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Vernier WDSS, Manual

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Vernier WDSS Manual Download Page 14

 

27

measure the speed of the cart before and after the collision. Place an index card 
or business card on the cart to act as a “flag” going through the photogate. 
Logger 

Pro

 can measure the time it takes the flag to go through the photogate 

before and after the collision. 

The sample graph below shows the results of colliding a dynamics cart with a WDSS 
mounted on it with fixed object using magnetic repulsion bumpers. The speeds 
before and after the collision were measured with a photogate. 

 

Impulse-momentum experiment done with the WDSS 

Studying Friction 

Use the force sensor of the WDSS as a replacement for a spring scale. Run a string 
from the hook on the WDSS force sensor to a block of wood. Measure the force as 
you pull the block along a horizontal surface. You can investigate how frictional 
force is affected by surface area and type of surface. You can also compare static and 
dynamic friction. 

 

Studying friction with the WDSS 

 

28

Experiments Using the Force Sensor and Accelerometers 

•

 

Newton’s Second Law:

 Mount the WDSS on a dynamics cart. Push and pull 

horizontally on the force sensor hook of the WDSS. Measure the acceleration of 
the system as the force is varied. This experimental procedure is in the Vernier 

Physics with Computers

 lab manual. The sample graphs below were made with a 

WDSS on a Vernier Dynamics cart. The top two graphs are of acceleration and 
force. The bottom graph is the same data with a graph of force 

vs.

 acceleration. 

Note that the data are nicely linear and has a slope of the 0.605 newtons/m/s

2

 or 

0.605 kg. This agrees nicely with the measured mass of the cart and WDSS, in 
this case, 0.614 kg. 

 

Force and acceleration graphs 

 

Force vs. acceleration with linear fit 

Summary of Contents for WDSS

Page 1: ...hem while data are recorded on a nearby computer Studying forces and accelerations during circular motion by mounting the WDSS on a turntable or bicycle wheel In addition you can use the WDSS to do other traditional experiments that you do with conventional accelerometers and force sensors You will find more information on experiments you can do with the WDSS later in this manual 2 The WDSS hardwa...

Page 2: ...proximate position of the antenna used for Bluetooth communication Since radio waves do not pass through metal avoid putting metal objects over the antenna 4 WDSS Power The WDSS is normally powered by its internal high capacity Lithium Ion battery pack The battery pack is designed to provide power for 20 hours of use The battery pack should be ready for an hour of use after only about 10 to 15 min...

Page 3: ...e in your computer We will use the following terminology to describe how Bluetooth is used when connecting to the WDSS Connected means that a particular computer running Logger Pro and the WDSS have established Bluetooth communication Available means the WDSS is present but not connected to any nearby computer 6 Not Available means a WDSS is present but it is connected to another nearby computer A...

Page 4: ...or example you can change from metric to English The Sensor Info choice provides information on the sensor and how it is calibrated The WDSS Setup dialog box also reports other information about the WDSS The WDSS operating system version is displayed and the battery status is listed below that The battery status is listed as good low or very low Manage Memory Button This button lets you see what r...

Page 5: ...with the WDSS is done with these steps 10 1 With the WDSS communicating with the computer live readouts displaying on the toolbar set up the data collection Activate the sensors you want to use Use the Data Collection dialog to adjust the length of the experiment the data collection rate and triggering condition to match what you want to be done remotely 2 Choose Remote Setup from the Experiment m...

Page 6: ... collection will begin when specified trigger conditions are met Triggered data collection with the WDSS is handled the same as it with the Vernier LabPro or other interfaces The most common example is in studying collisions Typically the experimenter wants to take data quickly but only for the interesting part of the experiment the time near the collision You can do this by setting up 12 triggere...

Page 7: ...ibility of damage from excessive force being applied Do not apply more than 75 newtons 17 pounds of push or pull to the force sensor If you do you may permanently damage the sensor You may need to re zero the force sensor if a force greater than 50 newtons is applied to it Using the Force Sensor Start Logger Pro software and make sure the WDSS is connected Normally the force sensor of the WDSS wil...

Page 8: ... the 50 N range The 1 kg 9 8 newton mass is a good compromise for calibrating both of these force sensors together Note that since the calibration process happens in the vertical orientation if you are going to then take force readings in a horizontal or other non vertical orientation you should zero the force sensor after calibration with it held in the proper orientation 16 Mounting on a Dynamic...

Page 9: ...ws and on rotating objects to study centripetal acceleration Outside the lab there are lots of possibilities from automobiles to playground equipment to amusement parks Many examples of acceleration experiments are included in the Experiments section of this manual below How the Accelerometers Work The Wireless Dynamics System contains a three axis linear accelerometer with an electronic interface...

Page 10: ... an equation like this click on the Functions and Columns buttons rather than typing in the names and functions This scalar acceleration or magnitude of the vector acceleration is often very useful to monitor and graph It will be equal to 9 8 m s2 when the WDSS has no acceleration and zero when it is in free fall The orientation of the WDSS does not matter To understand how this works try holding ...

Page 11: ...the Experiment menu and then select the sensors you want to zero You can also just click on the Zero icon on the toolbar If you find that zeroing the accelerometer does not adjust the calibration properly the accelerometer can be calibrated As mentioned above accelerometers sense gravity as well as acceleration This can make interpreting acceleration results more difficult but it provides an easy ...

Page 12: ...y sea level and take it into the mountains for data collection cycle the power off and on before collecting data Any remote data collection setup will be maintained during this process In most situations the altimeter is used along with other WDSS sensors A typical use of the altimeter of the WDSS is an amusement park ride The graphs below show the idea Notice that the two graphs have identical ti...

Page 13: ...ents Using the Wireless Dynamics Sensor System Experiments Using Just the Force Sensor Collision Experiments Studying forces during collisions of a dynamics cart with a rigid object yields information about how forces vary during collisions You can vary the bumper or the material between the rigid object and the force sensor bumper It is a great way to show students that making the collision take ...

Page 14: ...orizontal surface You can investigate how frictional force is affected by surface area and type of surface You can also compare static and dynamic friction Studying friction with the WDSS 28 Experiments Using the Force Sensor and Accelerometers Newton s Second Law Mount the WDSS on a dynamics cart Push and pull horizontally on the force sensor hook of the WDSS Measure the acceleration of the syste...

Page 15: ... the WDSS to an elastic cord and drop it so that it moves as a bungee jumper would Model bungee jumper data Experiments Using Just the Accelerometers Some of the best and simplest experiments involve using just one accelerometer at a time Examples include Measure the acceleration of dynamics carts as they roll down an incline Measure acceleration vs time on elevators remote controlled cars bicycle...

Page 16: ...ro for the integral of the x axis acceleration This column is labeled Velocity and plotted on the bottom graph below By noting the car s speedometer reading at particular times you can compare with velocities calculated from the acceleration Acceleration of an automatic transmission car 32 A single WDSS accelerometer can also be used to study circular motion and centripetal acceleration Note that ...

Page 17: ... square root of the sum of the squares of the accelerometer readings Free fall experiments Place some packing material packing peanut foam etc in a large box Simply start data collection and drop the WDSS into the box All three accelerometer readings and the net acceleration drop to near zero during the fall 34 WDSS freefall experiment Pendulum experiments Below is a sample graph made using the WD...

Page 18: ...imeter is also used 36 The following data were collected using a WDSS at Paramount s Great America CA ride Psycho Mouse by Clarence Bakken Remote data collection was used Data collected on the Psycho Mouse Sometimes amusement park data can be collected live that is with the WDSS communicating with the computer during the data collection Here is an example The ride Celebration Swings at the Paramou...

Page 19: ...ion Data collection rate is set for 25 points per second for 120 seconds 2 To prepare the WDSS for remote data collection choose Setup Remote Data Collection from the Experiment menu 3 Select the WDSS This gives you a dialog box that displays the data collection parameters so you can confirm that they are set properly 4 Click OK to set up the WDSS for remote data collection Note that the Bluetooth...

Page 20: ...of WDSS devices that can be connected to one computer 7 Force Sensor Range 50 N Frequency Response 0 100 Hz Resolution 0 006 N 10 N 0 03 N 10 N Accelerometers for each of the three accelerometers Range 50 to 50 m s2 Resolution 0 04 m s2 Frequency Response maximum 100 Hz Temperature Range 40 to 85ºC Altimeter Altitude change range 200 m 1000 ft Sensitivity 1 meter Combined linearity and hysteresis ...

Page 21: ...l not work with the WDSS You can check the version by choosing About Logger Pro from the Help menu Make sure are using Windows XP Service Pack 2 or a newer operating system If you have an older version of Windows XP you must upgrade to SP2 If your computer has built in Bluetooth make sure Bluetooth is turned on by using the Bluetooth section of the Control Panels Use the Control Panels to try to l...

Page 22: ...ompress and you get a non zero reading If you were to turn the scale upside down the spring will be extended instead of compressed and we you would get a reading of the opposite sign If you turn the scale so it points sideways and keep it motionless then the spring will just be at its relaxed length and the reading will be zero If you accelerated the scale toward the mass then the spring would com...

Page 23: ...rsonal e g hobbyist purposes only It is not appropriate for industrial medical research or commercial applications FCC Statement This device is tested to comply with part 15 of the FCC rules Operation is subject to the following two conditions 1 this device may not cause interference and 2 this device must accept any interference including interference that may cause undesired operation of the dev...

Page 24: ... 48 Vernier Software Technology 13979 S W Millikan Way Beaverton OR 97005 2886 Toll Free 888 837 6437 503 277 2299 FAX 503 277 2440 info vernier com www vernier com Rev 3 30 2011 Printed on recycled paper ...

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