Make: Electronics (Learning by Discovery) by Charles Platt

Make: Electronics (Learning by Discovery) by Charles Platt describes the key components and essential principles through a series of fascinating experiments. You'll build the circuits first, then learn the theory behind them!

Build working devices, from simple to complexYou'll start with the basics and then move on to more complicated projects. Go from switching circuits to integrated circuits, and from simple alarms to programmable microcontrollers. Step-by-step instructions and more than 500 full-color photographs and illustrations will help you use -- and understand -- electronics concepts and techniques.

By reading this book, readers are able to:

-Discover by breaking things: experiment with components and learn from failure
- Set up a tricked-out project space: make a work area at home, equipped with the tools and parts you'll need
- Learn about key electronic components and their functions within a circuit
- Create an intrusion alarm, holiday lights, wearable electronic jewelry, audio processors, a reflex tester, and a combination lock
- Build an autonomous robot cart that can sense its environment and avoid obstacles
- Get clear, easy-to-understand explanations of what you're doing and why

Table of Contents

Preface;
How to Have Fun with This Book;
Learning by Discovery;
How Hard Will It Be?;
Moving Through This Book;
Fundamentals;
Companion Kits;
Comments and Questions;
Safari® Books Online;

Chapter 1: Experiencing Electricity;
1.1 Shopping List: Experiments 1 Through 5;
1.2 Experiment 1: Taste the Power!;
1.3 Experiment 2: Let’s Abuse a Battery!;
1.4 Experiment 3: Your First Circuit;
1.5 Experiment 4: Varying the Voltage;
1.6 Experiment 5: Let’s Make a Battery;

Chapter 2: Switching Basics and More;
2.1 Shopping List: Experiments 6 Through 11;
2.2 Experiment 6: Very Simple Switching;
2.3 Experiment 7: Relay-Driven LEDs;
2.4 Experiment 8: A Relay Oscillator;
2.5 Experiment 9: Time and Capacitors;
2.6 Experiment 10: Transistor Switching;
2.7 Experiment 11: A Modular Project;

Chapter 3: Getting Somewhat More Serious;
3.1 Shopping List: Experiments 12 Through 15;
3.2 Experiment 12: Joining Two Wires Together;
3.3 Experiment 13: Broil an LED;
3.4 Experiment 14: A Pulsing Glow;
3.5 Experiment 15: Intrusion Alarm Revisited;

Chapter 4: Chips, Ahoy!;
4.1 Shopping List: Experiments 16 Through 24;
4.2 Experiment 16: Emitting a Pulse;
4.3 Experiment 17: Set Your Tone;
4.4 Experiment 18: Reaction Timer;
4.5 Experiment 19: Learning Logic;
4.6 Experiment 20: A Powerful Combination;
4.7 Experiment 21: Race to Place;
4.8 Experiment 22: Flipping and Bouncing;
4.9 Experiment 23: Nice Dice;
4.10 Experiment 24: Intrusion Alarm Completed;

Chapter 5: What Next?;
5.1 Shopping List: Experiments 25 Through 36;
5.2 Customizing Your Work Area;
5.3 Reference Sources;
5.4 Experiment 25: Magnetism;
5.5 Experiment 26: Tabletop Power Generation;
5.6 Experiment 27: Loudspeaker Destruction;
5.7 Experiment 28: Making a Coil React;
5.8 Experiment 29: Filtering Frequencies;
5.9 Experiment 30: Fuzz;
5.10 Experiment 31: One Radio, No Solder, No Power;
5.11 Experiment 32: A Little Robot Cart;
5.12 Experiment 33: Moving in Steps;
5.13 Experiment 34: Hardware Meets Software;
5.14 Experiment 35: Checking the Real World;
5.15 Experiment 36: The Lock, Revisited;
5.16 In Closing;
Online Retail Sources and Manufacturers;
Acknowledgments;
About the Author;
Colophon;

Book Details
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Maker Media, Inc; 1st edition (December 20, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0596153740
ISBN-13: 978-0596153748