Elenco Snap Circuits Motion - Manual (Page 10)

About Your Snap Circuits ® Parts
RESISTORS
-9-
Adjustable Resistor (RV2)
The adjustable resistor (RV2) is a 10,000W
resistor but with a center tap that can be adjusted
between 200W and 10,000W.
Resistors “resist” the flow of electricity and are
used to control or limit the current in a circuit.
Snap Circuits ® Motion has two resistors (47W and
10,000W) inside the pivot stand, and an
adjustable resistor. Materials like metal have very
low resistance (<1W), while materials like paper,
plastic, and air have near-infinite resistance.
Increasing circuit resistance reduces the flow of
electricity.
CAPACITORS
The 1mF and 100mF capacitors (C7 & C4) can
store electrical pressure (voltage) for periods of
time. This storage ability allows them to block
stable voltage signals and pass changing ones.
Capacitors are used for filtering and delay
circuits.
Pivot Stand
MOTOR MODULES
Geared Motor
The air fountain (AF) has a motor and fan
inside. The fan sucks air in from the side and
pushes it out the top. As the air comes out it
spreads out like a fountain of water and can
balance light round objects like the ball.
Reversing the voltage to the air fountain reduces
the power of the airflow due to the shape of the
fan.
Air Fountain
The light motor (M7) is a motor with an LED
circuit mounted on its shaft. A motor converts
electricity into mechanical motion, in the form of
a spinning shaft. In the light motor electricity is
transported through the motor shaft to power an
LED circuit, with LEDs mounted on the fan blade.
The motor spins in both directions, but the light
circuit only works in one direction.
How does electricity turn the shaft in the motor?
Electricity is closely related to magnetism, and
an electric current flowing in a wire has a
magnetic field similar to that of a very, very tiny
magnet. Inside the motor is three coils of wire
with many loops. If a large electric current flows
through the loops, the magnetic effects become
concentrated enough to move the coils. The
motor has a magnet inside, so as the electricity
moves the coils to align them with the permanent
magnet, the shaft spins.
Light Motor (M7)
Capacitors (C4 & C7)
The geared motor (GM) is a motor with a
gearbox attached. The gearbox makes the
attached “+” shaped shaft spin slower but with
more force than the shaft that is directly attached
to the motor.
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