So now you know how to hook up a motor, and even wire it up to a switch so that it goes in forward and reverse. But what if you want to change speeds? This nifty electrical component will help you do just that.

Once you understand how to use this potentiometer in a circuit, you’ll be able to control the speed of your laser light show motors as well as the motors and lights on your robots. Ready?

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Here’s what you need:

• 2 AA batteries
• AA battery case
• 3 alligator wires
• potentiometer
• 1.5-3V DC motor
• LED (any you choose)

Download Student Worksheet & Exercises

Exercises

1. How does a potentiometer work?
2. Does the potentiometer work differently on the LED and the motor?
3. Name three places you’ve used potentiometers in everyday life.
4. How do you think you might wire up an LED, switch, and potentiometer?

Click here to go to your next lesson on Measuring Voltage and Current.

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