Building black box circuit simulators to test and improve pupils' problem-solving ability. (3rd August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Harrison, Mark
• Is Part Of: Physics education. Volume 53:Number 5(2018:Sep.)
• Publication Date: 2018-08-03
• Subjects: Physics -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Periodicals; 530.0712
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6552/aad05c
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0031-9120

Abstract

Abstract: Putting an electrical circuit within an inaccessible black box and asking pupils to deduce what wiring is contained within the box based solely on the circuit's behaviour is a simple teaching idea with a long history. Problems arise when trying to build enough physical black boxes to simulate a larger number of circuits within a typical school's storage limitations. A solution is described which uses a microcontroller to simulate a large number of separate circuits within a single black box.