Vernier DataMate Guidebook User Manual
Page 15
DataMate Guidebook
13
LABPRO TUTORIAL #4: COLLECT MOTION DATA
The Vernier Motion Detector measures the distance to an object using echoing ultrasonic sound
waves. LabPro then calculates the velocity and acceleration. This tutorial will show you how to
change the length of an experiment and make a graph of a person walking.
MATERIALS
TI graphing calculator
DataMate program
LabPro interface
Motion Detector
walk back and forth
in front of
Motion Detector
PROCEDURE
1.
Place the Motion Detector so that it points toward an open space at least 4 m long.
2.
Connect the Motion Detector to the
DIG/SONIC 1
port of the LabPro interface. Use the
black link cable to connect the interface to the calculator. Firmly press in the cable ends.
3.
Turn on the calculator and start the DataMate program. Press
CLEAR
to
reset the program.
4.
Slowly move your hand towards and away from the Motion Detector and
watch the right-hand corner of the screen as DataMate gives a live readout
of the distance (in meters). Keep your hand at least 0.4 m from the detector;
if you get closer than that the readings will be unreliable.
5.
The system is set to collect data for five seconds, but we want a different
experiment length.
a.
Select
SETUP
.
b.
Using the arrow keys, position the arrow next to
MODE
and press
ENTER
.
c.
Select
TIME GRAPH
.
d.
You will be presented with the current time settings. Select
CHANGE
TIME SETTINGS
.
e.
Type in .15 for the time interval and press
ENTER
.
f.
Type in 100 for number of samples and press
ENTER
.
g.
You will be presented with the new time parameters. The experiment
length is now 15 seconds. Select
OK
to return to the Main screen.