ScienceWorkshop is a user-friendly, fully integrated software package for the microcomputer that allows for data collection and interpretation. The ScienceWorkshop software, interface, and sensors allow students to make measurements that may not have been possible previously, to make measurements accurately and rapidly, and to display, analyze and manipulate data quickly and easily. The interface is both simple and logical, making it a pleasure to work with. The ScienceWorkshop program is very sophisticated, and it would hard to believe that any one high school physics teachers would make use of all of its capabilities. ScienceWorkshop comes with a large number of pre-configured laboratory activities.
In this activity you will learn more, much more, about PASCO Scientific's premiere Microcomputer-Based Laboratory (MBL) system. You will conduct two lab experiments using the ScienceWorkshop system (as opposed to the three that you did with the CBL system), but the lab reports that are required this time to be more sophisticated -- much more of what would be expected of a junior/senior in college. Details will be found below.
1. Complete the MBL orientation activities (Project F0) before attempting this project.
2. Select and conduct one experiment from either of the two volumes of "Physics Labs with Computers."
3. Find the corresponding section of the "Teacher's Guide" (included at the back of each volume of "Physics Labs with Computers) and read the section with instructions for making solutions (if any), technique hints, etc. Also look at sample data and the answers to questions from the student version of the experiment.
4. Set up each experiment using the guidelines provided in the student version of the experiment. Perform sensor calibration as needed, and assemble all equipment in advance of beginning data collection. Once you have recorded your data, analyze it appropriately. Confirm the answers to questions contained in the lab guidelines.
5. Prepare a lab report following the high school guidelines presented in the CBL project. However, this time you should include the following items:
The student's efforts will be assessed on the basis of the
written laboratory reports. Each lab report will be worth five
(5) points.