Cut out the tree and then use a hard object to score the fold lines. Fold the tree and tape it closed. Choose the LEDs to light up your tree and place them on your breadboard.

Happy Holidays from Sparkle Labs!

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The first day of Hanukkah is coming early this year, December 11th. Hanukkah represents the rededication of the Temple after the first revolt against the Hellenistic empire. They found only enough ritually pure olive oil to light the menorah for one day, but the supply miraculously lasted eight days. The eight candles of the menorah represent these eight days and the middle candle is used to light the other candles. One candle is lit everyday of Hanukkah alternating right and left, beginning on the right.

We made this Hanukkah project using 9 of the LEDs from your Discover Electronics kit. It makes for a really colorful project. Place 9 LEDs evenly spaced across one side of the breadboard (about 5 spaces apart) and bend them so they are directed outward. The resistor values can vary based on the color of the LED but around 220ohms should be fine.

Download the menorah pdf and print it on heavyweight paper or paste onto heavier paper. Cut it out and then cut holes for the candle flames. Paste a piece of thinner paper behind the front panel of the menorah to diffuse the LEDs. Fold it along the dotted lines and place it around the breadboard.

Happy Hanukkah and stay tuned for our Christmas tree project!

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Print the pictures and paste them onto a thin cardboard, from a shoebox for example. DO NOT cut the paper before pasting onto the cardboard, or it’ll be more difficult. Then cut each piece out, and fit them together with the stand. Once you’re done with that, the next step is the electronic circuit that will go in between the body and tail under the stand.

Create the LED circuit on your breadboard following the directions in the Discover Electronics manual. Place the breadboard between the body and the tail of the turkey. Angle the LEDs so that they shine off of the tail. Choose all different colors of LEDs to make the turkey more colorful.

Now you have a beautiful, light-up turkey display for your Thanksgiving.

Download the pdf

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However most electronics cannot produce true random numbers and instead rely on pseudorandom number generation. A pseudorandom number generator is simply a mathematical formula for producing a sequence of numbers based on a set of initial values. These values only appear random. To improve their randomness, many electrical systems incorporate readings from the physical world such as voltage measurements and keystrokes as there initial set of values. Indeed, the best random number generators take their input directly from the physical world such as this number generator that takes in readings from atmospheric noise.

What if we want to include randomness in the design of a circuit or digital musical composition? The design of a circuit that produces pseudo random numbers is difficult. The easiest way would be to measure some random physical phenomenon. Any kind of sensor that reads outside noise can be used for this purpose.

In fact the Sparkle Labs Discover Electronics Kit has everything you need.

(UPDATED SCHEMATIC)

In this case the sensor will be the simple switch. In this schematic, we have created a circuit that oscillates voltage between two LEDS. The “noise” we are using is the time between button pushes. The oscillation occurs so quickly that it is imperceivable to the human eye. The outcome of the button push is random since a human cannot time her/his button pushes. Thus when the switch is hit one of the LEDs will randomly light up. The use of high oscillation frequencies is often applied for randomness generation. This popular electionics magazine article even employs the method for use in an electronic six-sided die.

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