Quiz #1

1. What does a resistor do?
2. What is the difference between a resistor and a fuse?
3. In your own words explain how a DC motor works (a diagram might be helpful).
4. What does a voltage regulator do?
5. Why is connecting one terminal of a battery to the other terminal not a good idea?
6. How will you prevent the robot from bumping into walls? 
7. Briefly describe the operation of the sensors (how do they work?) will you use to prevent the robot from bumping into walls.
8. What is the difference between AC and DC voltages?  Give a example of where each might be used in your daily life.
9. What advantages does our robot have over robots built with more traditional steering systems?
10. Which basic voltage levels are used in digital electronics?
11. Why is the microcontroller not wired directly to the motors?
12. What voltage are we using for the motors?
13. Draw the circuit symbol for the following:
1. a battery,
2. a wire,
3. a SPST (Single Pole Single Throw) switch,
4. a resistor, and
5. a SPDT (Single Pole Double Throw) switch.
14. What is the (approximate) resistance of:
1. air,
2. copper wire, and
3. people (i.e skin).
15. Give three reasons for using connectors.
16. From the discussion in class, recall the water tank used to illustrate electrical principles.  Give the electrical equivalent of:
1. The water with stored energy at the top of the hill.
2. The water flowing.
3. The pipe used to carry the water.
4. The equivalent of the faucet (turns water flowing through the pipe on or off).