Microcomputer-based Laboratory (MBL) systems are possibly the easiest form of microelectronic hardware to integrate into the lab setting. There are a number of software and hardware manufacturers producing MBL systems. Among these are the PASCO and Vernier systems.
Please note that the PASCO system has two instruction manuals -- a "User's Guide" and a basic "Experiment Manual." In addition, there are two experiment manuals for more advanced experiments. There are entitled "Physics Labs with Computers: Volume 1," and "Physics Labs with Computers: Volume 2." You will want to familiarize yourself with their content before beginning work with the PASCO system, and as background for the PHY 302 Capstone Project.
When deciding upon which of the many laboratory exercises you should do, keep in mind the following list of available PASCO equipment (to the right of each is the corresponding product number). Additional sensors might be available. Feel free to ask.
| RLC Circuit | CI-6512 | AC/DC Electronics Lab | EM-8656 |
| Rotary Motion Sensor | CI-6538 | Current Sensor | CI-6556 |
| Power Amplifier II | CI-6552A | Charge Sensor | CI-6555 |
| Mechanical Vibrator | SF-9324 | Motor/Generator Apparatus | CI-6513 |
| Picket Fence (3) | ME-9377 | Smart Pulley | ME-9387 |
| Laser Switch | #9259 | Voltage Sensor | CI-6503 |
| Pressure Sensor | CI-6532 | Temperature Sensor | CI-6505A |
| Sound Sensor | CI-6506B | Photogate (2) | ME-9204A |
| Force Sensor | CI-6537 | Motion Sensor | CI-6529 |
| pH Sensor | CI-6507 | Heart Rate Sensor | CI-6543A |
| Colorimeter Sensor | CI-6509 | Plunger Cart with Mass | ME-9430 |
| Collision Cart | ME-9454 | Accessory Bracket with Bumper | CI-6545 |
| Intro. Dynamics System | ME-9435A | Signal Interface II | CI-6560 |
| Signal Interface 700 | CI-6560 | Geiger-Muhler Tube | SE-7981 |
PLEASE: Please do not save any of the changes you make in the following tutorials. If you do so, the next person to use the tutorials may end up very confused.
Access a Mac computer in Moulton 307-B. On the hard drive you will find a file entitled "Science Workshop Folder." Open this folder and therein you will find another folder entitled "Science Workshop Demo." Open this folder and double-click on the "Welcome!" file to begin your introduction to Science Workshop.
After you have completed the above introduction, work through several of the tutorials found in the "Tutorials Folder" found under the "Science Workshop" folder. I recommend "T1-Fruit Battery," "T2-Temperature vs. Time," and "T3-Distance vs. Time-Matched Data" as a bare minimum. You might want to bring in your own citrus fruit (orange, apple, grapefruit, etc.) for tutorial T1, though we do have a bottle of acid that you may use just the same. Tutorial T2 should be done after the temperature probe has been calibrated. See your instructor before beginning this tutorial so that he can show you how to calibrate the temperature probe. Tutorial T3 is best done when working in pairs and so you might want to arrange to work so.
As with the PASCO System, the course instructor will provide
you with a brief orientation about the use of Vernier's Logger
Pro. Keep in mind that Logger Pro can work both with computers
and calculators. It is in essence a hybrid CBL/MBL interface.