TinkerCAD & Arduino - Simple LED Blink Project

The Blink LED project is the essential starting point for anyone learning Arduino. It confirms that your hardware setup is correct and your code is successfully communicating with the micro-controller. You'll learn the core process of connecting a physical component, writing a simple program, and seeing an immediate, tangible result.

Why Tinkercad?

Tinkercad Circuits is a free, browser-based simulator that allows you to build and test your Arduino circuits without needing physical components. It’s perfect for beginners because it eliminates the risk of wiring errors and allows you to practice coding and circuit assembly in a safe, visual environment.

The Basic Circuit Components

You need just three components:

1. Arduino Board: The brain that executes your code.
2. LED (Light Emitting Diode): The output component you want to control.
3. Resistor: A small component essential for protecting the LED. Without a resistor, the Arduino’s pin will send too much current, burning out the LED almost instantly.

The Code: The Blink Sketch

The program, or "sketch," for blinking is incredibly simple. It operates on two fundamental commands:

1. pinMode(): This tells the Arduino whether a specific digital pin will be used as an INPUT (to read sensors) or an OUTPUT (to control components like an LED).
2. digitalWrite(): This sends a signal to an OUTPUT pin, setting its state to either HIGH (which means 5 volts, turning the LED ON) or LOW (which means 0 volts, turning the LED OFF).

By setting the LED pin HIGH, waiting for a delay (e.g., 1000 milliseconds), setting it LOW, and waiting again, you create the classic blinking effect in a continuous loop.