Arduino and basic electronics

Complete the challenge

Open a new Arduino window with a blank sketch in it.

Save your Arduino sketch. Name it C5-level1.

Copy the sketch below into your Arduino window. Remember to delete the blank sketch first.

int sensorPin = A5;      // the input pin for the potentiometer on the ThinkerShield
int sensorValue = 0;     // variable to store the value coming from the sensor

void setup() {
    Serial.begin(9600);  // Set up serial data communication
}

void loop() {
    sensorValue = analogRead(sensorPin);     // read the value from the sensor
    Serial.print("The sensor value is: ");   // send the words over the serial data connection
    Serial.println(sensorValue);             // send the sensor value over the serial data connection
    delay(100);                              // wait for 0.1 seconds so that we only send the sensor value back 10 times a second.
}

Upload this sketch to your Arduino.

Now open the Arduino “serial monitor”. You do this by choosing “Serial monitor” from the “Tools” menu, as shown in the picture.

Adjust the potentiometer (the knob) on the Arduino and look at the data coming in on the serial monitor.

What are those numbers, sir?

The number is how the Arduino knows the position of the potentiometer (or knob). This kind of input is called analogue.

Digital data is just “on” or “off”, HIGH or LOW, etc.

Analogue data is a number. There’s a minimum and a maximum possible value for that number. What are the smallest and biggest numbers you can get?

Claim your achievement

I did it!

That’s fantastic!

Now claim your achievement.

Copy the saved sketch to your Year 8 Digital Tech folder on Google Drive.
Complete a claim slip. The code is C5 and the level is 1.
Also write down the biggest and smallest numbers that you are able to get.

C5 — Analogue inputs

Level 1 — Numbers from an analogue input

Complete the challenge

Claim your achievement