Data Sheet

-26-
13. Advantage of Parallel Circuits
Build the circuit on the left, press the switch (62) and the fan blade
(60) of the motor (95) will start running while the lamp (76) is on. Try
disconnecting the lamp (76) from the circuit and notice that the motor
(95) keeps spinning. This is one of the advantages of parallel circuits.
Since there are separate current paths running through the lamp (76)
and the motor (95), removing one of these components does not affect
the current owing through the other component. This is why the lights
in your house use parallel circuits (when one light bulb burns out you
wouldn’t want all the lights to go out in your house!).
14. Fiber Optics
Build the circuit on the left and place the ber optic tree (40) on the
colorful LED (72). Press the switch (62), the colorful LED (72) will turn
on and you will see the ber optic tree (40) change colors with the LED’s
colors. If you look at the tips of the bers at the top of the tree you will
see bright light emitting from the bers. This demonstrates how bers
carry light, and the simplest form of bers (called single mode bers) can
actually carry light over 60 miles or more.
15. Fiber Optic Communication
Replace the switch (62) with the press switch (61), press the press
switch (61) and the colorful LED (72) will ash on and off. Hold the press
switch (61) and the colorful LED (72) will stay on while the ber optic tree
(40) changes colors with the colorful LED (72). By pressing the press
switch (61) ON and OFF for different periods of time you can simulate a
digital communication signal (light ON means a digital 1 was sent while
light OFF means a digital 0 was sent).
WARNING: Moving parts. Do not touch
the fan or motor during operation. Do
not lean over the motor.
!
+
–