In this third chapter/lesson from Jeremy's book we are guided to understand how to use the Arduino to detect and report the value of a voltage on it's analog inputs. So far we have only worked with inputs and outputs that are either high (5V) or low (0V). In this section we will consider how to take advantage of the fact that many materials and devices change their behavior in response to some aspect of their environment. This could be temperature, radiation, light, water, or almost anything. The world of sensors that can be connected to the Arduino is truly remarkable.

Along with some new elements of the coding language for the sketches we will explore how the Arduino can communicate with us through it's serial port/monitor. This will allow us to 'see' what the Arduino thinks it is measuring. Depending on timing we will endeavor to introduce potentiometers, temperature sensors (TMP36) and photocells (CdS).

Learning to talk to the serial monitor will introduce some new coding tools this week so we can print to the serial monitor as well as a first discussion of different variable types so that we can display the temperature in tenth's of a degree Centigrade.

Here is a summary of the sorts of things you will be exploring between the third and fourth week in video form.