Yes. The Time of Flight Pad (TOF-VPL) acts similarly to a photogate. When an object strikes the pad it makes an electrical connection and closes the circuit. Logger Pro identifies the TOF-VPL as a photogate when it is connected directly to an interface.

One method of setting up this system in Logger Pro is as follows:

1. Determine the initial velocity of your projectile by setting up a photogate (connected to DIG1) at the point of release from your projectile launcher. You will need to set the mode of this photogate to gate mode, setting the width of the projectile as it blocks the sensor for the length.

2. Set up the TOF-VPL (DIG2) for Pulse Timing. Use the horizontal distance between the photogate and the TOF-VPL as the length.

3. Click the Data tab in Logger Pro and select Calculated Column Options. Select Pulse Time and in the expression box replace the first “GateState 2” with “GateState 1”.

In order to accomplish the same activity using the LabQuest App, set the Mode to Gate. The initial velocity will be calculated using the length of the object. The horizontal velocity will require a calculation using the horizontal distance and the time between the photogate being unblocked and the TOF-VPL being blocked.

The velocity calculated from the photogate will be the total initial velocity. The velocity calculated from the TOF-VPL will be the velocity in the horizontal (dx/dt).

The TOF-VPL is a great tool for verifying 2-dimensional kinematics. With this configuration you can verify 2-D projectile motion, set up challenges to change the launch angle and calculate the horizontal displacement, etc.

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