Polarimeter
| PS-3237
Quick Start Guide
012-16881A
Note:
Additional information on how to use the Polarimeter can
be found in the SPARKvue or PASCO Capstone Help.
What's Included
Polarimeter
Sample Cell
USB Cable
Required Items
• SPARKvue or PASCO Capstone Software
Features
2
3
4
1
6
5
7
Charge the Battery
The Polarimeter contains a rechargeable battery that lasts an entire
school day when fully charged. It is also possible to collect data while
the battery is charging. Charge the battery before using the Polarimeter
for the first time since it is not shipped with a full charge.
To charge the battery:
1. Connect the USB cable to the USB port on the Polarimeter.
2. Connect the other end of the USB cable to a USB charger or
powered USB port.
The battery status light will be solid yellow while the battery is charging
and will change to solid green when the battery is fully charged.
Install or Update Software
The latest update of PASCO Capstone or SPARKvue is required to use
the Polarimeter. Download the software at the locations provided below.
SPARKvue
Windows/macOS
Go to pasco.com/sparkvue then click Downloads.
iOS/Android/Chromebook
Search for SPARKvue in your device's app store.
PASCO Capstone
Windows/macOS
Go to pasco.com/capstone then click Downloads.
Connect to Software
The Polarimeter can be connected to PASCO Capstone or SPARKvue
with a USB or Bluetooth connection.
Note:
USB is not supported for iOS and some Android devices.
Important:
After connecting the Polarimeter, a notification may
appear asking to install a firmware update. Click
Yes
to update the
firmware if prompted.
SPARKvue
1. Turn on the Polarimeter.
2. Open SPARKvue then click
Sensor Data
.
3. Connect the Polarimeter to SPARKvue:
◦ USB: Connect the Polarimeter to your device using the USB
cable.
◦ Bluetooth: Select the Polarimeter that matches its device ID.
4. Select
the measurements you want to display.
5. Select
Intensity vs Angle
under Quick Start Experiments.
6. Click
Start
to begin data collection.
PASCO Capstone
1. Turn on the Polarimeter.
2. Open Capstone then click
Hardware Setup
.
3. Connect the Polarimeter:
◦ USB: Connect the Polarimeter to your computing device using
the USB cable.
◦ Bluetooth: Select the Polarimeter that matches its device ID.
4. Click
Data Summary
then click and drag a measurement to a
display, such as a Graph
.
5. Click
Record
to begin data collection.
Lid
Keep closed during data
collection to block out
ambient light.
1
Power Button
Press and hold for one second
to turn the Polarimeter on or
off.
2
Battery Status Light
Red (blink)
Low charge
Green (solid)
Full charge
Yellow (solid) Charging
3
Bluetooth Status Light
Red (blink)
Ready to pair
Green (blink)
Paired
4
USB Port
For connecting to a USB
charger or computer USB
port using the USB cable.
5
Analyzer Wheel
Turn to rotate the polarization
disk analyzer.
6
Chamber
For holding the sample cell
while collecting data.
7
