Logic Gates – Using Real Gates and Investigating Their Properties
Digital systems form the backbone of modern computing, and logic gates are the building blocks that make them work. By using real electronic gates rather than just truth tables on paper, students can see how logic becomes hardware.
The Experiment
Students connect AND, OR, and NOT gates using logic gate ICs or simulation boards. LEDs on the outputs show when a gate produces a “1” (true) or “0” (false).
Typical activities include:
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Testing each gate with all input combinations and recording the results.
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Constructing combinations of gates, such as NAND and NOR, to show universality.
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Comparing logic circuit behaviour with truth tables.
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Using PASCO voltage sensors or simple voltmeters to measure input and output levels quantitatively.
The Science
Each gate performs a basic logical operation:
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AND gate: Output is high only if both inputs are high.
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OR gate: Output is high if at least one input is high.
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NOT gate: Inverts the input signal.
By combining these, more complex functions like adders and flip-flops can be built. Logic circuits operate using voltage thresholds rather than symbolic logic, linking abstract reasoning to real electronics.
Skills Highlight
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Building and testing circuits with real logic components
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Recording truth tables and verifying logic behaviour
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Understanding how logic connects to binary decision-making in computing
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Seeing how simple circuits scale up to processors and memory units
Why It Works in Teaching
Logic gates bring computing to life. Students can see lights switch on and off in response to logical conditions, reinforcing their understanding of Boolean algebra and digital systems. It’s the perfect bridge between abstract logic and real-world technology.
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