Force Sensor
Model No. CI-6537
16
®
Appendix C: Calibration using
ScienceWorkshop
®
Software
You will need a known mass, such as 1 kilogram, and a support rod for
mounting the sensor.
a) Connect the Force Sensor to the
ScienceWorkshop
®
interface. When
the
Science Workshop
program begins, click-and-drag the analog
sensor plug icon to analog Channel A on the interface.
b) Select “Force Sensor” from the list of analog sensors. The Force
Sensor icon will appear below analog Channel A in the Experiment
Setup window.
c) Mount the Force Sensor vertically on a support rod so you can hang
a known mass from the hook. Don’t put any mass on the hook for
this step.
d) Double-click on the Force Sensor icon to open the Sensor Setup
dialog box. The dialog box shows the default settings for the
calibration (i.e., 50.000 newtons at 8.000 volts and -50.000 newtons
at -8.000 volts).
e) Press the
Tare
button to “zero” the sensor. When the reading in the
“Cur Value:” row under the “Volts” column settles down, click on
the “Read” button in the “Low Value:” row. Enter “0” in the left
hand “Low Value:” box.
f) Hang the known mass from the hook. After a few seconds when the
reading in the “Cur Value:” row under the “Volts” column settles
down, click on the “Read” button in the “High Value:” row. Enter
the weight of the mass (e.g.,-9.8 newtons if you used a 1 kilogram
mass). Click OK.
