Elenco Snap Circuits SOUND reg User Manual

Copyright © by Elenco®Electronics, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced by 753120 any means; electronic, photocopying, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher.

Patents: 7,144,255; 7,273,377; & other patents pending

Project 47

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Most circuit problems are due to incorrect assembly, always double-check that your circuit exactly matches the drawing for it.

2. Be sure that parts with positive/negative markings are positioned as per the drawing.

3. Be sure that all connections are securely snapped.

4. Try replacing the batteries.

5. If the flexible sheet in the sound energy demo container is damaged, replace it with a spare (if one was included), or use household plastic wrap.

6. If the echo IC (U28) stops working, turn the circuit off and on to reset it.

ELENCO®is not responsible for parts damaged due to incorrect wiring.

Basic Troubleshooting

Note: If you suspect you have damaged parts, you can follow the

Advanced Troubleshooting procedure on pages 16 and 17 to determine which ones need replacing.

Basic Troubleshooting 1 Parts List 2, 3 How to Use Snap Circuits® 4 About Your Snap Circuits®SOUND Parts 5-7 Introduction to Electricity 8 Sound in Our World 9-14

DO’s and DON’Ts of Building Circuits 15 Advanced Troubleshooting 16, 17 Project Listings 18, 19 Projects 1 - 188 20-85 Other Snap Circuits®Projects 86

WARNING: SHOCK HAZARD - Never connect Snap

Circuits

to the electrical outlets in your home in any way!

Table of Contents

WARNING: Always check your wiring

before turning on a circuit. Never leave a circuit unattended while the batteries are installed. Never connect additional batteries or any other power sources to your circuits. Discard any cracked or broken parts.

Adult Supervision: Because children’s

abilities vary so much, even with age groups, adults should exercise discretion as to which experiments are suitable and safe (the instructions should enable supervising adults to establish the experiment’s suitability for

the child). Make sure your child reads and follows all of the relevant instructions and safety procedures, and keeps them at hand for reference.

This product is intended for use by adults and children who have attained sufficient maturity to read and follow directions and warnings.

Never modify your parts, as doing so may disable important safety features in them, and could put your child at risk of injury.

WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD -

Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

Conforms to all applicable

U.S. government

requirements.

• Use only 1.5V “AA” type, alkaline batteries (not included).

• Insert batteries with correct polarity.

•

Non-rechargeable batteries should not be recharged. Rechargeable batteries should only be charged under adult supervision, and should not be recharged while in the product.

• Do not mix old and new batteries.

• Do not connect batteries or battery holders in parallel.

• Do not mix alkaline, standard (carbonzinc), or rechargeable (nickel-cadmium) batteries.

• Remove batteries when they are used up.

• Do not short circuit the battery terminals.

• Never throw batteries in a fire or attempt to open its outer casing.

• Batteries are harmful if swallowed, so keep away from small children.

Batteries:

WARNING: Some projects are intended for use with

headphones (not included in this set). Headphones performance varies, so you should use caution. Permanent hearing loss may result from long-term exposure to sound at high volumes. Start with as low a volume as possible, then carefully increase to a comfortable level. Ringing or discomfort in the ears may indicate that the sound levels are too high; immediately discontinue using the headphones with this product and consult a physician.

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Important: If any parts are missing or damaged, DO NOT RETURN TO RETAILER. Call toll-free (800) 533-2441 or e-mail us at:

help@elenco.com. Customer Service • 150 Carpenter Ave. • Wheeling, IL 60090 U.S.A.

Parts List (Colors and styles may vary) Symbols and Numbers (page 1)

Qty. ID Name Symbol Part # Qty. ID Name Symbol Part #

r 1

Base Grid (11.0” x 7.7”)

6SCBG

r 1

0.1mF Capacitor 6SCC2

r 3

1-Snap Wire 6SC01

r 1

470mF Capacitor 6SCC5

r 7

2-Snap Wire 6SC02

r 1

1mF Capacitor 6SCC7

r 3

3-Snap Wire 6SC03

r 1

Color Light Emitting Diode (LED)

6SCD8

r 1

4-Snap Wire 6SC04

r 1

Egg LED Attachment 6SCEGG

r 1

5-Snap Wire 6SC05

r 1

Jumper Wire (black) 6SCJ1

r 1

6-Snap Wire 6SC06

r 1

Jumper Wire (red) 6SCJ2

r 2

Battery Holder - uses two (2) 1.5V type “AA” (not included)

6SCB1

r 1

Audio Jack 6SCJA

You may order additional / replacement parts at our website: www.snapcircuits.net

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Important: If any parts are missing or damaged, DO NOT RETURN TO RETAILER. Call toll-free (800) 533-2441 or e-mail us at:

help@elenco.com. Customer Service • 150 Carpenter Ave. • Wheeling, IL 60090 U.S.A.

Parts List (Colors and styles may vary) Symbols and Numbers (page 2)

Qty. ID Name Symbol Part # Qty. ID Name Symbol Part #

r 1

NPN Transistor 6SCQ2

r 1

Tube for Sound Energy Demo Container

6SCSEDCT

r 1

100W Resistor 6SCR1

r 1

Flexible Sheet for Sound Energy Demo Container (may include spare)

6SCSEDCF

r 1

5.1kW Resistor 6SCR3

r 1

Speaker 6SCSP2

r 1

Adjustable Resistor 6SCRV

r 1

Keyboard 6SCU26

r 1

500kW Adjustable Resistor

6SCRV3

r 1

Voice Changer 6SCU27

r 1

Photoresistor 6SCRP

r 1

Echo IC 6SCU28

r 2

Slide Switch 6SCS1

r 1

Microphone 6SCX1

r 1

Press Switch 6SCS2

r 1

Stereo Cable 9TLSCST

r 1

Base for Sound Energy Demo Container

6SCSEDCB

You may order additional / replacement parts at our website: www.snapcircuits.net

U27

SP2

U28

U26

RV3

How to Use Snap Circuits

Snap Circuits®uses building blocks with snaps to build the different electrical and electronic circuits in the projects. Each block has a function: there are switch blocks, light blocks, battery blocks, different length wire blocks, etc. These blocks are different colors and have numbers on them so that you can easily identify them. The blocks you will be using are shown as color symbols with level numbers next to them, allowing you to easily snap them together to form a circuit.

For Example:

This is the switch block, which is green and has the marking on it. The part symbols in this booklet may not exactly match the appearance of the actual parts, but will clearly identify them.

This is a wire block, which is blue and comes in different wire lengths. This one has the number , , , , or on it depending on the length of the wire connection required.

There is also a 1-snap wire that is used as a spacer or for interconnection between different layers.

You need a power source to build each circuit. This is labeled and requires two (2) 1.5V “AA” batteries (not included).

A large clear plastic base grid is included with this kit to help keep the circuit blocks properly spaced. You will see evenly spaced posts that the different blocks snap into. The base has rows labeled A-G and columns labeled 1-10.

Next to each part in every circuit drawing is a small number in black. This tells you which level the component is placed at. Place all parts on level 1 first, then all of the parts on level 2, then all of the parts on level 3, etc.

Some circuits use the jumper wires to make unusual connections. Just clip them to the metal snaps or as indicated.

This set contains an egg LED attachment, which can be mounted on the color LED (D8) to enhance its light effects.

This set contains a sound energy demonstration container, which will sometimes be placed over the speaker. Its use is explained in project 13.

To assemble it, lay the tube and flexible sheet over the base, and then push the tube into the base, as shown. Do not disassemble it except to repair it. This set may include a spare for the flexible sheet, and household plastic wrap also works.

3 4 5

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Egg LED attachment

mounted to D8

Egg

Note: While building the projects, be careful not

to accidentally make a direct connection across the battery holder (a “short circuit”), as this may damage and/or quickly drain the batteries.

Sound Energy Demonstration

Container Assembly

(Adult supervision recommended)

Flexible

sheet

Base

Tube

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About Your Snap Circuits

SOUND Parts

(Part designs are subject to change without notice).

BASE GRID

The blue snap wires

are wires used to

connect components.

They are used to

transport electricity and do

not affect circuit performance.

They come in different lengths to

allow orderly arrangement of connections

on the base grid.

The red and black jumper wires make flexible connections for times when using the snap wires would be difficult. They also are used to make connections off the base grid.

Wires transport electricity just like pipes are used to transport water. The colorful plastic coating protects them and prevents electricity from getting in or out.

BATTERY HOLDER

The base grid is a platform for mounting parts and wires. It functions like the printed circuit boards used in most electronic products, or like how the walls are used for mounting the electrical wiring in your home.

SNAP WIRES & JUMPER WIRES

The batteries (B1) produce an electrical voltage using a chemical reaction. This “voltage” can be thought of as electrical pressure, pushing electricity through a circuit just like a pump pushes water through pipes. This voltage is much lower and much safer than that used in your house wiring. Using more batteries increases the “pressure”, therefore, more electricity flows.

Battery Holder (B1)

SLIDE & PRESS SWITCHES

The slide & press switches (S1 & S2) connect (pressed or “ON”) or disconnect (not pressed or “OFF”) the wires in a circuit. When ON they have no effect on circuit performance. Switches turn on electricity just like a faucet turns on water from a pipe.

Slide & Press

Switches (S1 & S2)

RESISTORS

Resistors “resist” the flow of electricity and are used to control or limit the current in a circuit. Snap Circuits

SOUND includes 100W(R1) and

5.1kW(R3) resistors (“k” symbolizes 1,000, so R3 is really 5,100W). Materials like metal have very low resistance (<1W), while materials like paper, plastic, and air have near-infinite resistance. Increasing circuit resistance reduces the flow of electricity.

Resistors (R1 & R3)

Adjustable Resistor (RV)

The adjustable resistor (RV) is a

50kW resistor but with a center tap that can be adjusted between 200W and 50kW.

The 500kWadjustable resistor (RV3) is a 500kW resistor that can be adjusted between 200W and 500kW.

500kWAdjustable Resistor (RV3)

About Your Snap Circuits

SOUND Parts

LED

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The speaker (SP) converts electricity into sound by making mechanical vibrations. These vibrations create variations in air pressure, which travel across the room. You “hear” sound when your ears feel these air pressure variations.

SPEAKER

Speaker (SP2)

Color LED

(D8)

The color LED (D8) is a light emitting diode, and may be thought of as a special one-way light bulb. In the “forward” direction, (indicated by the “arrow” in the symbol) electricity flows if the voltage exceeds a turn-on threshold (about 1.5V for red, about 2.0V for green, and about 3.0V for blue); brightness then increases. The color LED contains red, green, and blue LEDs, with a microcircuit controlling then. A high current will burn out an LED, so the current must be limited by other components in the circuit. LED’s block electricity in the “reverse” direction.

CAPACITOR

The 0.1mF, 1mF, and 470mF capacitors (C2, C7, & C5) can store electrical pressure (voltage) for

periods of time. This storage ability allows them to block stable voltage signals and pass changing ones. Capacitors are used for filtering and delay circuits.

Microphone (X1)

The microphone (X1) is actually a resistor that changes in value when changes in air pressure (sounds) apply pressure to its surface.

MICROPHONE

The photoresistor (RP) is a light-sensitive resistor, its value changes from nearly infinite in total darkness to about 1000W when a bright light shines on it.

Photoresistor (RP)

Capacitors (C2, C5, & C7)

TRANSISTORS

ELECTRONIC MODULES

The NPN transistor (Q2) is a component that uses a small electric current to control a large current, and is used in switching, amplifier, and buffering applications. Transistors are easy to miniaturize, and are the main building blocks of integrated circuits including the microprocessor and memory circuits in computers.

The keyboard (U26) contains resistors, capacitors, switches, and an integrated circuit. It can produce two adjustable audio tones at the same time. The tones approximate musical notes, and may not be exact. The tone of the green keys can be adjusted with the tune knob or using external resistors and capacitors. A schematic for it is available at www.snapcircuits.net/faq.

Connections:

(+) - power from batteries RES - resistor freq adjust CAP - capacitor freq adjust OUT - output connection (–) - power return to batteries

See projects 1, 6, & 25 for example of proper connections.

NPN Transistor (Q2)

Keyboard (U26)

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About Your Snap Circuits

SOUND Parts

Audio Jack (JA)

OTHER PARTS

The stereo cable is used to connect the audio jack (JA) to your music device or external speaker.

The audio jack (JA) is a connector mounted on snaps, and is used for interfacing your music device or external speaker to Snap Circuits

The egg LED attachment can be used with the color LED (D8) to enhance the light effects.

Egg

The sound energy demonstration container is used to show that sound waves have energy, and can move things around. See project 13.

Connections:

(+) - power from batteries SPD - speed adjust SP+ - speaker (+) SP– - speaker (–) MIC+ - microphone (+) MIC– - microphone (–) REC - record PLY - play (–) - power return to batteries

See project 7 for example of proper connections.

The voice changer (U27) contains resistors, capacitors, and an integrated circuit that are needed to record and play back sound at different speeds. A schematic for it is available at www.snapcircuits.net/faq.

Connections:

(+) - power from batteries G+ - gain control G– - gain control ADJ - echo adjust INP - input connection OUT - output connection (–) - power return to batteries

See projects 10 & 41 for examples of proper connections.

The echo IC (U28) contains resistors, capacitors, and integrated circuits that are needed to add echo effects to a sound. A schematic for it is available at www.snapcircuits.net/faq.

Introduction to Electricity

What is electricity? Nobody really knows. We only know how to produce it, understand its properties, and how to control it. Electricity is the movement of subatomic charged particles (called electrons) through a material due to electrical pressure across the material, such as from a battery.

Power sources, such as batteries, push electricity through a circuit, like a pump pushes water through pipes. Wires carry electricity, like pipes carry water. Devices like LEDs, motors, and speakers use the energy in electricity to do things. Switches and transistors control the flow of electricity like valves and faucets control water. Resistors limit the flow of electricity.

The electrical pressure exerted by a battery or other power source is called voltage and is measured in volts (V). Notice the “+” and “–” signs on the battery; these indicate which direction the battery will “pump” the electricity.

The electric current is a measure of how fast electricity is flowing in a wire, just as the water current describes how fast water is flowing in a pipe. It is expressed in amperes (A) or milliamps (mA, 1/1,000 of an ampere).

The “power” of electricity is a measure of how fast energy is moving through a wire. It is a combination of the voltage and current (Power = Voltage x Current). It is expressed in watts (W).

The resistance of a component or circuit represents how much it resists the electrical pressure (voltage) and limits the flow of electric current. The relationship is Voltage = Current x Resistance. When the resistance increases, less current flows. Resistance is measured in ohms (W), or kilo ohms (kW, 1,000 ohms).

Nearly all of the electricity used in our world is produced at enormous generators driven by steam or water pressure. Wires are used to efficiently transport this energy to homes and businesses where it is used. Motors convert the electricity back into mechanical form to drive machinery and appliances. The most important aspect of electricity in our society is that it allows energy to be easily transported over distances.

Note that “distances” includes not just large distances but also tiny distances. Try to imagine a plumbing structure of the same complexity as the circuitry inside a portable radio - it would have to be large because we can’t make water pipes so small. Electricity allows complex designs to be made very small.

There are two ways of arranging parts in a circuit, in series or in parallel. Here are examples:

Placing components in series increases the resistance; highest value dominates. Placing components in parallel decreases the resistance; lower value dominates.

The parts within these series and parallel sub-circuits may be arranged in different ways without changing what the circuit does. Large circuits are made of combinations of smaller series and parallel circuits.

Series Circuit

Parallel Circuit

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Sound in Our World

Sound is a variation in air pressure created by

a mechanical vibration. See projects 13 & 51 for a demonstration of this. These air pressure variations travel across the room like waves, so we call them sound waves. You “hear” sound when your ears feel these air pressure variations, and convert them to nerve pulses that your brain interprets. Eventually the energy of a sound wave is absorbed, and becomes heat.

Sound waves can also be thought of as waves of temporary compression that travel through materials. Notice that at a loud concert you can sometimes feel the pressure waves, in addition to hearing them. Sound waves can travel through liquids and solids but their speed may change and their energy may be reduced, depending on the characteristics of the material. Sound waves can only travel through a compressible material, and so cannot travel through a vacuum. Outer space is silent, because there is no air or other material for sound waves to travel through.

The “hearing” part of your ear is inside your skull; the flaps you see are just funnels to collect the sound and pass it along to your eardrum inside. When you were young your brain learned to interpret the difference in the information collected from your two ears, and use it to know which direction a sound came from. If one of your ears is clogged, then it is difficult to determine a sound’s direction.

You can compare sound waves from your voice to waves in a pond. When you speak, the movements in your mouth create sound waves just as tossing a rock into the pond creates water waves. Sound waves travel through air as water waves travel across the pond. If someone is nearby, then their ears will feel the air pressure variations caused by your

sound waves just as a small boat at the other side of the pond will feel the water waves.

If the mechanical vibration causing the sound wave occurs at a constant rate, then the sound wave will repeat itself at the same rate; we refer to this as the frequency of the sound wave. Nearly all sound waves have their energy spread unevenly across a range of frequencies. When you say a word, you create a sound wave with energy at various frequencies, just as tossing a handful of various-sized rocks into the pond will create a complicated water wave pattern.

Frequency measures how many times something occurs per second, expressed in units called hertz (Hz). The metric prefixes can be used, so 1,000 repetitions per second is 1 kilohertz (kHz) and 1,000,000 repetitions per second is 1 megahertz (MHz). The range of frequencies that can be heard by the human ear is approximately 20 to 20,000 Hz and is referred to as the audio range.

Just as there are sound waves caused by mechanical vibrations, there are also electrical waves caused by electrical variations. Just as sound waves travel through air, electrical waves travel through wires. A microphone senses pressure variations from sound waves and creates electrical waves at the same frequencies. A speaker converts electricity into

sound, by using the energy in electrical waves to create mechanical vibrations (sound waves) at the same frequencies.

How does the speaker make sound? An electric current flowing through a wire has a very, very tiny magnetic field. Inside the speaker is a coil of wire and a magnet. The coil of wire concentrates the magnetic field from the flowing electric current, enough to make the magnet move slightly, like a vibration. The magnet’s vibration creates the air pressure variations that travel to your ears.

Your speaker can only create sound from a CHANGING electrical signal, for unchanging electrical signals it acts like a 32 ohm resistor. (An unchanging signal does not cause the magnet in the speaker to move, so no sound waves are created). Electrical variations at high frequencies (referred to as radio frequencies) cannot be heard by your ears, but can be used to create electromagnetic radio waves, which travel through air and are used for many forms of communication. In AM and FM radio, voice or music is superimposed on radio waves, allowing it to be transmitted over great distances, to later be decoded and listened to.

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Sound and water waves

Speaker sound waves

Sound in Our World

In stereo, sound is produced on several speakers (or earphones) with varying frequencies/loudness on each. This gives the impression that the sound is coming from different directions, and is more pleasing to listen to. Mono sound is the same on all speakers, and is easier to produce. Note that a “stereo speaker” can be several speakers (possibly of different sizes) in one package. Your Snap Circuits

speaker (SP2) is a mono

speaker. Surround sound is a technique for placing several speakers (with different sounds from each) around the listener, to create a more interesting listening experience.

The loudness of sound waves is a measure of the pressure level, and is expressed in decibels (dB, a logarithmic scale). Long-term exposure to loud sounds can lead to hearing loss. Here are some examples of sound levels:

Sound waves travel very fast, but sometimes you can perceive the effects of their speed. Ever notice how sometimes you see lightning before you hear the thunder? The reason is because light travels at about 186,000 miles per second, while sound travels at only about 1,100 feet per second in air. Sound can travel through liquids and solids, but with increased speed (the speed depends on the material’s compressibility and density). Sound travels 4.3 times faster in water than in air; this difference in speed confuses our ears, making it difficult to perceive the direction of sound while underwater.

A sonic boom is a shock wave that occurs when an object travels through air at supersonic speeds (faster than the speed of sound). These sonic shock waves are similar to how the bow of a boat produces waves in the water. Sonic shock waves can carry a lot of sound energy and can be very unpleasant to hear, like an explosion. Aircraft can fly at supersonic speeds, and the sonic boom produced is so unpleasant that aircraft are rarely permitted to fly at supersonic speeds over populated areas.

Sound waves can reflect off walls and go around corners, though their energy may be reduced depending on the angle and the roughness of the surface. Sometimes sound waves can be channeled to focus in a certain direction. As an example, get a long tube, like the ones for wrapping paper. Use one of the projects that make a continuous tone, such as projects 6 or 92. Hold one end of the tube next to the speaker (use the yellow side with the grating) and the other end near your ear, then remove the tube and compare the sound volume at the same distance from the speaker. The long tube should make the sound reaching your ear louder, because sound waves reflect off the tube walls and stay concentrated, instead of spreading out across the room.

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Sound Source Level

Threshold of pain 130dB Chain saw 110dB Normal conversation 50dB Calm breathing 10dB Hearing threshold 0dB

Surround sound

Sonic boom

It’s hard to perceive sound direction underwater.

Placing a long tube next to the speaker keeps its sound waves together longer.

Sound waves

Long tube

Speaker

Sound in Our World

Some of a sound wave’s energy can reflect off walls or objects and come back to you. Normally you don’t notice these reflections when you are speaking because not all of the energy is reflected, and the delay is so short that your ears can’t distinguish it from the original sound, but sometimes (such as in a very large open room) you can hear them these are echoes! You hear an echo when a lot of the energy of your voice is reflected back to you after a noticeable delay. The delay time is the distance (to the reflection point and back) divided by the speed of sound. Most people cannot distinguish reflected sound waves with delays of less than 1/15 of a second, and perceive them as being part of the original sound. Echoes can be simulated electronically by replaying a recorded sound with a small delay and at reduced volume. See project 10 and others for examples.

In project 10, if your speaker is too close to your microphone then the echo sound can be picked up by the microphone and echoed again and again until you can’t hear anything else. The same thing can occur in telephone systems, and these systems sometimes have echo-cancelling circuitry to prevent problems (especially in overseas calls, where the transmission delay times may be longer).

Engineers developing sensitive audio equipment need to make very accurate sound measurements. They need rooms that are sealed from outside sounds, and need to minimize the measured signal’s reflections off the walls/ceiling/floor. Specialized rooms have been designed for this, called anechoic chambers. These chambers are virtually soundproof and have specially shaped materials (usually made of foam) on the walls to absorb sound waves without producing any echoes. These chambers simulate a quiet, open space, allowing the engineers to accurately measure the equipment being tested.

Everything has a natural frequency, its resonance frequency, at which it will vibrate more easily. When sound waves strike an object at its natural frequency, the object can absorb and store significantly more energy from the sound waves, as vibration. To help understand this concept, think of a playground swing, which tends to always swing back and forth at the same rate. If you push the swing at the ideal moment, it will absorb energy from you and swing higher. You don’t need to push the swing very hard to make it go high, you just

need to keep adding energy at the right moment. In project 13 (Sound Energy Demonstration), the frequency is tuned to the speaker’s natural frequency, making it vibrate noticeably.

Resonance is an important consideration in the design of musical instruments, and also in construction. If high winds blow on a tall building or a bridge at the structure’s resonant frequency, vibrations can slowly increase until the structure is torn apart and collapses.

A cone can help you project your voice. A cone keeps the sound waves (air pressure variations) together longer, so they don’t spread out so quickly. Long ago, people who had trouble hearing used an ear trumpet, which helps collect sound waves. A person would speak into the wide end of the ear trumpet, and the trumpet makes the sound louder at the listening person’s ear. Electronic hearing aids have replaced ear trumpets. Doctors use a stethoscope to hear inside patient’s bodies. A stethoscope uses a conelike structure to collect sound waves; then passes them into the doctor’s ear.

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Sound waves reflecting off a wall

Anechoic chamber

Small pushes at the right moment will make the swing go higher.

Sound in Our World

Electronically we amplify sound by converting the sound waves into an electrical signal, amplify the electrical signal, and then convert that back to sound waves.

There are many other applications for sound waves. Here are some examples:

In SONAR (short for SOund Navigation And Ranging), sound waves are sent out underwater at various frequencies and the echoes are measured; the distance to any objects can be determined using the time for the echoes to arrive, and the speed of sound. SONAR is used for navigating around underwater obstacles and for detecting other ships, especially submarines. SONAR is also used by the fishing industry to help find and harvest fish. Sound waves can also be used to determine the depth of an oil well. RADAR (RAdio Detection And Ranging) is similar to SONAR but uses radio waves instead of sound waves.

Ultrasound waves are above 20 kHz, beyond the range of human hearing. Bats use ultrasound waves to effectively “see” in the dark. Ultrasound waves are also used in medical imaging, to create pictures of muscles and organs in the human body. Ultrasound waves are sometimes used in cleaning items like jewelry.

Ultrasonic welding is used in industry to bond materials (usually plastics) together using high frequency sound waves. The energy of the sound waves is concentrated at the points to be bonded, and basically melts the material at the contact points. This can create a strong bond, without using glue or nails. Ultrasonic welding has been used to bond the bottoms of Snap Circuits

parts in the past, and might still be used for the speaker (SP2) and microphone (X1).

Earthquakes are compression waves, similar to sound waves but with enormous power. Using triangulation from several measurement points, and knowing how fast these waves can travel across the earth’s surface, scientists can determine where the earthquake began (called the epicenter).

Music

The subject of music is one where the worlds of art and science come together. Unfortunately, the artistic/musician field works with qualities that depend on our feelings and so are difficult to express using numbers while science/engineering works with the opposite clearly defined, measurable qualities. As a result, some of the terms used may seem confusing at first, but you will get used to them.

Music is when vibrations (creating sound waves) occur in an orderly and controlled manner forming a pattern with their energy concentrated at specific frequencies, usually pleasant to listen to. Noise is when the vibrations occur in an irregular manner with their energy spread across a wide range of frequencies, usually annoying to hear (static on a radio is a good example). Notice how some people refer to music that they don’t like as noise. In electrical systems, noise is undesired interference that can obscure the signal of interest.

Another way to think of this is that the ear tries to estimate the next sounds it will hear. Music with a beat, a rhythm, and familiar instruments can be thought of as very predictable, so we find it pleasant to listen to. Notice also that we always prefer familiar songs to music that we are hearing for the first time. Sudden, loud, unpredictable sounds (such as gunfire, a glass breaking, or an alarm clock) are very

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Cone

Ear Trumpet Stethoscope

Horn

Anvil or jig

Plastic

parts

Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3

Pressure is applied by the horn.

The horn vibrates the plastic parts very quickly.

The plastic parts melt together from the friction created.

SONAR

Ultrasonic welding

Ultrasound photo of a heart (echocardiogram)

Sound in Our World

unnerving and unpleasant. Most electronic speech processing systems being developed use some form of speech prediction filters.

Take a piece of string or rope roughly 4 feet long and tie one end of it to a chair or other piece of furniture. Swing the other end up and down so that you have a cyclic pattern, as shown:

Now swing it three times as fast (three times the frequency), to produce this pattern:

Now try to swing it five times as fast (five times the frequency), to produce this pattern:

Since the later patterns are frequency multiples of the first, we refer to them as overtones (the music term) or harmonics (the electronics term) and the original pattern is called the fundamental. If you could combine all three of the above patterns onto the string then you would get a pattern, which looks like this:

This combined pattern (a single fundamental with overtones) is called a tone (and a pure tone is a single fundamental with no overtones). Notice that each pattern is more difficult to produce than the one before it, with the combined pattern being quite complicated. And also notice that the more complicated patterns are much more interesting and pleasing to look at than the simpler ones. Well the same thing applies to sound waves. Complex patterns that have many overtones for each fundamental are more pleasant to listen to than simple patterns. If many overtones were combined together, the results would approximate a square wave shape.

All traditional music instruments use this principle, with the instrument shapes and materials perfected through the years to produce many overtones for each fundamental chord or key that is played by the user. Grand pianos sound better than upright pianos since their larger shape enables them to produce more overtones, especially at lower frequencies. Concert halls sound better than small rooms because they are designed for best overtone performance and to take advantage of the fact that sound waves can reflect off walls to produce different overtone

relationships between both of your ears. The same thing applies to stereo sound. You may have heard the term acoustics; this is the science of designing rooms for best sound effects.

A commonly used musical scale (which measures pitch) will now be introduced. This scale is called the equal temperament scale, expressed in hertz. You might think of this as a conversion table between the artistic and scientific worlds since it expresses pitch in terms of frequency. Each overtone (overtone 0 being the fundamental) is divided into 12 semitones: C, C# (“C-flat”), D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, and B. The semitones increase by the ratio 12:2, or 1.05946. Musical notes (tones) are the measure of pitch and are expressed using both the semitone and the overtone, such as A3, G#4, D6, A#1, and E2.

(frequency in hertz and rounded off)

-13-

Overtone

C C# D D# E F

0 16.4 17.3 18.4 19.4 20.6 21.8 1 32.7 34.6 36.7 38.9 41.2 45.7 2 65.4 69.3 73.4 77.8 82.4 87.3 3 130 139 147 156 165 175 4 262 278 294 311 330 349 5 523 554 587 622 659 698 6 1047 1109 1174 1245 1319 1397 7 2093 2217 2344 2489 2637 2794 8 4186 4435 4698 4978 5274 5588 9 8372 8870 9397 9956 10548 11175

Overtone

F# G G# A A# B

0 23.1 24.5 26.0 27.5 29.1 30.9 1 46.2 49.0 51.9 55.0 58.3 61.7 2 92.5 98.0 104 110 11 7 123 3 185 196 208 220 233 247 4 370 392 415 440 466 494 5 740 784 831 880 932 988 6 1480 1568 1661 1760 1865 1976 7 2960 3136 3322 3520 3729 3951 8 5920 6271 6645 7040 7459 7902 9 11840 12542 13290 14080 14917 15804

Sound in Our World

On your U26 keyboard, the blue keys approximate the 5th overtone notes, and the green keys approximate the 6th overtone notes; actual frequency may vary from the musical scale. The tone of the green keys can be adjusted with the tune knob, allowing them to be in tune with the blue keys, or out of tune with them. The tone of the green keys may also be adjusted using external resistors and capacitors, which can change the frequency range dramatically (and even beyond the hearing range of your ears), and can create an optical theremin. Your keyboard can play one blue note and one green note at the same time; if you press two keys of the same color at the same time, only the higher note will be played. Projects 1-4 and 25-27 demonstrate the capabilities of the U26 keyboard.

On most instruments, when you play a note the sound produced is initially loud and then decreases with time. On your U26 keyboard, a note ends when you release the key, unless you connected external resistors to produce a continuous tone. More complex electronic instruments can simulate more notes at the same time, have more advanced techniques for producing overtones, and continue to play the note with decreasing loudness after the key has been released.

The musical world’s equivalent to frequency is pitch. The higher the frequency, the higher the pitch of the sound. Frequencies above 2,000 Hz can be considered to provide treble tone. Frequencies about 300 Hz and below provide bass tone.

Up to now, the musical measures of pitch and loudness have been discussed. But many musical sounds have the same pitch and loudness and yet sound very different. For

example, the sound of a guitar compared to that of a piano for the same musical note. The difference is a quality known as timbre. Timbre describes how a sound is perceived, its roughness. Scientifically it is due to differences in the levels of the various overtones, and so cannot be expressed using a single number.

Now consider the following two tones, which differ slightly in frequency:

If they are played at the same time then their sound waves would be added together to produce:

Notice that the combined wave has a regular pattern of where the two tones add together and where they cancel each other out. This is the effect that produces the beat you hear in music. Two tones (that are close in frequency and have similar amplitude for their fundamental and for each of their overtones) will beat at the rate of their frequency difference. Rhythm is the pattern of regular beat that a song has.

Now observe this tone:

The frequency is slowly increasing and decreasing in a regular pattern. This is an example of vibrato. If the frequency is changing slowly then it will sound like a varying pitch; a fast vibrato (several times a second) produces an interesting sound effect. The alarm IC (U2, included in Snap Circuits

models SC-100, 300, 500, or 750) produces sounds using the vibrato effect.

Tempo is a musical term, which simply describes how quickly a song is played.

-14-

DO’s and DON’Ts of Building Circuits

After building the circuits given in this booklet, you may wish to experiment on your own. Use the projects in this booklet as a guide, as many important design concepts are introduced throughout them. Every circuit will include a power source (the batteries), a resistance (which might be a resistor, capacitor, speaker, integrated circuit, etc.), and wiring paths between them and back.

You must be careful not to create “short circuits” (very lowresistance paths across the batteries, see examples at right) as this will damage components and/or quickly drain your batteries. Only connect the keyboard (U26), voice

changer (U27), and echo IC (U28) using configurations given in the projects, incorrectly doing so may damage them. ELENCO®is not responsible for parts damaged due to

incorrect wiring.

Here are some important guidelines:

ALWAYS USE EYE PROTECTION WHEN EXPERIMENTING ON YOUR OWN.

ALWAYS include at least one component that will limit the current through a circuit, such

as the speaker, capacitors, ICs (which must be connected properly), microphone, or resistors.

ALWAYS use LEDs, transistors, and switches in conjunction with other components that

will limit the current through them. Failure to do so will create a short circuit and/or damage those parts.

ALWAYS connect capacitors so that the “+” side gets the higher voltage.

ALWAYS disconnect your batteries immediately and check your wiring if something

appears to be getting hot.

ALWAYS check your wiring before turning on a circuit.

ALWAYS connect the keyboard (U26), voice changer (U27), and echo IC (U28) using

configurations given in the projects or as per the connection description on pages 6 and 7.

NEVER connect to an electrical outlet in your home in any way.

NEVER leave a circuit unattended when it is turned on.

NEVER use headphones at high sound levels.

For all of the projects given in this book, the parts may be arranged in different ways without changing the circuit. For example, the order of parts connected in series or in parallel does not matter — what matters is how combinations of these sub-circuits are arranged together.

Placing a 3-snap wire directly across the batteries is a SHORT CIRCUIT.

This is also a

SHORT CIRCUIT.

When the slide switch (S1) is turned on, this large circuit has a SHORT CIRCUIT path (as shown by the arrows). The short circuit prevents any other portions of the circuit from ever working.

NEVER

DO!

NEVER

DO!

NEVER

DO!

Examples of SHORT CIRCUITS - NEVER DO THESE!!!

Warning to Snap Circuits®owners: Do not connect

additional voltage sources from other sets, or you may damage your parts. Contact Elenco

if you have

questions or need guidance.

You are encouraged to tell us about new programs and circuits you create. If they are unique, we will post them with your name and state on our website at:

www.snapcircuits.net/learning_center/kids_creation

Send your suggestions to ELENCO

: elenco@elenco.com.

ELENCO®provides a circuit designer so that you can make your own Snap Circuits®drawings. This Microsoft®Word document can be downloaded from:

www.snapcircuits.net/learning_center/kids_creation

or through the www.snapcircuits.net website.

WARNING: SHOCK HAZARD - Never connect Snap Circuits

to the electrical outlets in your home in any way!

NEVER

DO!

-15-

Advanced Troubleshooting

(Adult supervision recommended)

ELENCO®is not responsible for parts damaged due to incorrect wiring.

If you suspect you have damaged parts, you can follow this procedure to systematically determine which ones need replacing:

(Note: Some of these tests connect an LED directly across the batteries without another component to limit the current. Normally this might damage the LED, however Snap Circuits

LEDs have internal resistors added to protect them from incorrect wiring, and will not be damaged.)

1. Color LED (D8), speaker (SP2), and

battery holder (B1): Place batteries in

holder. Place the color LED directly across the battery holder (LED + to battery +), it should light and be changing colors. “Tap” the speaker across the battery holder contacts; you should hear static as it touches. If neither works, then replace your batteries and repeat. If still bad, then the battery holder is damaged. Test both battery holders.

Red & black jumper wires: Use this

mini-circuit to test each jumper wire; the LED should light.

Snap wires: Use this mini-circuit to test

each of the snap wires, one at a time. The LED should light.

Slide switch (S1) and Press switch (S2):

Use this mini-circuit; if the LED doesn’t light then the slide switch is bad. Replace the slide switch with the press switch to test it.

100W (R1) and 5.1kW (R3) resistors, and microphone (X1):

Use this mini-circuit; the LED will be bright if the R1 resistor is good. Next use the 5.1kW resistor in place of the 100W resistor; the LED should be much dimmer but still light. Next, replace

5.1kW resistor with the microphone (“+” to right); the LED should flicker dimly but still light.

500kWadjustable resistor (RV3) and Photoresistor (RP):

Use the mini-circuit from test 5 but replace the 100W resistor with RV3. Turning RV3’s knob all the way to the left (counter-clockwise) should make the color LED bright and most other settings should make the LED dim or off; otherwise RV3 is bad. Next, replace RV3 with the photoresistor, and shine a bright light on it. Waving your hand over the phototransistor (changing the light that shines on it) should change the brightness of the color LED; otherwise the photoresistor is bad.

Adjustable resistor (RV): Build project

98. Move the resistor control lever to both sides. The color LED (D8) should be bright if the lever is to the far left or far right, and dim if the lever is in the middle.

NPN transistor (Q2): Build the mini-

circuit shown here. The color LED (D8) should only be on if the press switch (S2) is pressed. If otherwise, then Q2 is damaged.

-16-

Advanced Troubleshooting

(Adult supervision recommended)

9. Keyboard (U26): Build project 92, but

omit the 0.1mF capacitor (C2) and the

5.1kW resistor (R3). You should hear a tone when you press any key. Turning the TUNE knob while pressing any green key should change the tone slightly. Now add R3 to the circuit, and you should hear a continuous tone. If any of this does not work then the keyboard is damaged.

10.

0.1mF (C2), 1mF (C7), and 470mF (C5) capacitors:

Build project 92; removing C2 from it should change the tone, or C2 is damaged. Next, replace C2 with C7; the pitch of the tone should be lower now, or C7 is damaged. Next, replace C7 with C5; you should hear a click every few seconds, or C5 is damaged.

11.

Voice changer (U27): Build project 7.

Follow the project’s instructions to confirm that you can make a recording and play it back at different speeds.

12.

Echo IC (U28): Build the circuit shown at

right, turn it on, and set the knob on the 500kW adjustable resistor (RV3) to the right. Press any keys on the keyboard; you should hear tones with echo, and be able to adjust echo level using the lever on the adjustable resistor (RV). Removing the 1mF capacitor (C7) should reduce the volume a little. Sometimes an echo IC problem can be fixed by turning the circuit off and back on to reset it.

12.

Audio Jack (JA) and stereo cable: If

you have headphones, use them to test the audio jack using project 14. If you have a music device, use it to test the audio jack using project 66. Use project 66 to test your stereo cable.

13.

Sound energy demonstration container:

If the flexible sheet is damaged, disassemble the container and replace the flexible sheet; this set may have included a spare for it, or you can use household plastic wrap.

ELENCO

150 Carpenter Avenue

Wheeling, IL 60090 U.S.A.

Phone: (847) 541-3800

Fax: (847) 520-0085

e-mail: help@elenco.com

Website: www.elenco.com

You may order additional / replacement

parts at: www.snapcircuits.net

-17-

Project # Description Page #

1 Electronic Keyboard 20

2 Aligning the Keyboard 20

3 Be a Musician 21

4 Be a Musician (II) 21

5 Optical Theremin 22

6 Keyboard Slider 22

7 Voice Changer 23

8 Voice Changer & Light 23

9 Color Light 23

10 Echo 24

11 Echo with Headphones 24

12 Louder Echo with Headphones 24

Sound Energy Demonstration

25,26

14 Keyboard in Stereo 27

15 Optical Theremin in Stereo 27

16 Light & Sound 28

17 See Saw 28

18 Light, Sound, & Motion 29

19 Brighter Light, Sound, & Motion 29

20 Keyboard with Voice Changer 30

Optical Keyboard with Voice Changer

Keyboard Voice Changer & Light

23 Voice Changer with Echo 31

24 Sound Controlled Light 31

25 Low Pitch Keyboard 32

26 Lower Pitch Keyboard 32

27 Very Low Pitch Keyboard 32

28 Echo Speed Changer 32

29 Keyboard Echo 33

30 Lower Pitch Keyboard Echo 33

31 Optical Keyboard Echo 33

Project # Description Page #

Low Pitch Optical Keyboard Echo

Keyboard Echo with Stereo Effects

34 Optical Echo in Stereo 35

35 Color Short Light 35

36 Keyboard with Optical Theremin 36

Keyboard with Optical Theremin (II)

Adjustable Dual Range Keyboard

Adjustable Dual Range Keyboard (II)

Adjustable Dual Range Keyboard (III)

41 Your Music with Echo 37

42 Your Music with Echo and Light 37

43 Your Music Speed Changer 38

44 Your Music Speed Changer (II) 38

45 Your Music Speed Changer (III) 38

46 Sound On Light 38

47 Super Optical Keyboard Echo 39

48 Softer Optical Keyboard Echo 39

49 Reflection Detector 39

Super Optical Keyboard Echo for Headphones

51 Sound is Air Pressure 41

Sound is Air Pressure - Keyboard

53 Brightness Adjuster 42

54 Brightness Limiters 42

55 Big Brightness Adjuster 42

56 Photo Brightness Adjuster 43

Amplified Photo Brightness Adjuster

Amplified Big Brightness Adjuster

59 Cup & String Communication 44

60 Audio Amplifier 45

61 Low Power Audio Amplifier 45

62 Audio Amplifier with L/R Control 45

Project # Description Page #

63 Your Music without Echo 46

Low Power Your Music without Echo

65 Adjustable Music without Echo 46

66 L/R Music Amplifier 47

67 Another Transistor Amplifier 47

68 Microphone Resistance - LED 48

69 Microphone Resistance - Audio 48

70 Time Light 49

71 Time Light (II) 49

72 Easier Adjust Time Light 49

73 Small Adjust Time Light 49

74 Day Light 50

75 Lower Day Light 50

76 Dark Light 50

77 Blow Noise 50

78 Listen to the Light Change 51

Adjustable Listen to the Light Change

80 Bright or Loud? 51

81 LED Keyboard Control 52

82 LED Keyboard Control (II) 52

83 Photo LED Keyboard Control 52

Adjustable LED Keyboard Control

85 Capacitor Keyboard Control 53

86 Capacitor Keyboard Control (II) 53

87 Voice & Keyboard Echo 53

88 LED Voice & Keyboard Echo 54

89 Photo LED Keyboard Echo 54

90 Photo LED Keyboard 54

91 Audio Dark Light 54

92 Oscillator 55

93 Oscillator (II) 55

Project Listings

-18-

Project # Description Page #

94 Oscillator (III) 55

95 Oscillator (IV) 55

96 Oscillator (V) 55

97 Oscillator (VI) 55

98 Left Right Bright Light 55

99 Adjustable Oscillator 56

100 Adjustable Oscillator (II) 56

101 Adjustable Oscillator (III) 56

102 Adjustable Oscillator (IV) 56

103 Water Detector 56

104 Clicker 57

105 Clicker with Echo 57

106 3V Audio Amplifier 58

107 Mini Music Player 58

108 Voice Echo with Light 58

109 Color Sound 59

110 Color Sound (II) 59

111 Color Sound (III) 59

112 Backwards Color Sound 59

113 White Light 60

114 Red to White 60

115 Alarm 60

116 Super Voice Echo with Light 61

117 Press Echo 61

118 Photo Echo 61

119 Loud Press Photo Echo 61

120 Knob Echo 61

121 Echo Light Headphone 62

122

Echo Light Headphone Variants

123 Press Echo Light 62

124 Photo Echo Light 62

125 Another Voice Echo Light 63

Project # Description Page #

126 Daylight Voice Echo 63

127 Dark Voice Echo 64

128 Dark Echo Light 64

129 Dark Echo Variants 64

130 Day Echo Light 65

131 Day Echo Variants 65

132 Photo Light Timer 65

133 Adjustable Photo Light Timer 65

134 Tone Stoppers 66

135 Tone Stoppers (II) 66

136 Tone Stoppers (III) 66

137 Tone Stoppers (IV) 66

138 Tone Stoppers (V) 67

139 Alarm Light 67

140

Voice Changer with Headphones

141 Day Keyboard 68

142 Night Keyboard 68

143 Color Keyboard 69

144 Color Keyboard (II) 69

145 Color Keyboard (III) 69

146 Color Keyboard (IV) 69

147 Color Keyboard (V) 70

148 Color Keyboard (VI) 70

149

Adjustable Voice Changer & Light

150

Adjustable Voice Changer & Light (II) 70

151 Play Fast 71

152 Red First 71

153 Adjustable Timer Tone 72

154 Photo Timer Tone 72

155 Delay Lamp 72

156 Adjustable Delay Lamp 72

157 Water Alarm 73

Project # Description Page #

158 Continuity Tester 73

159 High Low Light 73

160 Flicker Clicker 74

161 Fast Flicker Clicker 74

162 Slow Flicker Clicker 74

163 Timer Tone 74

164 Little Battery 75

165 Tiny Battery 75

166 Little Battery Beep 75

167 Capacitors in Series 76

168 Capacitors in Series (II) 76

169 Capacitors in Series (III) 76

170 More Capacitors in Series 76

171 Capacitors in Parallel 77

172 Capacitors in Parallel (II) 77

173 Capacitors in Parallel (III) 77

174 More Capacitors in Parallel 77

175 Resistors in Series 78

176 Resistors in Parallel 78

177 Lots of Resistors in Series 79

178 Lots of Resistors in Parallel 79

179 Be a Loud Musician 80

180 Be a Loud Musician (II) 80

181 Morse Code 81

182 Transistor Audio Amplifier 82

183 Transistor Audio Amplifier (II) 82

184 Make Your Own Parts 83

185 Color Touch Light 83

186 Test Your Hearing 84

187 See the Sound 84

188 See the Spectrum 85

Project Listings

-19-

Project 1

Electronic Keyboard

Placement Level

Numbers

Snappy says the green keys have approximately double the pitch (frequency) of the blue keys. When the blue and green keys have been aligned using the TUNE knob, then they have (almost) exactly double the pitch, and sound good together because they are in harmony.

Placement Level

Numbers

(1-snap wire is placed

under the speaker)

Project 2 Aligning the Keyboard

Use the preceding circuit. Press one of the green keys and turn the TUNE knob on the keyboard to adjust the pitch of the tone. The TUNE knob will not affect the blue keys.

Now turn the TUNE knob while pressing the blue C key and the green C key at the same time. Slowly turn the knob across its entire range, and see how the sound varies. At most TUNE knob positions you will notice separate tones from the blue and green keys, but there will be a knob position where the blue and green tones blend together and seem like a single musical note - this is the best TUNE setting to play songs with. The blue and green keys are now aligned together.

Snap Circuits®uses electronic blocks that snap onto a clear plastic grid to build different circuits. These blocks have different colors and numbers on them so that you can easily identify them.

Build the circuit shown on the left by placing all the parts with a black 1 next to them on the board first. Then, assemble parts marked with a 2. Then, assemble the part marked with a 3. Note that the 1snap wire is placed beneath the speaker (SP). Install two (2) “AA” batteries (not included) into each of the battery holders (B1) if you have not done so already.

Turn on the slide switch (S1), and press any of the keys on the keyboard (U26) to hear tones. Two tones may be played at the same time, one tone from the blue keys and one tone from the green keys. If you press two keys of the same color then the higher pitch one will be played.

-20-

To play a song, just press the key corresponding with the letter shown. If there is a “

–” after a letter, press the key longer than usual.

Mary Had a Little Lamb

E D C D E E E– D D D– E G G–

Ma-ry had a lit-tle lamb, Lit-tle lamb, lit- tle lamb.

E D C D E E E E D D E D C–––

Ma-ry had a lit-tle lamb, Whose fleece was white as snow.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

C– C– C D E– E D E F G–––

Row, row, row your boat, Gen-tly down the stream.

C C C G G G E E E C C C G F E D C–––

Mer-ri-ly, mer-ri-ly, mer-ri-ly, mer-ri-ly, Life is but a dream.

The Farmer in the Dell

––G C C C C C–– D E E E E

The far-mer in the dell, The far-mer in the

E–– G– G A G E C D E E D D C––

dell, Heigh-ho the der-ry-oh, the far-mer in the dell.

Muffin Man

D G G A B C G F# E A A G F# D D

Do you know the muf-fin man, The muf-fin man, the muf- fin man?

D G G A B G G G A A D D G––

Do you know the muf-fin man Who lives on Dru-ry Lane?

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

C C G G A A G F F E E D D C–

Twin-kle, twin-kle, lit-tle star, How I won-der what you are.

G G F F E E D– G G F F E E D–

Up a-bove the world so high, Like a dia-mond in the sky.

C C G G A A G F F E E D D C––

Twin-kle, twin-kle, lit-tle star, How I won-der what you are.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

G E G G E G G E A G G E

Rain, rain, go a-way. Come a-gain some o-ther day.

F F D D D F F D G F E D E C C–

We want to go out- side and play. Rain, rain, go a-way.

For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow

––C E E E D E F E E D D D C D

For he’s a jol-ly good fel-low, For he’s a jol-ly good

E C D E E E D E F– A A G G G F D C– –

fel-low, For he’s a jol-ly good fel-low, Which no-bo-dy can de- ny.

Ring Around the Rosy

G G E A G E F G G E A G E

Ring a-round the ro-sy, A poc-ket full of pos-ies,

F D F D F G G C–

Ash-es, ash-es, We all fall down!

Mystery song (see if you recognize it)

C C D C F E– C C D C G F– C C C A F F E A# A# A F G F–

Project 3 Be a Musician

Project 4 Be a Musician (II)

Use the preceding circuit and songs, but press both the blue and green keys for each note, at the same time. Try this with the blue and green keys aligned (as per project 2), but also try them at different TUNE knob settings (so the keys are out

of alignment.

-21-

Some songs have been modified to make them easier to play on your keyboard.

Project 5

Optical Theremin

A theremin is an electronic musical instrument where you change the sound by moving your hands around near it (without touching it); using the tiny changes your hands have on the electromagnetic field of an antenna. This circuit is an optical theremin because instead you adjust the sound by changing the amount of light reaching a photosensor (the photoresistor).

Project 6

Keyboard Slider

Modify the preceding circuit to match this one. Turn on both slide switches (S1), and move the lever on the adjustable resistor (RV) around to change the sound. At some settings there may not be any sound.

You can play the keyboard (U26) keys while changing the sound with the adjustable resistor, to get a combination of sound effects. Turn off the left slide switch to disable the adjustable resistor sound effects.

Build the circuit as shown. Turn on both slide switches (S1), and move your hand over the photoresistor (RP). You can adjust the sound just by moving your hand around. See what range of sounds you can produce, then change the amount of light in the room, and see how sound the range of sounds has changed. There may not be any sound if there is too much or too little light on the photoresistor.

You can play the keyboard (U26) keys while adjusting the sound using the photoresistor, to get a combination of sound effects. Turn off the left slide switch to disable the photoresistor sound effects.

-22-

Project 7 Voice Changer

Placement Level

Numbers

Project 9

Color Light

LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) convert electrical energy into light; the color of the light emitted depends on the characteristics of the material used in them.

The color LED actually contains separate red, green, and blue lights, with a micro-circuit controlling them.

Project 8

Voice Changer & Light

Build the circuit as shown. Turn on the slide switch (S1), and enjoy the light show from the color LED (D8). For best effects, place the egg LED attachment on the color LED, and dim the room lights.

Use the preceding circuit, but replace the 3-snap wire that is next to the speaker (SP2) with the color LED (D8, “+” to the left). Now when you press S2 to play the recording, the sound will not be as sound, but the color LED will be flashing.

Build the circuit shown on the left by placing all the parts with a black 1 next to them on the board first. Then, assemble parts marked with a 2. Then, assemble the part marked with a 3. Install two (2) “AA” batteries (not included) into each of the battery holders (B1) if you have not done so already. Be sure to install the microphone (X1) with its “+” side positioned as shown.

Set the 500kW adjustable resistor (RV3) to mid-range, turn OFF the left slide switch (S1), and then turn on the right slide switch. Now turn on the left slide switch, you hear a beep signaling that you may begin recording. Talk into the microphone until you hear a beep (signaling that recording time is over), then turn off the left slide switch to exit recording mode. Push the press switch (S2) to play back the recording, and turn the knob on RV3 to change the playback speed. You can play your recording faster or slower by changing the setting on RV3.

Recording time is 6 seconds at normal speed, but this can be changed depending on the setting of RV3 when you are making the recording.

Egg LED

Attachment

-23-

Build the circuit as shown, and connect your own headphones (not included in this set) to the audio jack (JA). Turn on the bottom slide switch (S1).

Talk into the microphone, and listen the echo on your headphones. Set the 500kW adjustable resistor (RV3) for most comfortable sound level (turn to the left for higher volume, most of RV3’s range will be very low volume), then adjust the amount of echo using the lever on the adjustable resistor (RV); move the lever up for more echo or down for less echo. Try this at different RV settings, because the effects are very interesting with both high and low echo amounts. Also try it while saying different words/sounds.

Turn on the top slide switch to make the sound louder, or turn it off to make the sound softer.

Project 10

Echo

Project 11

Echo with Headphones

Project 12

Louder Echo

with

Headphones

(not included)

WARNING: Headphones performance

varies, so use caution. Start with low volume, and then carefully increase to a comfortable level. Permanent hearing loss may result from long-term exposure to sound at high volumes.

Turning on the top slide switch adds the 0.1mF capacitor (C2) to the circuit, which increases the amplification in the echo IC. With headphones, the sound can be made louder because the microhone does not pick it up easily.

Build the circuit as shown, and place it in a quiet room. Connect the speaker (SP2) using the red & black jumper wires, and then hold it away from the microphone (X1). Turn on the slide switch (S1). Talk into the microphone, and listen the echo on the speaker. Adjust the amount of echo using the lever on the adjustable resistor (RV); move the lever up for more echo or down for less echo. Try this at different RV settings, because the effects are very interesting with both high and low echo amounts. Also try it while saying different words/sounds.

Note: you must hold the speaker away from the microphone or the circuit may self-oscillate due to feedback. You also need a quiet room, with low background noise.

Use the preceding circuit, but replace the 0.1mF capacitor (C2) with the 1mF capacitor (C7). The sound is louder now when both slide switches (S1) are on.

If you hold your headphones next to the microphone (X1), you may hear a whining sound, because the headphones sound might be picked up by the microphone and be echoed again and again and again.

If the speaker is too close to the microphone, then the speaker’s sound will be picked up by the microphone and be echoed again and again and again, until you can’t hear anything else. The same thing can happen if the room is too noisy, or if you talk too loud.

-24-

Project 13 Sound Energy Demonstration

Pour salt, glitter, or small foam/candy balls (not included) into the container, but do not cover the bottom.

Assemble the Sound energy demonstration container (as per page 4, or shown on next page) if you have not done so already. Build the circuit as shown. Turn off the left slide switch (S1) and turn on the right slide switch. Lay the speaker (SP2) down on the unused 3-snap and 6-snap wires (to elevate it slightly off the table); be sure it is lying flat, and place the sound energy demonstration container over it. Pour some salt, glitter, small foam or candy balls of 0.1 inch diameter or less (not included) or similar into the container, but not enough to cover the bottom.

Press the keys on the keyboard to make sound. For some keys the salt/glitter/balls will vibrate and bounce or dance around in the container, find the key that gives the best effects. Most keys will create little or no vibration. For the best key, adjust the TUNE knob on the keyboard for best effects.

Now turn on the left slide switch and move the lever on the adjustable resistor (RV) around. At some positions the salt/glitter/balls will vibrate and bounce or dance around in the container; find the setting that gives the best effects. Press some keyboard keys to add more sound effects.

Experiment with different materials in the container and see which give the most impressive results. Our engineers found that nonpareils (round decorative candy sprinkles) of up to 0.1” work best.

Try lifting the container a little higher above the speaker with your hands, and see how much this affects the bounce height; see where you get the best effects. Try it at best key or RV setting, and at other keys/settings. Also, placing the speaker directly on the table (without the 3-snap and 6snap under it) should reduce the vibration a little, but you can try it to see the difference.

Try removing the 0.1mF capacitor (C2), and see how the sounds and bounce effects change. Next, remove the sound energy demonstration container from the speaker and instead lay your hand on it for the best setting, you can feel the speaker vibrate.

Don’t eat anything you placed into the sound energy demonstration container.

The bouncing salt/ glitter/balls show that sound has energy!

Typically the E keys and the keys near them give the best effects, but your results may vary.

Lay the speaker on the extra 3-snap and 6-snap wires, to elevate it. Be sure speaker lays flat.

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Tube

Flexible sheet

Container base

Speaker

Sound Energy Demonstration

Container Assembly

(Adult supervision recommended)

Pour salt, glitter, or small foam/candy balls into the container, but do not cover the bottom.

Lay the speaker on the extra 3-snap and 6-snap wires, to elevate it. Be sure speaker lays flat.

Part B: Optical Version

Modify the circuit to be this one, which has the

photoresistor (RP) instead of the adjustable

resistor (RV).

Turn on both slide switches and wave your hand

over the photoresistor (RP), to change how much

light shines into it. The sound changes as your

hand adjusts the light. At some hand positions the

salt/glitter/balls will vibrate and bounce or dance

around in the container; find the hand position that

gives the best effects. Press some keyboard keys

to combine their sounds with the photoresistor

sound. Try moving to an area with more or less

light, and wave your hand over the photoresistor

again.

Don’t eat anything you placed into the sound

energy demonstration container.

How does this work? There is a small range of frequency at which the sound waves resonate with the mechanical construction characteristics of the speaker, and cause the speaker to vibrate noticeably. The speaker’s vibration creates changes in air pressure. The sound energy demonstration container covers the speaker and traps the air pressure changes, which then push/pull the flexible sheet up/down quickly, making the salt/glitter/balls bounce. Raising the speaker and container by placing them on the snap wires (or holding them) makes the vibrations more noticeable, because otherwise the table can dampen the vibrations.

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+ 61 hidden pages

Elenco Snap Circuits SOUND reg User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual