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Sensors expedition

Mission 3 of 6

Sensors expedition: Mission 3 of 6

Resistor Piano


Intermediate

1 hour

Grades 3 - 8
MISSION OBJECTIVE

Learn to create a piano using resistors.

Take our musical talents to the next level as Piperbot and Pip jam out with their new Adult Zomar buddy on a piano made of resistors. Ask students: “What is your code measuring to know when and what sound to play? How is this different from your ultrasonic drum?”

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MISSION CHARACTERS

Piperbot

Pip

Adult Zomar
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MISSION MATERIALS
MISSION RESOURCES Learning Goals Career Connections Hardware Diagram Code Diagram Tutorial Steps Blueprint Troubleshooting Tips
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MISSION MATERIALS

Computer with USB port and Chrome or Edge browser
Piper Make Base Station or Starter Kit
MISSION RESOURCES

Learning Goals

  1. Students will create a panel of resistors and use a jumper wire to “play notes” and craft musical creations.
  2. Students will understand how to use lists and mapping in code to map a voltage to a sound.
  3. Students will understand how voltage drops are associated with the number of resistors set up in series, as shown in the circuitry.

Career Connections

Robotics Engineer: Salary $104,600/yr
Automotive Engineer: Salary $95,300/yr
Civil Engineer: Salary $88,050/yr
Electro-Mechanical and Mechtronics Technicians: Salary $60,570/yr

Hardware Diagram




Code Diagram




Tutorial Steps

Resistor Piano

Blueprint

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Have an different version? Look for more information on the Support Page.

Troubleshooting Tips

  • Are some notes failing to play when you touch the jumper wire to the resistors?
    • Make sure you touch the jumper wire to the metal part of the resistor instead of the plastic.
    • Ensure that you have set up the resistors correctly with the metal leads lined up along the rails so they complete the circuit. Check the wiring diagram if you’re not sure.
  • Why do you have to be careful with the top portion of the Pico?
    • Touching the green wire to the areas marked with the yellow triangles ⚠️ will cause a short circuit and could damage your Pico module. Be careful!

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EXPANDED RESOURCES

Term Glossary


Engineer Someone who designs, builds, or fixes things to solve problems.

Sensor A device that produces an output signal to sense a physical phenomenon.

Conditional Statement A coding instruction used to compare values and express and make decisions, like an if-then statement.

List A sequence of several values grouped under a single name in code. A group of items or components. A tool used to store multiple pieces of information at once.

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Standards Alignment


Individual Standards
  • CA 3-5.CS.1 Describe how computing devices connect to other components to form a system. (P7.2)
  • 3-5.AP.18 Perform different roles when collaborating with peers during the design, implementation, and review stages of program development.
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