OPTIONAL CHALLENGE 03 · BASIC ELECTRONICS
Can red, green and blue light combine to create new colours?
Optional · Try Another Angle
Your new skill: Extend a main-path idea without making the course longer.
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.
This light contains red, green and blue light sources. Different combinations can make different colours.
Look for: It often has four legs. Find the supplied RGB pin card and CC or CA label.
Before using it: CC means common cathode; CA means common anode. Do not guess the pin order or connect a colour without its specified resistor.
Your turn: Find the common leg on the matching pin card before connecting power.
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. RGB LED. This light contains red, green and blue light sources. Different combinations can make different colours. It often has four legs. Find the supplied RGB pin card and CC or CA label. CC means common cathode; CA means common anode. Do not guess the pin order or connect a colour without its specified resistor. 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
Read the RGB bag and pin-card labels. Use only the CC or CA breadboard page that matches the supplied LED. Turn the LED so the labelled legs can enter E13=R, E14=COMMON, E15=G and E16=B.
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
SKILL BRIDGE
You already know: separate parallel branches can share one supply New power-up: RGB channels, a common pin and additive colour mixing This prepares you for: storing energy for a short time
Each coloured strip is one connected group. Different numbered rows stay separate. This explains the board; use the mission’s exact connection reference for component positions. Check rail breaks on your supplied board.
CONNECTION MAP
BUILD PATH
STEP 1 OF 8
Check whether the RGB bag is marked CC or CA. Put the other diagram out of sight.
A video demonstration will appear here when it is ready. You can follow the written step now.
Check whether the RGB bag is marked CC or CA. Put the other diagram out of sight.
WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING?
An RGB LED contains three light-producing parts. When coloured light overlaps, your eyes see a new mixed colour. This is additive colour mixing.
Displays, stage lights, gaming devices and smart bulbs mix red, green and blue light to create many colours.
WHEN IT DOESN'T WORK YET
Likely cause: Common pin connection is wrong
Try this first: Power off and compare the common pin with the supplied RGB card.
Likely cause: Wrong leg or loose resistor path
Try this first: Test that colour alone and trace its branch.
Likely cause: RGB leg order is wrong
Try this first: Recheck red, green and blue pin labels.
CLEAN, RESET AND STORE
Switch off and disconnect all power. Let moving parts stop. Put the parts back in their kit compartments.