbers and power rails. The gap separates the two halves. Five holes in one numbered strip usually join; the strip across the gap does not. Some power rails have a break. Match your board diagram. Jumper wire and clip lead. A wire makes an electrical connection between two points. A clip lead grips a terminal. Jumpers have small plug ends; clip leads have metal jaws. Colour helps us track a connection. Colour does not change a wire's job. Check both ends and keep bare metal away from other terminals. Resistor. A resistor limits current in a path. Beside our LED it helps protect the light from too much current. Its resistance is measured in ohms. Look for a small body with two legs and coloured bands; match its labelled value to the mission. A resistor can face either way. Values such as 1 kΩ and 10 kΩ are different: k means one thousand. Keep the specified value. LED or light emitting diode. An LED turns electrical energy into light and works in one direction. We use it to show what a circuit is doing. An untrimmed ordinary LED often has a longer anode leg and a shorter cathode leg. A flat rim often marks the cathode. Confirm polarity with the part card if legs are trimmed. Use the mission's resistor in series; never connect an LED straight across the battery. Active buzzer. Our active buzzer makes a sound when it receives suitable power. Short and long taps let us send a code. Look for the sound opening and + mark; match its voltage range to the part card. An active buzzer has its own sound-making circuit. Switching it on and off changes the rhythm, not a musical pitch. 2N3904 transistor. A transistor lets a small electrical signal control current in another path. Here we use it as an electronic switch. Find the three-legged part labelled 2N3904 and its matching E B C pin card. E is emitter, B is base and C is collector. Look-alike transistors can have different leg orders. Use this exact part card and the mission's resistors. Pause and point to the part that will do the main job in this mission. If it is missing or looks different, ask a grown-up before building.
WHAT YOU'LL USE
Kit list: match the named parts to your box and its component cards. Home list: gather these before starting; some may also be supplied in your kit. Reuse components between missions. Stop and ask a grown-up if an essential part or label is missing.
BEFORE YOU BUILD
Confirm Mission 8 changes correctly before replacing the output. Find the buzzer + and - marks.
YOUR REWARD
PREDICT BEFORE YOU BEGIN
What do you think will happen? Say it, point to it or draw it. Then test your idea.
YOUR CHALLENGE
NEW POWER-UP
Reuse the same sensor rule with a different output.
You already know: the LDR and transistor can act like an automatic switch New power-up: reusing one sensor circuit with a different output This prepares you for: comparing one-road and two-road circuits
CONNECTION MAP
BUILD PATH
STEP 1 OF 9
Test Mission 8 in bright and dark conditions. Disconnect power.
A video demonstration will appear here when it is ready. You can follow the written step now.
Test Mission 8 in bright and dark conditions. Disconnect power.
WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING?
Inputs and outputs can be combined in many ways. The LDR is the input, the transistor is the controller and the buzzer is the output.
Darkness alarms can warn when a cupboard or protected box opens, or when a light source fails.
FAIR-TEST CHALLENGE
Change one feature, keep the rest the same and repeat your comparison.
WHEN IT DOESN'T WORK YET
Likely cause: Buzzer polarity or collector connection is wrong
Try this first: Power off; check buzzer + to battery + and buzzer - to collector C.
Likely cause: Sensor pair order changed
Try this first: Compare the sensor path with Mission 8.
Likely cause: Buzzer or connection issue
Try this first: Test the buzzer briefly with the approved battery path.
CLEAN, RESET AND STORE
Switch off and disconnect all power. Let moving parts stop. Put the parts back in their kit compartments.
NEXT SKILL
Reuse one working circuit to solve a small need.