Project 11 - Potentiometer Motor "K-12 JUNO STEM KIT"

What You Can Build Using K-12 JUNO STEM KIT

In the "Potentiometer Motor" project from the K-12 JUNO STEM Kit, children get hands-on assembling a circuit that uses a potentiometer to control the speed of a motor. By turning the potentiometer knob, learners can smoothly vary the electrical resistance in the circuit and adjust the motor's speed accordingly. This project provides an interactive experience in understanding how variable resistors regulate power and control mechanical motion.

What You Can Learn

• Variable Resistance: Kids explore how a potentiometer changes resistance based on knob position, directly affecting current flow in the circuit.

• Speed Control: Learners discover how varying the voltage or current influences motor speed, gaining insight into practical motor control methods.

• Basic Circuitry: Children practice wiring the potentiometer, motor, battery, and any necessary transistors or switches, mastering key electronic connections.

• Cause and Effect: By adjusting the potentiometer and observing the motor speed change, students see real-time direct consequences of electrical adjustments.

• Reading Diagrams: Students enhance technical literacy by interpreting circuit diagrams involving variable resistors and motors.

Real Life Problem Solving

• Troubleshooting: If the motor speed does not vary as expected, children learn to check potentiometer wiring, battery voltage, and connection integrity, fostering systematic debugging skills.

• Device Understanding: The project models everyday devices like dimmers, volume controls, and motor speed controllers that use potentiometers.

• Design Thinking: Learners can experiment with different potentiometer values or motor types, encouraging innovation and iterative improvements.

Additional Benefits

• Creativity: Students can customize motor performance, design control panels, or test different mechanical loads on the motor.

• Collaboration: The project suits group work where learners share wiring tasks, observe effects, and brainstorm improvements.

• Confidence: Successfully controlling motor speed builds mastery and inspires curiosity in electrical engineering and control systems.

• Foundation for Future Learning: This project prepares learners for more advanced speed and direction control circuits including PWM and microcontroller-based systems.

Why Potentiometer Motor Matters

The Potentiometer Motor project makes electrical control concepts tangible by showing how simple adjustments affect mechanical outputs. It connects theory with hands-on experimentation, laying a foundation for understanding variable electronics and motor control technologies widely used in industry and consumer devices. Each rotation of the potentiometer sparks learning, curiosity, and problem solving, driving STEM education forward.

With Project 11: Potentiometer Motor, every child gets the opportunity to master speed control and explore the dynamic world of electronics and motion!