Participants: 2
Time: 30 minutes
Structure
Students working together rotate among three stations. Stations one and two are not timed; station three is limited to 5 minutes and is timed.
Content
Students are expected to know basic circuit symbols, basic electronics including Ohm’s Law and be able to build a working circuit from component parts when given a schematic.
Preparation Materials
The Elenco “Snap Circuits Jr.” kit, model SC-300 is the basis of all activities in this event. The SC-300 kit is available on-line from www.amazon.com for $34.99.
Station 1: Electronic Symbols (20 points)
Students will be given twenty common circuit symbols and an alphabetical list of their names. They will be asked to match the symbols with their names. The common circuit symbols for the components used in the “Snap Circuits Jr.” kit, Model SC-300 are part of this activity as well as common transistor symbols.
Station 2: Basic Electronics (20 points)
Students will be asked twenty general questions about electronics, electricity and the function of circuit components. A basic understanding of Ohm’s Law is also expected including simple series and parallel capacitors and resistors. All the questions are drawn from an understanding of the projects and explanations in the “Snap Circuits Jr.” kit, Model SC-300. The questions are in a multiple choice format. (Specifics related to the operation of integrated circuits are not within the scope of this station.)
Station 3: Practical Application (20 points)
Students will be given a single circuit schematic from the snap circuit’s kit, a circuit board and the component parts necessary to complete the circuit. Working with a five minute time line, students must build the circuit and demonstrate that it operates. This event is timed and the time will be used as a tie breaker in the event that two or more teams have the same point total.