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7. Hang a 1 kilogram mass on the calibration fixture.
8. The net force on the sensor is -9.8 N. Enter the
value in the Standard Value text box.
9. When the Current Value stabilizes, click Set Current
Value to Standard Value.
10. Click Next.
11. Remove the 1 kilogram mass. The second force
value is zero N.
12. Enter the second known force value (i.e., 0) in the
Standard Value text box.
13. When the Current Value stabilizes, click Set Current
Value to Standard Value.
14. Click Next.
15. Click Finish.
Theory of Calibration
One of the functions of the PASCO Data Collection
Software is to take the stream of raw data from a sensor
and transform it into the calibrated data that you see in
the Graph, Table, and other displays. If you do not
calibrate a sensor yourself, the software uses a default
calibration that is loaded when the sensor is connected.
You can think of the software as taking in raw data and
outputting calibrated data. When you perform a
calibration, the software redefines the linear equation
that transforms the raw input data into the calibrated
output data. The linear function is of the form:
Raw Input = Slope x Calibrated Offset
Or:
Calibrated Output = (Raw Input - Offset)/Slope
The function can be represented graphically as a line.
Two points, Pt 1 and Pt 2, define the line. In the
two-point calibration procedure, each point is reset by
associating a known standard value (for instance, the
temperature of ice water) with a raw input measurement
that the sensor sends out when it is in that standard. In a
one-point calibration, only one of the points is reset by
the user.
Types of Calibration
There are three types of calibration: two-point, one-point
slope, and one-point offset. Any of these calibrations can
be performed on a single sensor, or simultaneously on
multiple similar sensors; however, for any given sensor,
the software will automatically select the most typical
calibration type as the default setting.
Two-Point
In a two-point calibration, you reset two points to define
a new line. This type of calibration affects both the slope
and the offset.
One-Point Slope
In a one-point slope calibration, you reset only one point.
The slope of the line changes so that the line intersects
