Innovative Uses of Vernier Technology

In the December 2001 issue of The Physics Teacher described a unique way to use motion detectors. In “Obtaining the Length and Width of a Rotating Box with a Motion Detector,” Tom Lough (Murray State University, Murray, KY) describes placing a cardboard box on a turntable and having it rotate. Aim a Motion Detector at [...]

Subjects: Physics

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) have become a popular choice among energy-conscious homeowners. CFLs consume as little as one-fifth the power and last up to 13 times longer than incandescent lamps. A single CFL can save enough electricity (coal-fired) to keep a ton of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere1. While CFLs may save a lot [...]

Subjects: Physics

Check out www.jug.net/wt/jgpl.htm for a remarkably complete collection of information about the science of juggling. William V. Thayer, (St. Louis CC at Meramec, Kirkwood, MO) even includes this sample graph made with Logger Pro showing the position of the balls during a juggling session. He made this graph using special gloves with aluminum-foil strips wired [...]

Subjects: Biology

Kyle Forinash and Raymond Wisman (Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, IN) describe their use of LabPro and other interfaces in the article “Simple Internet Data Collection for Physics Laboratories” in the April 2002 issue of The American Journal of Physics. The web site for their software is http://physics.ius.edu/~kyle/K/DataCollect/LabPro.html. LabVIEW programming software provides a feature to [...]

Subjects: Physics

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 [...]

Subjects: Physical Science

Judy Day (The Science House, Raleigh, NC) has students and workshop participants use our new Surface Temperature Sensor to examine the increase of muscle temperature as a team member lifts a 2-3 lb (1 kg) weight. The Surface Temperature Sensor is designed for use in situations in which low thermal mass and/or flexibility is required. [...]

Subjects: Human Physiology

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, [...]

Subjects: Physics

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 [...]

Subjects: Environmental Science

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).

Subjects: Biology

Bill Jameson (DeForest Area HS, DeForest, WI) sent us a clever, inexpensive lab idea for studying centripetal force. This is an improvement on an idea he had written for The Physics Teacher in December 1999. The photo shows the setup. A Dual-Range Force Sensor is mounted on the rotating board. A Light Sensor is fastened [...]

Subjects: Physics