Building a traffic light working model using three different color LED lights, a 9V battery, and three switches is a great way to demonstrate the traffic light working principle.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to create this model:
Materials Needed:
- 1 Red LED
- 1 Yellow LED
- 1 Green LED
- 3 switches (for manual control)
- 9V battery
- Resistors (220Ω to 330Ω) to protect the LEDs
- Connecting wires
- Breadboard or soldering board (optional)
- Cardboard or base for mounting
Video Steps to Build the Model
1. Prepare the Base:
- Cut out a piece of cardboard or wood as a base for your traffic light model.
- Create a traffic light stand using a cardboard tube or other material to hold the LEDs in a vertical row, simulating a real traffic light.
2. Mount the LEDs:
- Place the Red, Yellow, and Green LEDs in a vertical order on the traffic light stand.
- The Red LED should be on top, the Yellow LED in the middle, and the Green LED at the bottom, just like a real traffic light.
3. Wiring the LEDs:
- Connect the positive leg (longer leg) of each LED to the positive terminal of the 9V battery through a switch and a resistor (to limit current and prevent damage to the LED).
- Red LED → Switch 1 → Resistor → Positive terminal of the 9V battery.
- Yellow LED → Switch 2 → Resistor → Positive terminal of the 9V battery.
- Green LED → Switch 3 → Resistor → Positive terminal of the 9V battery.
- Connect the negative leg (shorter leg) of each LED directly to the negative terminal of the 9V battery.
4. Adding the Switches:
- Connect the three switches, each one controlling one LED (Red, Yellow, Green).
- Each switch will act as a manual controller to turn the respective LED on and off, simulating the traffic light’s different phases.
5. Testing the Traffic Light:
- Switch ON the Red LED by pressing Switch 1, indicating the “Stop” signal.
- Switch ON the Yellow LED by pressing Switch 2, indicating the “Ready” or “Caution” signal.
- Switch ON the Green LED by pressing Switch 3, indicating the “Go” signal.
How It Works:
- The model uses 3 different color LEDs to represent the real-life traffic lights.
- Red LED: Stop
- Yellow LED: Caution or get ready to stop
- Green LED: Go
- Each LED is controlled by its respective switch, allowing you to demonstrate the function of each light manually.
- When the switch is pressed, the corresponding LED lights up, simulating a traffic signal turning on.
This model effectively demonstrates how traffic lights work by controlling the different LED lights manually through switches, giving a clear understanding of how each phase of a traffic light functions to regulate traffic flow.