Innovative Uses of Vernier Technology

In addition to our large variety of experiments offered in our curriculum, teachers use their creativity to bring excitement to the classroom. Find out how our sensors have made the ordinary into the extraordinary!

Doing something innovative in your classroom? Tell us about it by e-mail at innovativeuses@vernier.com

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Showing 25 results in Earth Science, most recent entries shown first.

Title	Excerpt	Products Used
Investigating Ireland's Greatest Scientists with Vernier	As part of the Irish Leaving Certificate Senior Physics syllabus, students from the Christian Brothers Boys' Secondary School, in Dungarvan, Ireland, study the contributions of Ireland's two greatest scientists: Robert Boyle and Ernest T. S. Walton. It just so happens that these two giants in science have a local connection � they were both born in the southeastern coastal county of Waterford, not too far from the school. Principal John Murphy with students Joseph Foley... [more] Science Subjects: Earth Science, Environmental	Vernier GPS Sensor Vernier LabQuest Logger Pro 3 Gas Pressure Sensor Radiation Monitor
Worm Bin Composting	Our newest environmental project at Vernier is composting with a worm bin. Our worm bin is a large, locally made, unfinished cedar chest with about 60 cubic feet of capacity. The bin is located in a shady spot on the side of our building, and contains a colony of red wiggler worms. We collect food scraps and coffee grounds, along with coffee filters, in a compost pail in our kitchen. Volunteers, called the "worm wranglers," empty the pail into the worm bin several times a day. We also add pape... [more] Science Subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Environmental	CO₂ Gas Sensor Stainless Steel Temperature Probe Vernier LabQuest Logger Pro 3
Forestry Survey using a Vernier GPS	In late October 2005, employees from Vernier participated in a tree planting event in conjunction with the organization Friends of Trees. We planted 200 trees in the wetlands area surrounding nearby Beaverton Creek. Below is a table that shows the quantities of each type of tree that was planted, along with some general notes and estimated survival rates. Qty Species Common Name Estimated Survival Rate Notes 40 Alnus rubra Red Alder 50% fast growin... [more] Science Subjects: Biology, Earth Science, Environmental, General Science, Life Science	Vernier GPS Sensor Vernier LabQuest Logger Pro 3
LabQuest in Antarctica	By Robyn Johnson, Vernier Software & Technology By its name alone, LabQuest seems destined for adventure. When I decided to go on a National Geographic Expedition to Antarctica in January, there was no doubt in my mind that I would be taking mine with me. Sailing from Ushuaia, Argentina, we spent almost two days crossing the infamous Drake Passage. For eight days, we sailed around the Antarctic Peninsula, seeing incredible scenery, many seals, whales, and literally hundreds of ... [more] Science Subjects: Earth Science, Environmental	Stainless Steel Temperature Probe UVA Sensor UVB Sensor Vernier GPS Sensor Vernier LabQuest Logger Pro 3
Vernier Used Around the GLOBE	Using the Infrared Thermometer to measure temperature Is the heat given off by 500 people enough to change the temperature inside a large auditorium? How does the temperature and salinity of a tide pool compare to that of the nearby ocean water? These were just two of the questions posed to about 250 students from 52 countries who gathered in Cape Town, South Africa, this summer for the GLOBE Learning Expedition (GLE). And of course, Vernier equipment was used to investigate the answers... [more] Science Subjects: Biology, Earth Science, Environmental, Water Quality	Dissolved Oxygen Sensor pH Sensor Salinity Sensor Stainless Steel Temperature Probe Vernier LabQuest Logger Pro 3
Spectral Analysis of Fireflies	10 year-old Ben Carter of Nashville, Tennessee, was curious about the light given off by a firefly. Ben has inherited his natural curiosity and love of science from his father, Vernier consultant David Carter. Ben borrowed his dad�s Vernier Spectrometer and used it to capture the emission spectra of the fireflies. It took a lot of patience and a bit of luck to capture the data. Ben wanted to be sure to note that no fireflies were harmed in doing this experiment. Download the Logger ... [more] Science Subjects: Biology, Earth Science, Life Science	Vernier Spectrometer Logger Pro 3
Creating a Topographic Map with Motion Detectors	Brillion Middle School teachers Ryan Peterson and Matt Van Thiel have their 8th grade Earth Science students do a fun and engaging activity on topographic mapping. The activity is based on the Earth Science with Vernier activity "Ocean Floor Mapping." Using plastic utility tarps, they create a simulated lake in their classroom. Fishing line is used to set up a 24 x 24 grid over the top of the "lake." Vernier Motion Detectors are taped to the end of long poles and are used as �boats� to go arou... [more] Science Subjects: Earth Science	Motion Detector LabPro Interface Logger Pro 3
Natural Bridge Caverns	Vernier recently attended the GLOBE annual conference in San Antonio, TX, where we sponsored a field trip to Natural Bridge Caverns, a limestone cave. Sixty teachers made their way through the wet, drippy tour of the caverns and collected relative humidity, temperature, and barometric pressure data along the way. Due to the recent, heavy rains in the region, the water in the cavern rose high enough to measure the pH of the water in the aquifer. Five Vernier sensors meet GLOBE Program sp... [more] Science Subjects: Earth Science, Environmental, Middle School Science	Conductivity Probe Dissolved Oxygen Sensor pH Sensor Relative Humidity Sensor Stainless Steel Temperature Probe LabPro Interface Logger Pro 3
Investigating Airport Sound Levels	Sound levels of airplanes at take off and landing Anyone who lives along the flight path of a major airport knows that sound pollution is an unpleasant fact of life. Riley Wilson, Tim Horton, and Mario Bautista, 8th grade students at Hughes Middle School in Long Beach, California, know this all too well, often having instruction interrupted as planes fly over their school. Airplane noise in the Long Beach area is a frequent topic ... [more] Science Subjects: Earth Science, Engineering, General Science, Middle School Science, Physics, Technology, Environmental, Life Science	Sound Level Meter LabPro Interface Logger Pro 3
Making the Invisible Visible	Reprinted with permission from the author Roger Delpech and the publication School Science Review. School Science Review (the ASE�s journal for science education 11 - 19), ASE, March 2006, 87 (320) Abstract This paper introduces the use of a gaseous CO2 sensor and data logging equipment, for a variety of purposes in the school laboratory, including measurements of respiratory and photosynthetic rates of animals, plants and microbes. Suggestions are made for taking... [more] Science Subjects: Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, Life Science	CO₂ Gas Sensor LabPro Interface Logger Pro 3
Skiing with LabPro	Jean-Jacques Rochat spent a few days skiing near his chalet in Ovronnaz, Switzerland. Even though he is no longer a science teacher (now a principal), he could not resist collecting data. Here is a photo and a day's data from a temperature probe and a barometer, used to calculate approximate altitude. Note that you can see each run, his (short) waits in lift lines, and his visit to the store. The altitude data nicely matches the labeled altitudes of the tops of the chair lifts. ... [more] Science Subjects: Earth Science, Environmental, Physical Science, Physics	Barometer Stainless Steel Temperature Probe LabPro Interface
Around the World with LabPro	Ute Kaden is the first teacher in Brownsville ISD, Texas, to teach AP Physics. To keep the interest of her students at Hanna High School, she literally spans the globe in search of new and exciting ways to bring real-world data into the classroom. Recently she took her Vernier LabPro and sensors to the North Pole! At a latitude of 89� 58.5' she measured salinity, temperature, barometric pressure, and acceleration due to gravity. Her results? g = 9.801 m/s2 ... [more] Science Subjects: Earth Science, Environmental, General Science	Barometer Salinity Sensor Stainless Steel Temperature Probe LabPro Interface
Hurricane Rita	While preparing to evacuate the Chinquapin School in Highlands, Texas (just east of Houston), physics teacher Brian Lamore had the presence of mind to recognize a unique data-collection opportunity. Brian set up a LabPro and Barometer in his apartment. He ran a length of rubber tubing from the Barometer through an open window. Even though the power went out sometime during the storm, the LabPro collected data throughout the storm using battery power. Brian made it through the storm safel... [more] Science Subjects: Earth Science, Environmental, General Science, Physics, Technology	Logger Pro 3 LabPro Interface Barometer
Feline Radiation	Half life graph from Kinsey'sradiation treatment Richard Taylor (The Hockaday School, Dallas, TX) has a cat (Kinsey) that needed radiation treatment for feline hyperthyroidism. Richard used our Student Radiation Monitor, LabPro, and a TI-84 to monitor the radiation from Kinsey over several days. Kinsey was injected with I-131, which has a half life of about five days. The count rated dropped off faster than the half life would imply, but Richard noted that the litter box was als... [more] Science Subjects: Earth Science, Physical Science, Physics, Biology	LabPro Interface Student Radiation Monitor
Stephen Edberg's Space Science Labs	Stephen J. Edberg (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA) has written two interesting labs using our sensors to study topics in space science. One lab is modeled after spacecraft that use magnetometers to explore the interiors of planets. Students use our Magnetic Field Sensor to investigate models of planets made of clay that have magnets imbedded inside. This lab can be seen at www.vernier.com/physics/vernier_planetmagfield.pdf. There is a lower tech version, with more detailed discussion... [more] Science Subjects: Physics, Earth Science	LabPro Interface Logger Pro 3 Force Plate
What Causes the Seasons?	Parker Moreland has been volunteering at an intermediate school in New Milford, CT, where he has come up with a clever modification of the "What Causes the Seasons" lab in our Earth Science with Computers book. First, instead of taping a temperature sensor to a globe, he opened a cardboard globe and mounted a Surface Temperature Sensor at the school's latitude from the inside of the globe, letting it protrude just a bit. He also mounted a light sensor (homemade, in his case) inside the... [more] Science Subjects: Earth Science, Middle School Science	Logger Pro 3 LabPro Interface Surface Temperature Sensor
Earth Day with Evergreen State College	Earth Science with Vernier Water Quality with Vernier If there�s one thing the state of Washington has plenty of, it�s water. Blessed by an abundance of rain, and laced with a network of lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds, the state is typically lush and green year-round. But a steadily shrinking ozone layer, acid rain, and other environmental calamities are as much of a threat to the verdant Pacific Northwest as they are to the country�s drier climes. That�s why Dr. Dharshi B... [more] Science Subjects: Earth Science, Water Quality	UVA Sensor pH Sensor UVB Sensor LabPro Interface Logger Pro 3
Vernier at Antarctica	Vernier sensors have been used for exciting data-collection activities in some interesting locations over the years. We can now count Antarctica among these. From January 5 to February 7, 2001, chemistry teacher Kevin LaVigne from Hanover HS, NH, participated in a program called �Teachers Experiencing Antarctica and the Arctic.� Kevin joined a research team under the direction of Drs. Ross Virginia (Dartmouth College) and Diana Wall (Colorado State University) that is studying life i... [more] Science Subjects: Chemistry, Earth Science, Environmental	pH Sensor LabPro Interface
TOTO II	Jake Niemand, a high school student from Montevideo, MN, has used LabPro and some of our sensors for some remarkable data collection. He constructed TOTO (TOtable Tornado Observatory) II. TOTO II is loaded into a pick-up truck and driven to a location where severe weather is approaching. It can be left at the location to record data and then picked up after the storm. Jake hopes the data collected will help engineers and architects design houses with a "tornado-proof" room for safety... [more] Science Subjects: Earth Science, Environmental, Physics	LabPro Interface
Insulative Quality of Tumblers	Parker Moreland, Danbury, CT, has come up with many clever uses of our products over the years. This time, he performed a simple experiment using Logger Pro, LabPro, and four temperature probes. It is a study of how well various insulated tumblers keep a liquid warm. The best was an expensive, vacuum tumbler, followed by an inexpensive, polystyrene double-walled tumbler, then a polypropylene double-walled mug, and finally a thin, glass tumbler. Eight ounces of hot water was poured into each t... [more] Science Subjects: Chemistry, Earth Science, Integrated, Middle School Science, Physics, Physical Science	Stainless Steel Temperature Probe LabPro Interface Logger Pro 3
High Flying Physics	Eric Muhs and his physics students (Roosevelt HS, Seattle WA) constructed a portable cosmic ray detector and sent it 35 kilometers into the atmosphere, recreating Victor Hess� Nobel Prize winning discovery of cosmic rays. The cosmic ray detector took two trips aboard a NASA high altitude balloon, along with a Temperature Probe, Magnetic Field Sensor, Barometer, and Relative Humidity Sensor. The data were recorded by a Vernier LabPro and transferred to a computer upon the balloon�s recovery... [more] Science Subjects: Earth Science, Integrated, Physics	Barometer Magnetic Field Sensor Relative Humidity Sensor Stainless Steel Temperature Probe LabPro Interface Logger Pro 3
Vernier LabPro Goes to Denali	Pete Monte of Forest Grove, Oregon, recently climbed the highest peak in North America, Denali (also known as Mt. McKinley). Pete carried a Vernier LabPro, temperature probe, and a Gas Pressure Sensor all the way to the (20,320 ft, 6,194 m). He recorded temperatures well below freezing (in June), and pressure down to 54 kPa - approximately half of standard atmospheric pressure. ... [more] Science Subjects: Earth Science, Environmental, Life Science	Gas Pressure Sensor Surface Temperature Sensor LabPro Interface
Temperature at Death Valley	Steve Abitz and John Sebranek (Southwest HS, Green Bay, WI) took our LabPro, a calculator, and a temperature probe to Death Valley, CA in July. The average temperature in the air was 118�F (47.8�C). The average temperature on the ground was 125�F (51.7�C). ... [more] Science Subjects: Earth Science, Environmental, Life Science, Middle School Science, Biology	Surface Temperature Sensor LabPro Interface
LabPro's Antarctic Adventure	Heike Robinson, physics teacher, and sea kayaker, measures the temperature of Antarctic waters with a LabPro, Palm, and Stainless Steel Temperature Probe. Four years ago, Heike Robinson started sea kayaking. The more she learned about paddling, the more she discovered about the physics behind it. She started using examples from boating to help her students visualize many concepts, such as force, resistance, heat-flow rate (hypothermia), vector addition, and moment of inertia. In... [more] Science Subjects: Earth Science, Environmental, General Science, Integrated, Life Science, Water Quality	Conductivity Probe Light Sensor Stainless Steel Temperature Probe UVA Sensor UVB Sensor LabPro Interface Logger Pro 3
Hurricane Charley	Curt Witthoff, Secondary Math/Science Specialist for Collier County Public Schools in Naples, FL, recorded this data as Hurricane Charley pounded the coastline near his house. He used Vernier sensors with a LabPro and TI graphing calculator. The equipment was placed in a box with the sensors exposed, and left on his patio. The times on the x-axis correspond to the 24-hour clock on August 13, 2004. The pressure data tells us that the eye of the hurricane passed clo... [more] Science Subjects: Earth Science, Environmental, General Science, Physics, Technology	Barometer Light Sensor Relative Humidity Sensor Stainless Steel Temperature Probe LabPro Interface Logger Pro 3