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Inside the Machine G3 to G5 / Week 05 / Tuesday
2/6
Week 05 · How the parts connect

Tuesday

Ports have shapes
// Boards, ports, cables and radio
⏱ about 15 min

Tuesday: Ports have shapes

A neighbor brings a laptop and a tangle of plugs. "I cannot tell which plug goes where," he says. Rocket lines up the plugs on the bench.

Raven looks at the side of the laptop. "What do you notice about the holes? Are they all the same shape?"

Nova shines a light on the edge. "Would you like a hint? Each port has a shape. The right plug fits without any pushing."

Openings on the outside

A port is an opening on the outside of a device. A plug goes into a port.

Each kind of port has its own shape. The shape stops the wrong plug from going in.

If a plug does not slide in easily, it is the wrong port. Or it is the wrong way up. Never push harder.

PortShapeWhat it is for
USBFlat rectangle, or a small rounded ovalMouse, keyboard, drive, charging
HeadphoneSmall round holeHeadphones or a speaker
VideoWide, with one long sideA monitor or a projector
PowerRound, or the small rounded ovalCharging
Memory cardThin slotA memory card from a camera
  • USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. Universal means it works with many devices.
  • The older USB plug is a flat rectangle. It only fits one way up.
  • The newer, smaller USB plug is a rounded oval. It fits either way up.
  • Many devices use the same small oval port for both power and information.
MATCH THE PLUG
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Which port is a small round hole?
A plug does not slide in. What should you do?
What does the U in USB stand for?

Finding the right port

Look at the plug first. Notice its shape and size.

Then look at the ports on the device. Find the one with the matching shape.

Line the plug up and slide it in gently. If it stops, turn it over and try once more.

A grown-up handles any plug that goes into a wall outlet.

Safety first
Wall plugs and chargers are for grown-ups only.
A kid may plug in a mouse, keyboard or headphones with a grown-up nearby.
Never push a plug that does not fit. Never put anything but a plug into a port.
StatementTrue or false?
Every port is the same shape.?
The small oval USB plug fits either way up.?
If a plug sticks, push harder.?
A kid may plug in a mouse with a grown-up nearby.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEShapes keep plugs in the right ports. Gentle hands keep ports working for years.
What do the letters USB stand for? Type the first word.
WHY THIS EXERCISEUniversal Serial Bus is a shared design. Many devices use it, so one cable fits many things.
PUT THE PLUG-IN STEPS IN ORDER
  • ?Find the port with the matching shape
  • ?Line the plug up
  • ?If it stops, turn it over and try once
  • ?Look at the shape of the plug
  • ?Slide it in gently
WHY THIS EXERCISEThis order protects the port and the plug. Forcing a plug is the fastest way to break one.
An opening on the outside where a plug goes is a
The shape of a port stops the wrong
If a plug will not go in, you should never
Try it
Cut three shapes from paper: a circle, a rectangle and a thin strip.
Trace each one onto a card to make matching holes.
Mix the shapes up. How fast can you match each shape to its hole?

Nice work! You can match a plug to its port and know when to stop. Tomorrow you will follow the cables themselves.

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