FAQs

1. What is the function of each electrical component?
2. What is a resistor?
• A resistor is a device that is used to resist current flow and reduce the voltage being applied to other components. 
• Resistor values are measured in Ohms, and can range from very small resistance of 1ohm, up to 10Mohm.
3. Are there different kinds of resistors?
• Yes, there are many various kinds, some of the most common are:
• Standard ceramic resistor: Has one value with a resistance with tolerance
• Thermistors (Variable) : Thermally activated, decreasing or increases resistance based on temperature
• Potentiometers (Variable) : Adjustable resistor with a knob to increase/decrease resistance
4. What is a capacitor?
• A capacitor is an electrical component used for storing electrical energy temporarily.
• This is a little misleading because they can continue to hold a charge years or decades later.
• Capacitors are measured in Farads (F), and are usually 1pF to 1mF.
5. Are there different kinds of Capacitors?
• Yes, there are many various kinds, some of the most common are:
• Fixed Capacitors: does not depend on polarity
• Polarized Capacitors: Depends on polarity and will only work if the flow of current is in the correct direction
• Variable Capacitors: Change capacitance based off of different factors, such as atmospheric pressure and temperature differences
6. What is Arduino?
• An open-source prototyping platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software.
7. How does an Arduino board work?
• Arduino boards work by reading inputs and turning it into an output.
• An input could be: light on a sensor, a pressing a button, or even a message
• The user would have to send a set of instructions to the microcontroller by using the Arduino's programming and the Arduino software.
8. How does a LED light work? (working principle)
• LED is an acronym for Light Emitting Diode, in which there is a positive (cathode) and negative (anode) side that allows voltage to pass from one side to another but not in the reverse direction. When the voltage goes across the LED it causes the electrons to excite and the electrons returning back to the ground state cause photon in different colors depending on the difference in energy levels that the electrons travel.
9. How do push button switches work?
• A push-button switch is one of many different kinds of switches. Switches generally create a different path for the current in the circuit to flow, whether it is another pathway for another section of the circuit or to stop current to the rest of the system.
• Push-buttons specifically, create a gap in the system making it so that the circuit is not completed unless it is pushed down, allowing the current/voltage to flow throughout the circuitry.