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Instructions
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  1. Insert the black wire into any GND pin on the Arduino board.

 

STEM Connections

Just like an LED needs to be connected from the positive terminal to the negative terminal (or ground) of a power source to light up, a Servo also needs a complete circuit to operate. Plugging the black wire into one of the GND pins on the Arduino board will complete the circuit and provide power to the Servo.

Even though the Servo has power it will not move, because the Servo is not yet receiving instructions from the Arduino board.

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Implementation
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At the Thinkabit Lab, we explain that the black wire goes into any GND. We also ask students to write down where the wires go, “Black –> GND”.  We remind them GND is negative power, so now the black wire also represents negative electricity.

 

If you are using the Thinkabit Lab Notebook:
 

Have students fill in the next blank at the bottom of page 15:
Black Wire:      GND (-)    

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Troubleshooting
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GND has a wire stuck in it

  1. Use another GND.

  2. Teacher uses a box cutter or pliers to get it out.

Instruction Category
Video