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High School

PocketLab Voyager: A Flywheel Experiment

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Submitted by Rich on Thu, 10/26/2017 - 22:55

With the current growth in interest in flywheels, stemming from concern for the environmental impact of fossil fuel use, flywheels provide a convenient way for storing energy.  Because of this, the study of flywheels in the physics curriculum is well worth consideration by teachers.  Such a study allows for a careful examination of the principles of conservation of energy, as well as both linear and rotational kinematics.  PocketLab Voyager’s ability to collect angular velocity data makes data collection much easier than was required in similar past experiments wit

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VelocityLab/Voyager: Using VelocityLab with LEGO® Carts

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Submitted by Rich on Sat, 10/21/2017 - 02:43

Carts constructed with the LEGO® Simple & Powered Machines Set are great for studying motion kinematics, as the resultant motion is fairly smooth, resulting in less noisy data.  While you can use the range finder and PocketLab app, it has been found by the author that using Voyager and the VelocityLab app is less noisy as well.  The problem that one immediately confronts when considering this approach, however, is that both the small wheels and the large wheels in the LEGO® set are too small for attaching Voyager.

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VelocityLab/Voyager: An Experiment in Energy and Momentum Conservation

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Submitted by Rich on Thu, 10/19/2017 - 18:13

A pendulum is held vertically and is  then released, impacting a cart that is initially at rest.  This experiment provides students with a lesson for comparing theory with actual experimental results and explaining any differences.  A variety of physics principles, including conservation of energy, conservation of momentum, and impulse, are incorporated into the experiment.  VelocityLab is used to determine the actual speed of the cart after the impact, and the students compare this to speed predictions based upon theory.  In addition, students use impulse concepts to calc

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PocketLab Voyager/LEGO®: A Study of the Atwood Machine

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Submitted by Rich on Mon, 10/09/2017 - 17:57

Students study the Atwood machine to verify Newton’s Second Law of Motion.  In this machine, two hanging masses are tied to the end of a string that loops around a pulley.  The larger mass then moves downward with a constant acceleration, while the smaller mass accelerates upward.  The magnitude of this acceleration is a quantity of great interest as it relates to the values of the two masses.  In this lesson, an Atwood machine is constructed using parts from LEGO®’s Simple & Powered Machines Set<

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Flame in Freefall

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Submitted by SteveMaier_ on Fri, 10/06/2017 - 21:40

A novel activity that demonstrates one of the effects of a microgravity environment. In this exercise, the structure of a flame is filmed while simultaneously plotting the acceleration of the system as it is released and experiences freefall. The apparatus is low-cost, possibly using only scrap materials found in the classroom. A PocketLab One is paired with a smartphone and used to collect the data.  Conceptually, the exercise is straightforward, though considering noise in the data, limits of the system, and chemistry applications could easily enrich the content.

Grade Level

Fluid Energy (Bernoulli Principle) Lab

Submitted by kwarnke on Fri, 10/06/2017 - 19:47

PocketLab sensors can measure the pressure in a fluid line easily, by putting the PocketLab into a plastic wash bottle.  (For protection, put the sensor in a ziplock bag with a paper towel.)  The wash bottle nozzle inserts easily into 1/4" ID tubing, and can be used as a pressure tap to measure fluid pressure in two different T junctions.

Grade Level

Hydrostatic Pressure Lab

Submitted by kwarnke on Fri, 10/06/2017 - 19:24

PocketLab sensors work very well for measuring air and fluid pressure.  To protect them, I have students seal them in a ziplock bag along with a paper towel (which absorbs any water that leaks in, keeping the sensor innards dry).

The attached lab worked very well to demonstrate the relationship between fluid column height and hydrostatic pressure.  The hardest aspect is modifying the 5 gallon jug by mounting a nozzle connector to its side.  It took dexterity, patience, and lots of silicon caulk.  

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PocketLab Voyager/LEGO®: A Study of the Half Atwood Machine

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Submitted by Rich on Thu, 10/05/2017 - 20:05

A widely used experiment for studying Newton’s Second Law of Motion makes use of a Half-Atwood machine.  In this experiment a cart on a horizontal surface is tied to a mass hanging over a pulley.  Upon releasing the hanging mass, the cart begins to accelerate.  The magnitude of this acceleration is a quantity of great interest as it relates to the amount of the hanging mass.  In this lesson, a Half-Atwood machine is constructed using parts from LEGO®’s Simple & Powered Machines Set.  Voyager is moun

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PocketLab Voyager: Deceleration of an Air Disk

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Submitted by Rich on Wed, 09/27/2017 - 18:39

A very popular air disk is the Air Power Soccer Disk, available at a variety of locations including Amazon, Walmart, and Educational Innovations, Inc. at prices ranging from about $5 to $17.  Powered by four AA batteries, it rides on a cushion of air on any reasonably smooth surface.  While kids love to kick it around like a soccer ball, it is also a great companion for PocketLab Voyager when studying physics principles.  In this lesson, students quantitatively investigate the deceleration of an air disk as it

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