Here are two common ways to collect data from a rocket launch:

1. For air rockets, the simplest setup to measure the launch velocity is to orient the photogate so that one of the fins on the rocket will pass through the photogate while it is still on the launch pad. The timing mode for this is called “One Gate Timing”. For this style of data collection, open Logger Pro, then open the file named “One Gate Timer.cmbl” in the folder:
Logger Pro/Experiments/Probes&Sensors/Photogates

You will need to set the length of the object (width of the fin), before starting the experiment.

2. For Estes rockets, a different method is more popular because it also gives you the acceleration of the rocket. Attach a piece of string to the rocket, and wind it around a pulley attachment for the photogate. Each time a spoke on the pulley passes through the gate, a new timing event is recorded. Logger Pro can then calculate the acceleration of the rocket.

To use this setup open the file named “Pulley.cmbl” located in:
Logger Pro/Experiments/Probes&Sensors/Photogates

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