Like most labs, circuits can be frustrating. The best part (that is sarcastic) is the fact that if you do something wrong you could start a fire or break equipment (also possibly with fire). Over the three hours my lab partner and I have to build circuits, we go through several stages of coping.
1. When you walk into lab
2. You go to look at the data sheets for the parts you are using
3. Trying to find what capacitor to use
4. While building the circuit
5. Checking with a more intelligent person that your circuit won't catch fire when turned on
6. When you finally turn on the outputs
7. When you smell smoke
8. When you realize a resistor is burning
9. When you realize how dumb you are because you tried to grab the burning resistor with your bare hands
10. When you rebuild the circuit with a new resistor
11. When your circuit works properly
12. When you realize you have to use a balloon
13. When you finish the lab
14. When you realize that means you have to write a lab report
15. How you and your lab partner cope
