Electronics · lesson 23 of 30 · free

Blink programs and delays — Electronics for kids

The first program on any microcontroller board blinks an LED: turn it ON, wait, turn it OFF, wait, and repeat. Waits are in milliseconds (1 s = 1000 ms). One blink takes the ON time plus the OFF time, so 500 ms ON and 500 ms OFF is 1000 ms per blink — 10 blinks in 10 seconds. A “repeat 5 times” block runs only 5 times, so its total time is 5 × one round.

▶ Watch how it works

Got it? Practise ↓

Remember

ON + OFF = one blink — “one blink takes the ON wait plus the OFF wait”

  1. 1 second = 1000 ms.
  2. One blink = ON wait + OFF wait.
  3. Blinks = total time in ms ÷ one blink; repeat n times takes n × one round.

Use it for: The first microcontroller program, making a warning light flash, and timing in coding lessons.

Worked example: ⏱️ loop forever { LED ON; wait 500 ms; LED OFF; wait 500 ms } How many times does the LED blink in 10 seconds? → 10

  1. One blink = 500 + 500 = 1000 ms; 10 seconds = 10000 ms.
  2. 10000 ÷ 1000 = 10 blinks.

Check: 10 blinks × 1 s = 10 s ✓

▶ Watch it animated

✏️ Practice

Work it out in your head or on paper, type the answer and press Check. Stuck? Press “Show me how”.

Right: 0 · Tried: 0

🏁 Lesson 23 test

20 questions. Check each answer, then go to the next one. Get 16 or more right to pass.

🏅 Sign in with Google to earn the ⏱️ Blink Master badge when you pass — and a certificate when you finish all 10 lessons of Part 3 · Microcontrollers and IoT. You can still take the test without signing in.

🖨️ Electronics Worksheet: Blink Programs and Delays

✨ Free AI tutor

Ask the AI tutor about this lesson

Why does it work? When should you use it? Ask in English, मराठी or हिंदी.

Sign in with Google to ask Free — 20 questions a day.

👩‍🏫 Electronics classes near you — online or at home

Prefer a real teacher? TalentJR teachers take live online classes anywhere in India and visit homes in selected cities. Tell us what you need and our team will call you with timings and fees.

Live online classesSmall groups or 1:1 with a teacher, from home, any city.
Teacher at homeA TalentJR teacher visits your home (selected cities).
At a centreClasses at a TalentJR partner centre near you, where available.
Badges, certificates & gifts A badge for every lesson you pass, a certificate for every part you finish, plus TalentJR Points for daily practice. Computer worksheets Flowcharts, block coding and spreadsheets.