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THE CIRCUIT
The quantum theory detector works similarly to the Schrödinger’s cat analogy of how light can exist
as particles and as waves. The two alternating LEDs in the circuit are representative of Schrödinger’s
cat’s state - it can be dead, or alive, or dead and alive at the same time (according to quantum theory).
Because of the way the circuit is constructed, the two LEDs can never be switched on at the same
time, just like outside of the quantum realm, a cat cannot be dead and alive at the same time. However,
in the impossible instance that the two LEDs did become switched on at the same time, the buzzer
would sound. So the purpose of the circuit concept is that it can be placed inside a cardboard box (like
Schrödinger’s cat) so that nobody can see inside, while the two LEDs alternate being switched on and
off. It’s called a quantum theory detector because the buzzer would sound in the event that a quantum
instance occurred inside the cardboard box, in order to alert bystanders.
Circuit Diagram:
R1 R2 R3 R4
330Ω 10kΩ 10kΩ 330Ω
R5
S LED1 LED2
2kΩ
C1 C2
100µF 100µF
+9V
74LS00 IC
Bt T1 T2 Bz
R6 R7 IC
100Ω 100Ω
Bt 9V battery to supply the circuit with enough electricity to power all the
components.
R1 and R4 330Ω resistors that protect the LEDs from being destroyed by current overload.
R2 and R3 10kΩ protective resistors for the capacitors so they don’t charge too quickly.
They also protect the transistors from current overload through the base.
LED1 and LED2 Light emitting diodes that take turns to light up when their corresponding
transistors are switched on.
T1 and T2 Transistors that act as switches to allow the capacitors to take turns to charge and
discharge, allowing the LEDs to oscillate.
R6 and R7 100Ω resistors that provide a voltage rise between the transistor and 0V rail so
that the integrated circuit (IC) can pick up the high and low voltage signals.
R5 The battery provides the circuit with 9V but the IC can only handle 5V so R 5
drops the voltage and thus acts as a protective resistor for the IC.
IC Integrated circuit consisting of four NAND gates. In order to translate two high
signals into a high signal (if the two LEDs were ever switched on at the same
time, causing current to flow through both transistors), the IC has to behave as an
AND gate. An AND gate can be made by putting two NAND gates together as
shown in table 1 and figure 2.
Table 1 – Truth tables of AND and NAND gates Figure 2 – Signal translations
A B NAND AND 1 0
0 0 1 0 0 1
0 1 1 0
1 0
1 0 1 0
1 1 0 1
The integrated circuit requires ~5V to work and the logic gates require a voltage
rise of 2 volts in order to detect a signal above other interference.
Bz Buzzer that sounds when the IC outputs a high signal indicating that both LEDs
are switched on at the same time. So, in practise, the buzzer should never sound.
However, in order to make sure that the buzzer is actually working, a short circuit
test can be done. By connecting the two inputs into the first NAND gate together,
the NAND gate should produce a high signal, causing the buzzer to sound.
Each of the components in the circuit has its own important part to play in making the circuit
work as a whole. Certain components have voltage and current limits, which when reached, could
damage the component. If one of the components, for example a transistor, is damaged then the
current would not flow through the correct paths and the timing circuit would fail. The following
investigation is specific to the role of capacitors within the quantum theory detector.
Aim:
To investigate the relationship between the frequency at which the LEDs oscillate on and off
and the capacitance of the capacitors.
Hypothesis:
As the capacitance of the capacitors increases, the LEDs oscillate slower.
Safety:
An electric shock may be experienced if the 9V battery is short-circuited through the body.
Short-circuiting the capacitors or transistors may cause them to burn or explode.
Materials:
2kΩ
100µF 100µF
+9V
74LS00 IC
100Ω 100Ω
47µF
6. The capacitor was linked with the graphing function in Crocodile Physics to graph voltage
against time.
7. The circuit was switched on to charge the capacitor and then short-circuited to discharge the
capacitor while the graph recorded the change in voltage to obtain a graph as shown in
diagram 3.5.
8. Steps 4-7 were repeated with the pairs of 100µF, 220µF, 330µF and 470µF capacitors in the
Crocodile Physics program.
Results:
Table 4 – Capacitance’s affect on LED oscillation and the charge and discharge time of capacitors
Capacitance LED flashes per Time of LED Charge time Discharge time
(µF) minute oscillation (seconds) (seconds) (seconds)
47 140 0.43 2 0.4
100 66 0.91 4.1 0.5
220 30 2 10 0.9
330 21 2.86 14 1.1
470 16 3.75 24 2.2
16
14
12
10 Charge
8 Discharge
6
4
2
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
Capacitance
With each value of capacitance tested in the simple circuit on Crocodile Physics, the charge
and discharge time increased as capacitance increased, as shown in graph 5. Because of the different
values of resistance depending on whether the capacitor was charging or discharging, it took a much
shorter time for the capacitors to discharge than it did for them to charge. As shown in diagram 3,
while charging, there was 10kΩ
Graph 6 - Flashes per minute resistance in the circuit however while
150 discharging, the resistance was much
No. Flashes per Minute
16
14
Charge
12
Discharge
10
Time between flashes
8
6
4
2
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
Capacitance
The charge and discharge times of the capacitors affected the number of flashes per minute.
The capacitors did not have to fully charge before they were able to supply a sufficient voltage to the
base of their corresponding transistors. Also, the LEDs were not lit for the entire duration of their
oscillation period because their corresponding capacitor would have discharged before the other
capacitor had charged to the point where it could supply a potential difference (0.6V) to the base of
the other transistor large enough to switch it on.
Conclusion:
The hypothesis – that as the capacitance of the capacitors increases, the LEDs oscillate slower
– was accepted. A mathematical relationship between capacitance and the LED oscillation frequency
was conclusive from the results. LED oscillation frequency graphed against capacitance produced a
straight line graph when expressed as an inversely proportional relationship. The frequency of the
flashing LEDs does not affect the use of the circuit in a practical context. However in a theoretical
context, the faster the LEDs oscillate, the closer they represent the behaviour of light particles/waves
and the closer the circuit becomes to creating a quantum instance.
Bibliography:
Capgo (2007) Resistors,
http://www.capgo.com/Resources/Measurement/MeasHome/Resistors/Resistors.html (11/05/08)
Crocodile Clips (2006) Crocodile Physics, Computer Software, United States of America, Crocodile
Clips Ltd.
Dick Smith Electronics (1979) Funway vol.1, McPherson’s Printing Group, Australia.
Hewes, J. (2008) Circuit Symbols, http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/symbol.htm (10/05/08)