Lesson Overview
Welcome to your very first hands-on electronics class! Before we can harvest micro-energy from the sun, heat, or radio waves, we need to understand how electricity moves through a circuit.
▶ Start Class Video (12:45)
Watch & Build: Understanding Current Flow
Follow along with James on his bench as he connects a power source, switch, resistor, and LED on a breadboard.
Key Concepts We'll Learn
⚡ Voltage (V)
The "push" or electrical pressure that gets electrons ready to move from your power source.
🌊 Current (I)
The actual flow of electrons through a conductor (measured in Amperes or milliAmps).
🚧 Resistance (R)
The safeguard that slows current down so components like LEDs don't burn out.
🔄 Closed Loop
Electricity only flows when there is a complete, unbroken path from (+) to (-).
Hands-On Experiment: The Starter Circuit
- Gather Parts: 3V–5V Power supply, 220Ω resistor, Red LED, jumper wires, and breadboard.
- Identify LED Polarity: The longer leg is Anode (+), shorter leg is Cathode (-).
- Connect the Resistor: Place the resistor in series between (+) power supply and long leg of the LED.
- Complete the Loop: Connect the short leg of the LED back to (-) ground. Watch it glow!