1. PH 105 Labs Hints
for New LA (1/2)
Presented by:
Prepared by: Di Fan

2. 01 02 03 INDEX Lab Hardware and Software Setup
Data studio
Brief introduction
Basic trouble shooting
Frequently made mistakes 02
Units and units consistency
Measurement error
Hints for using excel
Hints for Specific Experiments 03
More hints for each lab
P.S. I put this section to another ppt since it’s too long

3. Hardware
Software 01
&

4. Lab Hardware Computer Sensors PASCO Interface Other equipment
Collect data from sensors
Control other equipment such as wave generator
Other equipment

5. Lab Software: Data Studio
ICONS:
SUMMARY: opens and closes the summary area on left (i.e., frame with Data and Displays).
SETUP: open the ``Experiment Setup" window.
START: begins the data acquisition and the icons changes to ``STOP". CLICKing on the STOP ends the data acquisition.
CALCULATE: open a calculator window as shown.
THE GRAPH WINDOW:
EXIT: The window is removed permanently.
RESIZE: The size is changed from large to small, or vice-versa.
MINIMIZE: The window is shrunk and should appear as an icon in the Data Studio workspace.
SCALE TO FIT will rescale the x and y axes to fit the current data set.
ZOOM IN will enhance the size of the graph features.
ZOOM OUT will reduce the size of the graph features.
ZOOM SELECT: After CLICKing on this icon move the cursor into the plot and CLICK then DRAG to select a region of interest. All calculations will refer to this region of interest.
ALIGN X SCALE: If there are multiple graphs this will align all the X axes.
SMART TOOL turns on cross hairs so that graph x,y positions are read out directly.
SLOPE TOOL determines the slope at a point
CURVE FIT
CALCULATE launches the calculator applications
TEXT
DRAW PREDICTIONS
SHOW STATISTICS shows/hides statistics for a selected region of interest. You must first select the area of the graph you want to analyze by CLICKing on the ZOOM SELECT icon and the moving to the upper left corner of the ROI. The drag the cursor (CLICK and hold) diagonally across the graph to generate a rectangle that encloses the area chosen.
REMOVE DATA:
GRAPH SETTINGS: This icon allows for complete customization of the plot.

6. Basic Trouble Shooting
When the setup not work, we need do:
Make sure only one DataStudio window is active
Make sure the sensor is connected to the right channel
Restart the DataStudio
Restart the interface and computer
When the sensor is bad, we need do:
Give the group another sensor
Label the bad equipment as [might be bad] and leave it away from other equipment.

7. Frequently made mistakes02

8. Measurement Error Check equipment and connection
Things that easy to forget:
Tare the force sensor every time before use
The hanger itself has mass 0.050kg
The scales measure weight in [g] not [kg]
Rulers we use in lab measure length in [cm] or [inch] not [m]
Vernier scale usually measure diameter not radius
My suggestion is find a lab setup and do the measurement very quick, so you will know a approximate value they looking for. When students get a measurement result that way off, help them to find out problem early can save a lot of time.

9. Units and Units Consistency
SI Units in calculation:
When plug numbers to formula, use [kg] not [g], [m] not [cm].
Room temperature 25 [℃] = [K]
Base and derived units:
[N] = kg · m / s2
[J] = N m = kg · m2 / s2; [W] = J / s = kg · m2 / s3; etc.
Encourage students to check the units consistency in calculations
Encourage students to check the units consistency in calculations, especially when they try to solve a question in wrong way or “created” a wrong formula.
Understand units is really helpful, for example, a force of friction done certain work to the system if the system moved certain distance under friction---- the unit of work [J] = [N] · [m], this way the concept will make more sense for them.
These knowledge points usually seems very straight forward for us as physics majors, but not all students have same level of understanding of physics. I think this is important to keep in mind.

10. Hints for Using EXCEL Find slope or polynomial coefficient
Select the two columns of data you want plot, click “Insert” in the tool bar, then choose scatter, click the first option, graph will appear.
Single click the graph, a “+” bottom will appear on the top right, choose adding “Trendline”.
To edit the trending line, double click the trending line in the graph, a “Format Trendline” tool bar will pop out from the right side (see next slide).
P.S. if a professional graph with axis titles need, we can add them same way.

11. Hints for Using EXCEL Double click the trendline to access
“trendline options”
Choose the right fit, click “display equation” the slope/coefficient will be displayed in the equation
Except the common linear fit or power fit, some time we use polynomial fit, the concept is same.

12. Common Problems w/ EXCEL plot
Inverse x and y axis:
Putting data in wrong column when generate the plot.
Improper units
Improper function fit for Trendline
Linear, Polynomial or Power function

13. Dr. Murray D. Silverstone
Works Cited
Acknowledgements
105 Lab Instructions. (n.d.). Retrieved from pages.physics.ua.edu/lab10x/105pdf.html
Winokur, M. (n.d.). PASCO© Interface and Computer Primer. Retrieved from
PASCO. (n.d.). ScienceWorkshop® 750 Interface Instruction Manual. Retrieved from
UA Physics Department
Dr. Patrick R. LeClair
Dr. Murray D. Silverstone
Desmond Villalba
Lei Lu
Shuang Wu