Breadboards

Learning Intentions

• To learn how to use a breadboard to quickly build prototypes of electric circuits
• To learn how to relate a drawn electronic schematic to a physical circuit

Notes

Breadboards – All You Need To Know (5:51)

In the Templeton science classroom, we have a broken solderless breadboard that allows you to see how the sockets (holes) are connected.

When working with breadboards, each of the strips represents a node in the schematic.

• On a schematic, which node does the horizontal red strip (+) represent?
• Which node does the horizontal black/blue strip (negative) represent?
• What are the vertical strips used for?

Worksheets

In the worksheet, make each of the 6 circuits on the second page, then answer the questions below.

Worksheet – Introduction to Electric Circuits

1. What is the practical difference between the first and second circuits?
2. In the fifth circuit, what happens when you use LED’s of different colours? What happens when you use the same colour LED’s?
3. Why do you think that the sixth circuit is much more commonly used than the fifth circuit?
4. How can you adjust the brightness of the LED’s?