Physics News
Physics with Video Analysis contains 32 new video analysis activities for introductory physics at either the high school or college level. Topics include kinematics, dynamics, circuits, sound, thermodynamics, electrostatics, and more. The activities are centered on a collection of ready-to-go videos created for this book. Collecting good videos for analysis can be challenging, and the provided videos are a delight to work with.
Measure real-time electricity usage with the Watts Up Pro with Logger Pro or LabQuest. Collect data such as real power, potential, current, and apparent power. The Watts Up Pro also calculates a wide variety of data, including maximum watts, frequency, and cumulative costs.
There are so many powerful features available in our Logger Pro software, it is easy to miss one. One such feature is the ability to display vectors using an Animated Display meter. Data from accelerometers, force sensors, and motion detectors are perfect for creating a 2-D animated vector display. You can even display an animated vector right on a video used in video analysis.
Continue reading Exploring Animated Vector Displays in Logger Pro…
The new Vernier Power Amplifier allows your students to drive a variety of devices, including speakers, lamps, small DC motors and RLC circuits. The Power Amplifier delivers ± 10 V and currents up to 1 A. It works with any waveform, including DC, sine, square, triangle and sawtooth.
Ron Bowerman knows how to motivate students—competition. In his physics class, students compete for a simulated high stakes contract with an airline. Physics and engineering skills are put to the test as students work in engineering teams that try to design the lightest and strongest wing spar for an airplane.
Richard DeLombard of NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland has come up with a unique way to get students to analyze acceleration graphs from amusement park rides.
Continue reading about Studying Acceleration at Amusement Parks…
Brian Lamore, physics teacher at the Chinquapin School, Highlands, Texas, has his students build a “Beakman’s” Motor to study electromagnetic induction. This simple motor can be built in a single class period and the activity is always a favorite of his students. But nothing makes an activity more interesting than a little competition, so Brian challenges his students to build the motor that will spin the fastest.
Clarence Bakken, a retired physics teacher from California, explored insulating capabilities of different wall materials. Clarence used an Infrared Thermometer to study the rate at which heat is transferred through the walls in a model house.
Have you ever seen an LED-based headlamp that has selectable brightness? Sometimes the brightness change is from turning on more or fewer LEDs, but sometimes the individual LEDs seem to change brightness. How does this work? Usually when you reduce the voltage across an LED, it just goes out. We looked into this question using a Vernier Light Sensor and a LabQuest.
The Vernier LabQuest just received a wonderful review in MultiMedia & Internet@Schools, an educational publication. The review gave the LabQuest a 5-Star rating (out of 5) with the following grades:
- Installation: A
- Content/Features: A
- East of Use: A
- Product Support: A+
“Students will enjoy using LabQuest…. I was impressed by the rugged construction. This is definitely a tool that will last, which makes it an excellent buy—especially with today’s tight funding…. I have no doubt that LabQuest is going to get plenty of use in my classroom. I would highly recommend it for every classroom that is serious about engaging students in meaningful scientific investigations.”
Multimedia & Internet @ Schools
Sally Finley
Country Hills Elementary School
Coral Springs, Florida
Read the full review »
Learn more about the Vernier LabQuest »
Our redesigned Rotary Motion Sensor lets you monitor angular motion to a quarter of a degree and linear position to a fraction of a millimeter.
The Digital Radiation Monitor can be used with or without a computer for measurement of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation.
Study friction or constant force on the Vernier Dynamics System with the new Cart Friction Pad and Cart Fan! Both work with Vernier carts using magnets, making it easy to attach and remove.
Vernier announces breakthrough data-collection technology for science education—the Vernier LabQuest.
LabQuest works as a stand-alone device or as a computer interface, providing the versatility to excel in the classroom or in the field.
The Vernier LabQuest includes built-in software for data collection, graphing, and analysis, and on-board applications such as a periodic table and stopwatch. Use the powerful and intuitive software from the vivid color touch-screen—all packed in a rugged and water-resistant exterior.
The freedom to inquire. The technology to excel. The Vernier LabQuest.
Fathom Dynamic Data Software—now compatible with Vernier sensors—gives students the tools to collect real-time data quickly and create mathematical models to explore physical phenomena in depth.
The Ocean Optics™ Red Tide Emissions Spectrometer is the perfect tool to conduct emissions analysis and much more. It connects directly to your computer with a standard USB cable and gives precise measurements instantly over a range of 380–950 nm. Use the Red Tide Emissions Spectrometer with a recommended Optical Fiber Assembly to add versatility and allow a greater range of analysis options.
Combine a 3-axis accelerometer, a force sensor, and an altimeter into one unit that communicates wirelessly with your computer and you’ve got a truly wireless system. The Wireless Dynamics Sensor System is a complete data-collection system completely free of friction due to cables.
Thomas Haff, physics teacher at Issaquah High School in Issaquah, Washington, often gives his students inquiry based problems to solve. This year, he asked his students to determine the amount of force a tennis racket will exert on a tennis ball.
Thermocouples are one of the most common temperature sensors. They can be used to measure temperatures between -200 and 1400 degrees Celsius. If you have never had the opportunity to do an experiment using a Vernier Thermocouple, here are three activities to try: Flame Mapping, Bending Glass, and Heating Curve for Ethanol. This might be just what you need to heat things up this fall.
Brian Czapor and some of his fellow students from the University of Akron participated in the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Aero Design® Competition. In order to improve their design, they used the Vernier LabPro and our 3-Axis Accelerometer to give them flight data.
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