NS_ALookInside

=A Look Inside=

How many times have you wondered what is inside the case? It can be intimidating to peek at the complexity of a modern device. This activity will guide you through an investigation of two electronic devices worth studying!

SAFETY ALERT [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/ElectricDanger.png width="128" height="113" align="right"]]
The devices we study in class operate at low voltage. Anything you plug into a wall uses 120-volts, which can kill you.

**Never open a device if it is plugged in, and never open a device without qualified supervision.**


 * You will find two devices in your tray.
 * Please study one at a time. Please open them //non-destructively.//
 * Follow the instructions on your task cards, and record your results on the lined paper.

Task A: Structural Analysis
Find all of the objects in the shape of a circle, rectangle, or triangle. Draw each shape in your outline-map.

Task B: Material Analysis
Find all of the materials made of metal (M) and plastic (P), and label them on your outline map. If time allows, add the label F (for Flexible) or R (for Rigid).

Task C: Design Analysis
Find and label the switches and buttons used to operate the device.

Task D: Functional Analysis
Find and label the following parts:
 * the disk that spins;
 * the motor that spins the disk;
 * the wires that provide electricity to the motor that spins the disk;
 * the part that moves from the "inner track" of the disk to the "outer track";
 * The wires that carry information into/out of the disk.

Task E: Economic Analysis
Label the five objects that you think would be worth the most money to a recycler.

Task F: Troubleshooting Analysis
Identify the five-to-ten most likely ways this device could "break".

Related Resources

 * [|Wikipedia: Hard Disk Drive]
 * [|Form & Function Diagram]
 * [|Hard Drive Playing Music]
 * [|Floppy Drives Playing Music]