Introduction

Sensors

Sensors are devices that we use to record or measure the physical properties around us like the temperature, sound, light, etc. The sensors which indicate this data can also be used to respond to particular conditions in the environment like the temperature sensor can be used to sound an alarm when the temperature is too low.

Resistors

Resistors in parallel

Any number of Resistors that are connected to a power source individually are said to be resistors connected in parallel. When resistors are connected in parallel the voltage that the battery produces is the same across each component of the parallel circuit. The total current passing through each path is equal to the total current flow from the source. Resistors in parallel have a common voltage across them. This connection is used when you want to reduce the total resistance in the circuit.

The equation used to find the resistances of the resistors is 1/Rt = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3….+1/Rn where R is the resistance of the resistors.

Resistors in series

Resistors are said to be connected in series when one leg of the resistor is connected to one terminal of the battery and the other leg is connected to another resistor until the circuit is completed when the second leg of the last resistor is connected to the other terminal of the battery. Resistors in series have a common current flowing through them as the current that flows through one resistor must also flow through the others as it can only take that path. This connection is used to increase the total resistance of the circuit.

The equation used to find the resistances of the resistors is Rt = R1 + R2 + R3…+Rn where R is the resistors used in the circuit.

Capacitors

Capacitors in parallel

When capacitors are connected in parallel their total capacitance increases. When the capacitors are connected in parallel the total surface area of the plates in the capacitors increases hence raising the capacitance.

Capacitors in series

When capacitors are connected in parallel their total capacitance decreases. When the capacitors are connected in series the total distance between the plates in the capacitors increases hence the total capacitance decreases.

Sensors

Sound Sensor

The sound sensor is like a microphone that you can connect to the Arduino to sense sound. It is a fairly basic sensor with three pins vcc, ground and output. It has a knob on it which is use to calibrate its sensitivity. While using the sound sensor I learnt how to use the map function in the Arduino code. The map function condenses large values into smaller values to make it easier for the user to understand and also it is easier to time your output from the Arduino. I connected a servo motor and a led to the Arduino, so whenever a loud noise was made the servo motor would turn 90 degrees and the led would light up.

Turbidity Sensor

Turbidity is the measurement of how opaque a liquid is. Turbidity depends on the dirt and other foreign particles in the liquid. We had to make a turbidity sensor in class using a LDR and a light source. Our teams main struggle was to figure out the best way to display the results that the LDR was reading. We decided to use a small 16X2 LCD display to display the brightness readings.