Answer To the Guide Questions :
1) What purpose do the resistors have in the Step 1 & Step 2 diagrams.
The purpose of the resistors in step1 and step 2 of the experiment was
for the diodes to light. The diodes operate on 10 miliamperes, if you exceed
this, you might risk the diode to overheat and become busted. So it is necessary
to regulate the flow of the current by using a resistor, a device that provides
resistance to a circuit, when it reaches the diode. By using ohm's law,
which is Voltage = Current X Resistance, the current can be calculated and
manipulated depending on what value of resistance the resistor gives.
2) How do you recognize 1's and 0's using the circuit you built in Step 3? Give a brief explanation.
The diodes in question 1 will help you in recognizing if the circuit
is on 1 or in 0. Only one of the 2 diodes light up, depending if it is a
one or a zero. The 555 chip, which is "wired" in the middle of
the 2 diodes helps in doing that, if the chip is in "logic 0",
it will make the current flow downward, activating the "0 diode".
If the chip is in "logic 1" it will make the current flow upward,
activating the "1 diode".
3) What is the purpose of the capacitor and resistor to control the speed of the change from "1" and "0" in the diagram. Give a brief explanation.
The capacitor is a very important part in the circuit for it to run in
1's and 0's. The capacitor's function can be compared to a bucket of water,
the current "flows" into the capacitor, just like water flows
in a bucket but when the capacitor is already full it stops charging and
discharges the current. This alternating mode of charge and discharge affects
the rate of current in the circuit, which in turn affects the 555 chip's
on where to direct the flow of the current (up or down). The resistor is
important because it helps the rate of current that is coming in the capacitor,
theoretically, the stronger the resistance, longer time it will tale for
the capacitor to become full of charge, thus determining the speed of the
switching between 1's and 0's.
4) How does the 555 run an "oscillator"? Give a brief explanation.
The chip is also an important part of the circuit because it acts as
an oscillator. The chip changes the direction of the current (up or down/1
or 0 ) depending on the amount of current it receives (because of the capacitor).
At 1/3 of a current pin 3 will go high and thus it will run at "Logic
1" at 2/3 of a current pin 3 will go low and thus run at "Logic
0".