In This Issue:

The Caliper V15 #1 Cover
CBL™ News
Water-Quality Studies
Science Humor
Innovative Uses
Bits and Bytes
Workshops & Contests
What's New

Go to past issues of
The Caliper

Return to
Vernier Home Page

Flash Technology from Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments recently announced a significant improvement in the design of calculators. Until now, TI Graphing Calculators only contained RAM, which is used to store programs, data collected with a CBL™ or CBR™, variables, and functions. The newest calculators now also contain Flash ROM. Flash ROM is additional memory that is used to store applications, data, and programs. The most important feature of Flash ROM is that it allows you to update the software on your calculator. This means you will be able to electronically upgrade your calculator as new software becomes available.

TI-73

If you teach middle grades, the new TI-73 could be your best choice in graphing calculators. This calculator combines the fraction capabilities of the Math Explorer, and the scientific and trig functions of the Explorer Plus, with the features of a graphing calculator. Since the calculator has a large screen, students can explore patterns, create a variety of charts (including bar charts, pie charts, and pictographs) and analyze CBL or CBR data. The TI-73 is CBL and CBR compatible, and it comes with a basic CBL/CBR program in Flash ROM. This summer we will convert our CHEMBIO and PHYSICS programs to the TI-73. We will also make our Physical Science with CBL compatible with the calculator. The TI-73 will be available in July and will sell for $90 (order code TI-73).

TI-92 Plus Module

The TI-92 Plus Module is a plug-in module that replaces the existing memory module in a TI-92. This module provides you with 500K more memory, including an additional 128K RAM and 384K Flash ROM. The module comes with Advanced Mathematics Software, which adds advanced analysis features for college-level math, science, and engineering. These features include numeric differential equation graphing, improvements in symbolic expression formatting, real-time rotation of 3-D surfaces, unit conversions, and support for units in equations. The TI-92 Plus Module will sell for $75 (order code TI-92MOD) and will be available in July.

College Physics with the CBL and TI-86

by John E. Gastineau

We now carry a new TI publication called College Physics with the CBL and TI-86 written by John Gastineau. This set of student laboratory activities uses the TI-86, CBL, Vernier sensors, and our PHYSICS program to collect and analyze data. The book contains 30 activities in mechanics, sound, light, electricity, and magnetism. Even though the book was written for introductory college and university courses, many high school teachers will find it a valuable resource. The book costs $20 (order code TI-CP). As some of you may know, John Gastineau has been working as a consultant for Vernier Software for the past year. He has helped us with our Logger Pro software and is a co-author of our new Physics with Computers lab manual. His next project for us will be Physics with CBL.

Holt Physics

by Dr. Raymond Serway and Dr. Jerry Faughn

This spring, Holt, Rinehart, and Winston announced their new high school physics program, Holt Physics, by Serway and Faughn. While developing the labs for the text, Holt decided to incorporate technology in a number of the experiments. In 12 of the 26 labs, teachers can choose between a traditional lab and a lab incorporating graphing calculator technology. The graphing calculator experiments use the CBL with the TI-82 or TI-83, along with Vernier sensors and our PHYSICS program. CBL labs appear in chapters on mechanics, gas laws, heat, sound, light, electric circuits, and magnetism. The book also uses the graphing calculator in a series of articles entitled "Technology and Learning." For more information, visit the Holt, Rinehart, and Winston web site at www.hrw.com or call 1-800-HRW-9799.

CBL Programs on the Web

Since our PHYSICS and CHEMBIO programs are being used more and more, we have made it easier to get them from our web site, www.vernier.com. Until now, you would download one file that contained all of our programs for all the calculators. Now you can also be selective and download programs for specific calculators. To check it out, visit our site and click the link to "Free Stuff."