Tech Rumination by Anirudh Vempati

Tech Rumination by Anirudh Bouncing into the Vibes of General Relativity Imagine you're at a park, and there's a big trampoline there. Now, think of this trampoline as the fabric of space-time, a concept from Einstein's theory of general relativity. Space-time is like a huge blanket that stretches across the universe. When something with mass, like a planet or a star, sits on this blanket, it creates a dip or a curve. This is similar to standing in the middle of a trampoline causing it to sag. So, when a smaller object, like a marble, is rolled across the trampoline, it will move towards the heavier ball at the center, not because there's a mysterious force pulling it, but because the shape of the trampoline is curved. So, in simple terms, according to Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, gravity is not a for...

Have you ever wondered why, even though our bodies can conduct electricity, we can't be part of a small LED circuit? Firstly, it's true that our bodies can conduct electricity because they contain lots of water and salts, which are good conductors. However, for an LED circuit to work properly, it needs a very specific amount of electricity. Our bodies cannot control how much electricity they conduct, so if we were part of an LED circuit, we might let through too much or too little electricity. This could either break the circuit or not let the LED light up. Our bodies have resistance, which means they resist the flow of electricity to some extent. This resistance is actually good for us because it protects us from getting hurt by small amounts of electricity. So, while we can conduct electricity, we're not suited to be part of an LED circuit like a copper wire would be. It's important to always be safe around electricity! So, while our bodies can conduct electricity, th...

 If you have ever wondered what is inside a non-rechargeable AA battery, this blog post will give you some answers. Non-rechargeable batteries cannot be recharged once they are depleted. They are commonly used in devices that require low to moderate current, such as remote controls, flashlights, toys, and clocks. There are different types of non-rechargeable AA batteries, depending on the chemistry of their electrodes and electrolyte. The most 2 common ones are: Alkaline batteries : These batteries have a zinc anode and a manganese dioxide cathode, with an alkaline electrolyte of potassium hydroxide. They have a nominal voltage of 1.5 V. They are widely available and relatively cheap.   Lithium iron disulfide batteries : These batteries have a lithium anode and an iron disulfide cathode. They have a nominal voltage of 1.5 V. They are more expensive than alkaline batteries, but they offer longer shelf life and better performance in low temperatures. They are often used in ...

If you are looking for a fun and easy way to introduce children to the world of robotics, electronics, and programming, consider checking out Witblox. Witblox is a gamified robotics learning platform for children aged 8 to 16, providing plug-and-play hardware like Legos and a mobile app to help them learn. What is Witblox? Witblox is an electronic building block for endless innovations, designed and developed by TechShiksha. Witblox consists of various modules which they call "blox", such as sensors, lights, sounds, motors, switches, etc., that can be connected like Legos to create any kind of electronic logic or circuit. Children can use Witblox to make different robots, electronic circuits, applications, projects, and innovations, without worrying about soldering or wiring. Witblox also has a mobile app that offers engaging comic stories for kids to learn faster, along with DIY videos for step-by-step tutorials. U...

 If you're looking for a low-cost and easy way to add Wi-Fi capabilities to your projects, you might want to consider the NodeMCU ESP8266 board. The NodeMCU ESP8266 is a development board that combines the ESP8266 chip, a powerful microcontroller with built-in Wi-Fi, and a CP2102 USB-to-serial converter, which allows you to program and communicate with the board using a USB cable. The NodeMCU ESP8266 board comes with the NodeMCU firmware, which is a Lua-based environment (Lua is a lightweight programming language) that allows you to write and run code on the board without any additional tools. You can also program the NodeMCU ESP8266 board using the Arduino IDE, which gives you access to a large library of functions and examples. Alternatively, you can use MicroPython, which is a version of Python 3 optimized for microcontrollers. You can also connect sensors and actuators to the board using its GPIO (General-Purpose Input/Output) pins, which sup...

Tech Rumination by Anirudh Effects of Electric Current  Did you know that electric current has different effects? In this Blog Post, we are going to explore the three effects of electric current: the heating effect , the magnetic effect , and the chemical effect . Heating effect of electric current : When electric current passes through a conductor, it produces heat, which is known as the heating effect of electric current. Electric bulbs produce light as the current flows through their filaments. Such bulbs are known as incandescent bulbs. Sandwich makers, geysers, and some electric kettles also use this phenomenon. In ancient engineering, a device called a fuse was used for safety, which worked with the heating effect of electric current. A fuse is a glass cylinder with metal edges, and a thin metal wire connects both the metal edges from inside. This wire melts when excess current flows through it due to the heating effect of electri...

Tech Rumination by Anirudh  A photoresistor is a type of resistor that reacts to light, also known as an LDR ( Light Dependent Resistor ). The resistance of a photoresistor decreases with an increase in light, which means it allows more current to flow. Let's make a circuit with a photoresistor. First, we need to create a simple circuit with an LED ( Light Emitting Diode ), a 1.5V battery , a few wires, and a switch. To do this, follow this sequence: connect the battery's positive terminal to a wire, then connect the wire to the switch, and another wire to the LED 's long pin. Next, connect the LED 's short pin to the battery's negative terminal . Now turn on the switch. Is the light glowing? If the LED glows, then the circuit is correct. Now, replace the switch with an LDR . Make sure the circuit is correct and that there are no polarities to an LDR . With everything in place, turn on the lights in your room. Is...

Tech Rumination by Anirudh A simple electroscope is a device that can detect the presence of an electric charge. It consists of a metal rod (typically made of copper) with a metal disc or antenna-like structure with copper wire at the top, and two thin metal leaves hanging from the bottom of the rod. The rod should have a hook-like structure at the bottom so that the aluminium leaves can hang without falling easily. The leaves are typically made of aluminium foil and are attached at the bottom of the rod inside a glass jar. When an object with an electric charge is brought close to the top part of the electroscope, the charge transfers to the metal rod and then to the leaves. If the charge is positive, electrons transfer from the leaves to the rod, leaving the leaves positively charged. If the charge is negative, electrons transfer from the rod to the leaves, leaving them negatively charged. Since like charges repel each other, the leave...

Tech Rumination by Anirudh White light is not just one colour but is made up of seven different colours: Red , Orange , Yellow , Green , Blue , Indigo , and Violet . We can remember this order using the acronym VIBGYOR . When white light passes through a prism , it splits into its seven component colours, and the range of colours obtained when dispersion takes place is called a spectrum . A real-life example of this phenomenon is the rainbow . After raining, there are water droplets in the sky which act as prisms . When sunlight passes through these droplets, the light disperses and forms a rainbow with the seven colours of the spectrum. Another example of dispersion can be seen on a Compact Disk (CD) . CDs are made up of a thin metal layer, usually made of aluminium, and a protective layer on top. When light hits the CD, it is reflected off the metal layer and scattered back to our eyes, creating a range of colours. Sir Isaac New...

 Ever wondered about the mystique behind crafting magnets or desired to forge your own magnetic wonders? Look no further than the fascinating realm of electromagnets. This revolutionary magnet is born when the dance of electrons along a conductor, like a wire, gives rise to a magnetic spectacle. The revelation of this phenomenon dates back to 1820, credited to the ingenious Danish physicist and chemist, Hans Christian Oersted.  A solenoid, a cylindrical coil that channels its inner magnetism when electrified, takes center stage in the enchanting act of creating an electromagnet. Infuse life into this coil by letting an electric current course through it, and behold, the electromagnet comes alive. However, bear in mind, this magnetism is transient, bidding adieu as soon as the current takes its final bow. Creating an electromagnet at home is a breeze, requiring only a handful of elements: an iron nail, insulated copper wire, a battery, and a touch of sandpaper magic. Coil...

Have you ever heard of robotics? It might sound like a complicated term, but it's actually really cool! Imagine being able to create your own robot that can sense and move on its own. With the help of Arduino, a microcontroller board, creating your own robot becomes easy and fun. Arduino is like the brain of your robot. It allows you to combine a bunch of different components, like sensors, lights, motors, and more. There are several versions of Arduino available, but they all work similarly. You can even program your Arduino using special software called the Arduino IDE. Don't worry if you don't know how to code - there are websites and apps that let you "block code" your Arduino, which means you can drag and drop code blocks to create your program. So, how do you create a robot with Arduino? It's as easy as 1-2-3! Or IMAGINE, ASSEMBLE, and CODE. First, you have to IMAGINE what you want your robot to do. Maybe you want it to sense light or move wh...