Explaining the basics to a 15 yo. How?

MrSalts

Joined Apr 2, 2020
2,767
Find something that gets the kid's interest, hopefully it kindles some sort of passion - if so - feed it.
Do you really think a 15-year-old kid's interest can be kindled without talking about Vectors, Integrals and Fields? It would be very dangerous to let them touch an LED (let alone illuminate one) without proper knowledge and the "right" interpretation of "Fields". Ha, ha, ha.

Only if these clowns have any say in kindling her interest in electronics.
 

nsaspook

Joined Aug 27, 2009
16,330
Do you really think a 15-year-old kid's interest can be kindled without talking about Vectors, Integrals and Fields? It would be very dangerous to let them touch an LED (let alone illuminate one) without proper knowledge and the "right" interpretation of "Fields". Ha, ha, ha.


Only if these clowns have any say in kindling her interest in electronics.
Well, my 16-year-old kid can do those things. She's taking college level math and is starting computer security technology classes next year in addition to being pretty damn good at physical activities like Martial Arts. We're getting our asses kicked on the world stage of technology because we are underestimate what's possible in kids education. The children of those clowns are the ones saying, "Fields". Ha, ha, ha , been there, done that.
 
@nsaspook Your somethng else. I do admire your knowledge.
Just wish mentally migraines would not interfere and wish my body was better. No fault of mine. if medicne did their job its possible I coule be better. The doc would not let me have an insulin pump. All the paperwork was in place. Just needed his signature. The back gets deprived of insulin and I now have a degenerative mess. You dont know of the damage until some "event" happens.

As a kid 1960's deprived of stuff that wasnt free. Dad aught me what he knew about electronics. electrical, plumping., cars, lawn mowers, carpentry etc. Later he became my helper.

With the Internet its extremely rare I can receive help. There was surprise help recently and then there was the "dont advertse your clueless. It reduces your credibility., I was.

I did not realize telnet had an "in-band" control channel. That made most everything fall in place. Topic RFC2217.

I do want a CAD program I can understand. Claris CAD fit the bill and so did Vectorworks, now a new name I think.

I dont like icons and I dont memorize things well.
 

Tesla23

Joined May 10, 2009
560
Well, my 16-year-old kid can do those things. She's taking college level math and is starting computer security technology classes next year in addition to being pretty damn good at physical activities like Martial Arts. We're getting our asses kicked on the world stage of technology because we are underestimate what's possible in kids education. The children of those clowns are the ones saying, "Fields". Ha, ha, ha , been there, done that.
.. and to add to my previous post .. where a kid is amenable to advancement, there is nothing more rewarding than setting the bar high and watching them clear it.

Kudos to you for raising a child prepared to tackle hard things.

Whilst universal education has achieved much, there is too much emphasis today placed on not upsetting those that can't rather than challenging and celebrating those that can.
 

nsaspook

Joined Aug 27, 2009
16,330
.. and to add to my previous post .. where a kid is amenable to advancement, there is nothing more rewarding than setting the bar high and watching them clear it.

Kudos to you for raising a child prepared to tackle hard things.

Whilst universal education has achieved much, there is too much emphasis today placed on not upsetting those that can't rather than challenging and celebrating those that can.
Thanks. Aim high to reach high targets.
PXL_20210730_001830944.jpgPXL_20210730_001947577.jpg
 

click_here

Joined Sep 22, 2020
548
I'd say lesson 1 is ohms law and how to use a multimeter.

Then a voltage divider

Then replace one of the resistors with an LED - Make it very dim (res too high)

You can then calculate the current through the LED, look up the typical current of it, and then find a better value resistor.

You then need to make something that is awesome out of some LEDs using the values you chose together - A smiley face, or christmas tree, ect...

At this point it should be easy to say, this is a switch, this is a 9V battery...

It's important that she has something to show everyone!
 

Thread Starter

atferrari

Joined Jan 6, 2004
5,012
Hi @nsaspook
In spite of my comment in my OP, I always wanted to read some more or less complete text to get a minimal correct idea of those fields.

Few years ago you posted a link to some material about Einstein and relativity prepared in an american university. Still have it in my PC's desktop. It helped me to understand the idea.

Could you do the same again but related to fields?
 

nsaspook

Joined Aug 27, 2009
16,330
Hi @nsaspook
In spite of my comment in my OP, I always wanted to read some more or less complete text to get a minimal correct idea of those fields.

Few years ago you posted a link to some material about Einstein and relativity prepared in an american university. Still have it in my PC's desktop. It helped me to understand the idea.

Could you do the same again but related to fields?
You will need to look at physics related texts to get a correct idea of how charge, fields integrate with basic circuit theory like ohms 'law'.
https://www.physicskey.com/53/electric-charge
https://www.physicskey.com/71/electric-current
https://www.physicskey.com/ohm-law

A book I would recommend: For those with electronic knowledge to familiarize them with the concepts of this mode of circuit intuition.
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/1044329
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/0471433934.fmatter

This book provides a new way to understand the subject of electronics. The
central theme is that all electrical phenomena can be explained in terms of
electric and magnetic fields. Beginning students place their faith in their early
instruction. They assume that the way they have been educated is the best
way. Any departure from this format just adds complications. This book is a
departure—hopefully, one that helps.
There are many engineers and scientists struggling to function in the real
world. Their education did not prepare them for handling most of the practical
problems they encounter. The practitioner in trouble with grounds, noise, and
interference feels that something is missing in his education. The new engineer
has a very difficult time ordering, specifying, or using hardware correctly.
Facilities and power distribution are a mystery. Surprisingly, all these areas
are accessible once the correct viewpoint is taken. This book has been written
to provide a better introduction to the field of electronics so that the parts that
are often omitted can be put into perspective.
The book uses very little mathematics. It helps to have some background in
electronics, but it is not necessary. The beginning student may need some help
from an instructor to fill in some of the blanks. The practicing engineer will
be able to read this book with ease.
Field phenomena are often felt to be the domain of the physicist. In a
sense this is correct. Unfortunately, without a field-based understanding,
many electronic processes must remain mysteries. It is not necessary to solve
difficult problems to have an appreciation of how things work. It is only necessary to appreciate the fundamentals and understand the true nature of the
world.
To illustrate the problem, consider an electric field that is constant everywhere.
Place a conducting loop of wire at some crazy angle in this field and ask a
question: What is the shape of the new field? This is a very difficult problem
even with a great deal of computing power. Now, have the field change sinusoidally and consider current flow and skin effect and the problem really gets
difficult. The ideas are important, but the exact answer is not worth worrying
about. Connecting wires and components to form circuits is standard practice. These conductors modify the fields around them. This is the same nasty
problem, and again it does not need an exact solution. What is needed is an
understanding of what actually takes place. Circuit theory does not consider
this type of problem.
 

Thread Starter

atferrari

Joined Jan 6, 2004
5,012
You will need to look at physics related texts to get a correct idea of how charge, fields integrate with basic circuit theory like ohms 'law'.
https://www.physicskey.com/53/electric-charge
https://www.physicskey.com/71/electric-current
https://www.physicskey.com/ohm-law

A book I would recommend: For those with electronic knowledge to familiarize them with the concepts of this mode of circuit intuition.
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/1044329
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/0471433934.fmatter
Gracias @nsaspook
 
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