Rapid Education

Tel: 01206 751166 Fax: 01206 751188

Physics

Van De Graaff

Generator

Motor or Hand Driven

These Van De Graaff generators have been specially designed for electrostatic

experiments, and where a source of high voltage is required.

The generators are mounted on a stable base along with a choice of

a hand-cranked pulley or a smooth-running AC motor.

•

Develop voltage up to 200kV, depending on ambient conditions

•

Spark length up to 60mm

•

Sphere: aluminium

•

Charge collecting belt: silicon rubber with excellent

insulation resistance

•

Belt-tracking easily adjusted

•

Acrylic shaft allows for full visibility

•

Charge collecting combs: aluminium mesh, clearly visible

•

Connections: 4mm sockets in dome and base

•

Discharger: spherical 100mm dia.,

with insulated handle and 4mm sockets

•

52-3416 can be operated by hand, or from a 110 or 220V AC mains supply

•

52-3636 is operated by hand only

Carbon

Rod

A 140mm long carbon

rod with a brass terminal

for electrical connection.

•

Length 140mm

•

Diameter 15mm

•

Eisco type PH0937

Daniell Cell

A set of parts for assembling a

Daniell cell. The set contains a glass

container, a cylindrical zinc electrode,

a porous vessel and a cylindrical

copper electrode.

When used with suitable liquid

electrolytes (not included), a simple

voltaic cell is produced.

•

Eisco type PH0928

Simple Cell

A simple electric cell demonstration

apparatus consisting of a glass

jar with zinc and copper plates

connected to 4mm terminals. The

addition of a suitable liquid electrolyte

(not included) will produce a simple

cell for use in electricity discovery

experiments.

•

Glass jar is 150mm tall x 100mm

diameter

•

Terminal plate with zinc and copper

plates

•

Eisco type PH0924

Order code

52-3416

£149.99

Motor or

hand

Order code

52-3636

£109.99

Hand only

Laboratory

Resistance Units

Single resistors encased in easy-

to-use plastic enclosures with 4mm

terminals. These resistance units

are useful for physics classroom

demonstrations or experiments

in electricity and electronics

laboratories.

•

Connect to other resistance units

or circuit elements with standard

4mm leads (not included)

•

Can be used with 4mm stackable

plug leads, spade terminals or

bared wires

•

Overall dimensions:

50 x 50 x 40mm

•

Eisco PH1143 series

Resistance

Order code 1+

1 Ω

52-3481

£2.49

2 Ω

52-3483

£2.49

5 Ω

52-3486

£2.49

10 Ω

52-3482

£2.49

20 Ω

52-3484

£2.49

50 Ω

52-3487

£2.49

200 Ω

52-3485

£2.49

565606

Order code

52-3605

£1.49

Order code

52-3611

£4.95

Order code

52-3606

£20.95

FREE

SCIENCE & DESIGN &

TECHNOLOGY POSTERS

education@rapidonline.com

for your pack

Capacitance

(picofaradpF)

Capacitance

(nanofaradnF)

Capacitance

(microfaradµF)

Capacitance

Code

0.01

100

0.015

150

0.047

470

0.082

820

100

0.1

101

330

0.33

331

470

0.47

0.00047

471

1000

1.0

0.001

102

1500

1.5

0.0015

152

2200

2.2

0.0022

222

4700

4.7

0.0047

472

6800

6.8

0.0068

682

10000

0.01

103

22000

0.022

223

47000

0.047

473

100000

100

0.1

104

220000

220

0.22

224

470000

470

0.47

474

Resistors

Gold

–

÷10

tolerance

Silver

–

÷100

10%

tolerance

Brown

tolerance

Red

Orange

000

Yellow

0000

Green

00000

Blue

000000

Violet

0000000

Grey

White

Black

4R7 (4.7) 5%

1M8 (1,800,000) 5%

220K (220,000) 5%

1K (1,000)5%

Resistor values for LEDs

assumingapproximately

20mA is required

Voltage

Value

120

220

470

12V

560

Multiplication factorsand symbols

mega

1000 000

(10 )

kilo

1000

(10 )

milli

0.001

(10 )

micro

0.000001

(10 )

-3

-6

flatonbody isusually cathode (negative)

ResistorColourCodes– carbonfilm

Cap

acitors

Examples:

103 is 10with three zeros–10,000pF or 10nF

471 is47with one zero–470pF or 0.47nF

Capacitors inparallel

TOTAL

etc...

Example:

TOTAL

= 47µF+ 10µF+4.7µF

TOTAL

= 61.7µF

Capacitors in series

Example:

so the total capacitance is

1 = 2.99µF

–––––

0.334

1 1 1

TOTAL

etc…

–––– = – + – + –

TOTAL

47µF

10µF 4.7µF

––––= –––– + –––– + –––––

47µF

10µF

4.7µF

47µF10µF4.7µF

1 1 1

TOTAL

etc…

––––= – + – + –

Resistors in series

TOTAL

etc...

Example:

TOTAL

= 100K+47K+330K

TOTAL

= 447K

Resistors inparallel

Example:

so the total resistance is

1 = 2.99K

–––––

0.334

100K

47K

330K

100K

47K

330K

TOTAL

100K

47K 330K

–––– = –––– + ––– + ––––

Capacitance codesgive

a value in pF. The first

two digits are significant

digits and the third digit is

numberof zeros.

www.rapidonline.com Rapid Educa

tion, Severalls Lane, Colchester, Essex CO4 5JS • Tel: 01206 751166 • Fax: 01206 751188 • Email: sales@rapidelec.co.uk

M02

07/14

Hereare justa fewexamplesofhow robotics

canhelp to teach inallareasofSTEM.

Howmanymorecan you thinkof?

STEM www.rapidonline.com Rapid Educa

tion, Severalls Lane, Colchester, Essex CO4 5JS • Tel: 01206 751166 • Fax: 01206 751188 • Email: sales@rapidelec.co.uk

M0283

07/14

Robotics in

STEM

Education

92°

43°

45°

98°

51°

31°

130mm

125mm

183mm

180mm

353mm

280mm

SCIENCE

ENGINEERING

TECHNOLOGY

MATHEMATICS

Energy changes and transfers

Usingsimplemechanisms to give a larger force at the expense of smaller or slower

movements.

Theword “engineering”comes from the

Latin ingeniummeaning “cleverness”

and

ingeniare

meaning “to devise”.

Educational robotics uses twomain

branches of engineering –mechanical

and electrical/electronic and requires

the application ofmaths, science and

experimentation to devise, test and

analyse solutions.Competition robotics

takes this a step further by giving a real

problem to solve and an environment in

which to test the solutions to the limit.

Electronics

A robot requires sensors

to allow it to interactwith

its environment aswell as

motors tomove, solenoids

to control pneumatics and

microcontrollers to process

the data.

Ratios and

Proportions

Robot designs drawn

on papermay be at a

reduced scale and ideas

might be prototyped in

smaller sizes to test ideas

before building the full

scale robot.

Gear ratios are used to

improve performance of

the robot –what is the

difference between a3:1

gear ratio and a1:3 gear

ratio? If using a12 tooth pinion,howmany teeth will the gear need to have to achieve a3:1 ratio?

Forces and Friction

In the case of theVEX

RoboticsCompetition and

VEX IQChallenge,mobile

robots are used.For a robot

to bemobile, it needs to

have friction between its drive

wheels and the ground – too

little friction and itwill slip,

toomuch and itwon’t be able to turn.

Balanced forces

- If yourmotor andmechanism can’t

provide the force required to lift aweight,can the

addition of counterbalances or elastic/springs assist?

Programming

The brain of the robot is

amicrocontrollerwhich

processes data received

from the sensors and

controls the actuators

such asmotors and

pneumatics.A program

(code) needs to be

createdwhichwill form a

set of instructio

ns or rules

for the robot to

follow.To

make an efficient robot,

the code needs to be

refined so that instructions

are executed quickly and

accurately.

Probability and

statistics

TheVEX competition

requires you to form

allianceswith other teams

– statistics can helpmake

decisions aboutwhich

teams can complement

each other and be the

most effective alliance.

Electricity

Howmuch current is

required to run themotors

of the robot and how

does this changewith the

loads beingmoved?Does

the battery have enough

capacity to run themotors

for long enough for the

tasks to be completed?

Materials

It is important to select

the correctmaterials for

the job – these could be

selected for a combination

of their strength,weight,

cost and availability.

Robotics provides a practical application formaths and shows how a number of the

fundamentals ofmaths can be used in the realworld.

Geometry

Mechanisms on the

robotwill require an

understanding of geometry

to ensure that partsmove

correctly. It can also be

used to simplify designs

by using geometry to

move other parts of the

robot rather than by

addingmotors.

Common components

Input

Process

Output

PTMS

(PushToMakeSwitch)

Diode

-V

Lamp

PTBS

(PushToBreakSwitch)

ZenerDiode

-V

LED

(LightEmittingDiode)

SPST

(SinglePole

SingleThrow)

Transistor

-V

Bi-coloured LED

SPDT

(SinglePole

DoubleThrow)

Thyristor

Tri-coloured LED

DPDT

(DoublePole

DoubleThrow)

FET

(FieldEffectTransistor)

-V

PCBMounted

Buzzer

Microswitch

555 IC

TransistorBuzzer

Keypad

741 ICOpAmp

-V

UncasedPiezo

TiltSwitch

SoundGenerator

7Segment

Display

VibrationSwitch

ANDGate

4081 IC

-V

Relay

ReedSwitch

ORGate4071 IC

-V

Solenoid

RotarySwitch

NANDGate

4011 IC

-V

Motor

LDR

(LightDependent

Resistor)

NORGate

4001 IC

-V

SolarMotor

Thermistor

EXORGate

4070 IC

-V

GearBox

withMotor

Potentiometer

Melody

Generator

Servo

Microphone

StepperMotor

Driver

StepperMotor

UltraSonic

Range Finder

PICAXE

Speaker

Infrared

Receiver

GENIE

MiniatureSpeaker

Arduino

LCDandDriver

(LiquidCrystalDisplay)

RaspberryPi

MusicalBuzzer Siren www.rapidonline.com Rapid Educ

ation, Severalls Lane, Colchester, Essex CO4 5JS • Tel: 01206 751166 • Fax: 01206 751188 • Email: sales@rapidelec.co.uk

M0284

07/14

1. WHAT ISSOLDERING?

Soldering is the joining together of twometals to give physical

bonding and good electrical conductivity.Solder is a combination of

metals,which are solid at normal room temperatures and become

liquid at between 180 and 230°C.Solder bondswell to various

metals,and extremelywell to copper.

Soldering hasmany uses. It is used primarily to assemble electronic

components such as resistors,capacitors and IC’s onto printed circuit

boards.However, it can also be used to joinwires,metals,and even

manufacture jewellery.

In electronics

LEADFREE

fluxed core

SOLDER

is used.

This consists of approximately 99%Tin and 1% copper depending

on the brand of solder used.Sometimes a small percentage of

silver is added to soften the solder and reduce themelting point

temperature.

FLUX is an aggressive chemical that removes oxides and impurities

from the parts to be soldered.This ensures a good physical and

electrical joint ismade.Fluxes enable good ‘wetting’or ‘tinning’.

Wetting is a term that describes good adhesion of the solder to

the components being soldered.Tinning is a term that describes the

application of solder to the soldering iron tip,or to a component

being prepared for soldering.

2. SOLDERING IRON

These are the toolswhich heat the solder from room temperature

to itsmelting point.Amodern basic electrical soldering iron consists

of the following:

The

HEATINGELEMENT

can be either a resistancewire

wound around a ceramic tube,or a thick film resistance element

printed onto a ceramic base.The element is then insulated and

placed into ametal tube for strength and protection.This is

then thermally insulated from the handle.The element reaches

temperatures of around 370 to 400°C.

The

SOLDERINGBIT

is a specially shaped piece of copper

platedwith iron and then usually platedwith chrome.Copper is used

for good thermal conductivity. Iron is very resistant to aggressive

solders and fluxes.The bit then fits over or inside the heating

element dependant on the design of the soldering iron.

The

HANDLEANDPOWERCORD

completes the soldering

iron.Various handle styles are available.The power cord is often

insulatedwith PVC.But, this can be damaged andmelt if touched by

a hot soldering iron.Therefore silicone rubber insulated power leads

are extremely popular for long life and electrical safety.

3. IRONSELECTION

The strength or power of a soldering iron is usually expressed in

Watts. Irons generally used in electronics are typically in the range

12 to 25Watts.Themost popular irons for use in schools or for

hobbyist electronics are the 18 and 25-Watt versions.

Itmust be remembered that a 25-Watt ironwill not run hotter

than a 12-Watt iron,but itwill havemore power available to quickly

replace heat drained from the iron during soldering.Therefore, the

bigger the component being soldered, the greater the need for

“quantity of heat”, the higher the power needed.

Most irons are available in a variety of voltages,12V,24V,115V,and

230V are themost popular.You should always use a low voltage iron

where possible,as it ismuch safer.

As your soldering skills improve,youmayworkwith temperature

sensitive devices such as integrated circuits.For these applications a

temperature-controlled soldering iron (TCS) should be used.

For benchwork a soldering stationmay be used.This incorporates

temperature selection,optional digital temperature readout,24V

transformer,an iron holder,and a sponge,allwithin a neat bench unit.

4. PREPARATION

If usingmulti-strandedwire such as 7/0.2 equipmentwire, twist

the strands together and tin the end of

thewire.

Bend the lead to fit the position on the PCB.Do not bend too

close to the component body as damage to the component

may occur.

If the component is temperature sensitive use a pair of pliers as a

heatsink between the component body and the point to

be soldered.

Tin the sitewhere the component is to be soldered.

5. SOLDERING

Switch on the soldering iron and feed solder to the tip of the

iron as it heats up.

Wipe off excess solder onto a damp sponge

Place the hot iron on the component lead and the PCB pad.

Feed the solder into the far si

de of the

component lead .Solder

will begin to flow around the lead.Do not use toomuch solder.

Next remove the solder source followed by the iron.

Do not disturb the component for a few seconds until the solder

has solidified.

Trim the component leads towithin 1mm of the soldered joint.

6. TAKECARE

Plan the component layout.

Mount the smallest components first.

Try to leave component identificationmarkings visible

Support heat-producing components above the PCBwith

ceramic beads.

Keep soldering time to aminimum to reduce the risk of heat

damage to the component.

Beware of solder bridging across tracks.This could cause a

short circuit.

Ifworkingwith static sensitive components always use awrist

strap connected to an earthing point.

7. CHECKYOURWORK

Are all of the components in place?

Are all of the soldered joints neat and tidy?

Is there toomuch or too little solder on the joint?

Has the solder flowed evenly around the lead?

Is the solder joint nice and shiny?

Are all components inserted the rightway around?

(Check polarity!)

Check for solder bridges.

AN INTRODUCTIONTO

SOLDERING

8. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

In commonwith all tools,a soldering ironwill last longerwith correct care andmaintenance.

Alwayswipe the bit on a damp sponge prior tomaking a soldered joint.Most bench stands incorporate a sponge

for this purpose.

Always apply solder to the bit of an iron as it heats up.Thiswill ensure good tinning and long life of the bit.

A solder bit thatwill notwet can be cleaned by lightly rubbing the bitwith a nylon pad.Ensure the iron is switched

off and do not usewirewoolor emery paper as thiswill remove protective plating and shorten the bit life.

Always keep a hot iron in a bench stand.

Never put a soldering iron into liquid.

Regularly check the cable for burns.Alternatively use an iron that is suppliedwith silicone cablewhich is resistant

to burns from the soldering iron.

It is sometimes necessary to remove a component from a PCB.To desolder a componentmelt the solder around

the componentwith a soldering iron.When the solder flows remove themolten solderwith a desolder pump.

Replace the iron in a stand and allow the component to cool for a few seconds.Carefully remove the component

from the holes in the PCB.

TooMuch

TooLittle

JustRight

Good and Bad Joints

www.rapidonline.com Rapid Educa

tion, Severalls Lane, Colchester, Essex CO4 5JS • Tel: 01206 751166 • Fax: 01206 751188 • Email: sales@rapidelec.co.uk

M0288

07/14

HYDROGEN

1.008

57-71

89-103

LITHIUM

6.941

BERYLLIUM

9.012

LITHIUM

6.941

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

SODI

22.99

MAGNESIUM

24.305

LITHIUM

6.941

BERYLLIUM

9.12182

POTASSIUM

39.098

CALCIUM

40.078

LITHIUM

6.941

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

RUBIDIUM

85.468

STRONTIU

87.62

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

SCANDIUM

44.956

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

YTTRIUM

88.906

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

TITANIUM

47.867

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

ZIRCONIU

91.224

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

4 Hf

HAFNIUM

178.49

RUTHERFORDIUM

261.109

104

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

VANADIU

50.942

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

NIOBIUM

92.906

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

TANTALU

180.948

DUBNIUM

262.114

105

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

CHROMIU

51.996

Be BE

RYLLIUM

9.012182

4 Mo MOLYBDENUM

95.96

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

TUNGSTEN

183.84

SEABORGIUM

263.118

106

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

IRON

55.845

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

4 Ru

RUTHENIU

101.07

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

OSMIUM

190.23

HASSIUM

265.13

108

BERYLL

IUM

9.012

182

COBA

58.9

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

4 Rh

RHODIUM

102.906

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

IRIDIUM

192.217

MEITNERIUM

268.139

109

Be BERYLLIUM

9.012182

Ni NICKEL 58

.693

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

PALLADI

106.42

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

PLATINU

195.084

DARMSTADTIUM

281.162

110

Be BERYLLIUM

9.012182

Cu COPPER

63.546

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

SILVER

107.868

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

GOLD

196.967

ROENTGENIUM

273.154

111

Be BERYL

LIUM

9.012182

Zn ZINC

65.409

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

CADMIUM

112.411

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

MERCURY

200.59

COPERNICIUM

(285)

112

Be BE

RYLLIUM

9.012182

Ga GALLIUM

69.723

1 Be BERYLLIUM 9.012182

AI ALUMINIUM 26.982

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

BORON

10.811

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

INDIUM

114.818

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

THALLIUM

204.383

Uut

UNUNTRIUM

(284)

113

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

GERMANIUM

72.63

32 Be BERYLLIUM 9.012182

Si SILICON 28.086

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

CARBON

12.011

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

TIN

118.71

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

LEAD

207.2

FLEROVIUM

(289)

114

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

ARSENIC

74.922

Be BERYLLIUM 9.012182

P PHOSPHORUS 30.974

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

NITROGEN

14.007

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

ANTIMONY

121.76

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

BISMUTH

208.98

Uup

UNUNPENTIUM

(288)

115

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

SELENIUM

78.96

Be BERYLLIUM 9.012182

S SULFUR 32.066

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

OXYGEN

15.999

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

TELLURI

127.6

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

POLONIU

208.982

LIVERMORIUM

(293)

116

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

BROMINE

79.904

BERYLLIUM

9.01

2182

CHLORINE

35.

453

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

FLUORINE

18.998

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

IODINE

126.904

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

ASTATINE

209.987

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

KRYPTON

83.798

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

ARGON

39.948

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

NEON

20.1797

HELIUM

4.002602

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

XENON

131.29

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

RADON

222.018

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

MANGANESE

54.938

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

4 Tc

TECHNETIUM

97.907

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

RHENIUM

186.207

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

LANTHANUM

138.905

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

ACTINIUM

227.028

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

CERIUM

140.116

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

THORIUM

232.038

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

PRASEODYMIUM

140.908

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

PROTACTINIUM

231.036

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

PROMETHIUM

144.913

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

NEPTUNIUM

237.048

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

SAMARIU

150.36

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

PLUTONIU

244.064

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

EUROPIUM

151.964

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

AMERICIU

243.061

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

GADOLINIUM

157.25

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

CURIUM

247.07

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

TERBIUM

158.925

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

BERKELIU

247.07

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

DYSPROSIUM

162.5

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

CALIFORNIUM

251.08

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

HOLMIUM

164.93

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

EINSTEINIUM

252.083

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

ERBIUM

167.259

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

FERMIUM

257.095

100

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

THULIUM

168.934

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

MENDELEVIUM

258.098

101

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

YTTERBI

173.04

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

NOBELIU

259.101

102

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

LUTETIUM

174.97

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

LAWRENCIUM

262.11

103

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

NEODYMIUM

144.24

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

URANIUM

238.029

BOHRIUM

264.125

107

LITHIUM

6.941

3 Be

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

4 Cs

CAESIU

132.905

55 a

BARIUM

137.327

LITHIUM

6.941

BERYLLIUM

9.012182

FRANCIUM

223.02

RADIUM

226.025

Post-transitionmetals

Transitionmetals

Lanthanide

Alkaline earthmetals

Metaloids

Alkalimetals

Other nnmetals

Halogens

Actinide

Nobl gases

Radioactive element

Synthetic element

Gas

Liquid

Unknown chemical properties

XEON

13.293

Atomic

number

Symbol

Atomic

mass

Name

Electrons

per shell

Solid

Uus

UNUNSEPTIUM

(292)

117

Uuo

UNUNOCTIUM

(294)

118

2 8 18 18 8

2 8 18 18

18 2

18 1

16 2

15 2

2 8 18 15 1

2 8 18 13 2

2 8 18 13 1

2 8 18 12 1

PERIODI

TABLE

www.rapidonline.com/education

Rapid Education,Severalls Lane,Colchester,EssexCO45JS• Tel: 01206751166 • Fax: 01206751188 • Email:

sales@rapidelec.co.uk

M025504/14

Includes

Periodic

Table