Rocket draws a giant map on the Fix-It Bay whiteboard. A finger, a key, a cable, a port, the board, the processor, the screen. "Every signal takes a trip!" he says.
Raven adds a wireless mouse with wavy lines. "What do you notice? Its trip has no cable, but it still ends at the board."
Nova hovers over the map. "Would you like a hint? Wires or waves, every road leads to the motherboard."
This week you followed how the parts connect.
Inside, the motherboard holds every part. Traces carry signals across it.
Outside, ports with special shapes take plugs. Cables carry power and information between devices.
Wireless connections use radio waves instead of wires. Walls and distance make them weaker.
Cables are steady. They do not get weaker across a room, and they can carry power too.
Wireless is free to move. You can carry a tablet from room to room and stay connected.
Good technicians pick the one that fits the job. A desk computer may use cables. A tablet uses waves.
| Statement | True or false? |
|---|---|
| Traces are tiny roads on the motherboard. | ? |
| A USB cable carries only power. | ? |
| Radio waves pass through thick walls without getting weaker. | ? |
| A kid may look at a motherboard picture but never open a case. | ? |
Week five is complete, Crew Technician! You can follow a signal from a finger to a screen. Next week you will find out where the power comes from. You will learn why devices get warm.