Assignment 8

Recap:

In the eighth session, we dealt with the Magnetometer sensor and Compass in the Micro:bit. To summarise:

1. The compass can detect the earth's magnetic field.

2. The compass has to be calibrated at first to ensure that the readings are accurate.

3. We discussed various types of magnets and their properties.

4. We then discussed the secrets of the Earth's magnetic field and how it can be used to detect the direction.

5. A simple program to calibrate and measure the magnetic strength of the earth and any other magnet.

6. Discussed the compass heading and how to find directions using the Micro:bit.

7. Coded programs, simulated the program, saved the programs on the laptop, downloaded the program in the Micro:bit and ran the program on the Micro:bit.

8. Discussed the various stages of creating the complete project -- requirement, design, code, simulate, check, store, download (flash) and run.

9. Advanced students were asked to check the Javascript code and modify its contents.

The class projects as described above can be completed and saved in the Desktop folder.

What did they learn:
Technology Related

1. Magnetometer and compass

2. Compass requires calibration for accurate results.

Science Related

3. Magnets and their important properties

4. Earth's magnetic field

5. Heading for finding direction

Coding Related

6. Calibrate the Micro:bit on start.

7. Display the magnetic strength.

8. Show the magnetic heading reading as a string.

Flowchart Software

Students who are eager to do flowcharts can use the following free version to draw the flowcharts before attempting to write the program on the Micro:bit.

Lucid Chart: https://www.lucidchart.com/
Draw.io : draw.io

Projects completed in Class

1. Calibrate the Micro:bit and show the magnetic strength (uT) on the screen.

2. Calibrate the Micro:bit and show the magnetic heading in degrees.

The class projects as described above can be completed and saved in the Desktop folder.

Assignments

Students are encouraged to draw the Flowchart for the projects first and then attempt to write the program in Blockcode or Javascript.

Request students to make a video of the project that are assigned and to send me those for presentation.

Project A:
Door Alarm

The aim of the project is to design a door alarm to tell you if anyone has been in your room. You will need a Micro:bit, battery pack, a magnet and some way of fixing them to the door as shown in the figure below.

1. On Start, calibrate the compass, how heart and then pause for 3sec.

2. Use the button A to test how strong the magnetic field is when the door is closed and then how strong it is when open. Get the magic threshold value of the magnetic field (say 200).

3. In forever, measure how strong a magnetic field is and show an angry face when the door is opened -- when the magnetic field is less than (<) 200.

4. If button B is pressed then reset the system

A picture containing electronics, electronic engineering, cable, electrical wiring

Description automatically generated

Project B:
Micro:bit Compass

The aim of the project is use the Micro:bit as a Compass and find the direction

1. On start

Show heart and pause for 2sec.
Calibrate the compass

2. Forever

Read the compass heading
On the screen showing North arrow (using show arrow command) when the Heading is between 315 and 45, show East arrow when heading is between 45 and 135, show South arrow when heading is between 135 and 225 and show West arrow when heading is between 225 and 315.

In all these projects, try to include comments to the blocks that you are using.

Project C:
Micro:bit Compass Extension 1

The aim of the project is use the Micro:bit as a Compass and find the direction to include North-East, South-East, South_West and North_West.

Project D:
Detect Ferrous Material

The sensitivity of the earth magnetic field is disturbed by the Ferrous material. Construct a project to detect if the object is ferrous or not.

Young Scientist Demonstrations

Please encourage kids to present any project related to Micro:bit restricted to whatever is covered in the previous sessions.

This will help other kids to understand and replicate the projects. Prefer not to make any demonstrations of the assignment, however small variations around the assignments will be fine. I will try to give some suggestions in the class as well.

We will invite the student for his/ her presentation and he/ she will be the Scientist of the day presenting the work to all of us.

We have received very positive feedback on these demonstrations globally which not only improves the science communication skills but also makes them more confident in their academic pursuits along with pride in their contribution to knowledge/ community.