LogIT Black Box, Quick Start Manual

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Page 3: ...nowledgements 2 Introduction 3 Black Box Basics Quick start guide 4 SmartEye sensor 6 HiTemp sensor 7 Troubleshooting 8 Introduction to Experiments 9 Black Box Experiments 10 39 Sensors and Cables for Black Box 40 ...

Page 4: ...s are copyright 2007 DCP Microdevelopments Limited The manual may be copied by the purchasing establishment for the educational support of LogIT Black Box provided that original copyright and product acknowledgement is retained Any other reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without prior written permission from the publishers LogIT LogIT Black Box and Microsense are trademarks of DCP Microd...

Page 5: ...ox sets include two versatile sensors for measuring temperature light level and timing plus there is a wide range of over 50 other Microsense sensors and adapters available which are all fully compatible just plug them in and your ready to go Although Black Box needs to be connected to a PC to record data computers are now so much more affordable and compact that a powerful and portable dataloggin...

Page 6: ...Black Box Basics USB socket for connecting to computer Three colour LED s Each channel has a different colour which match the graph plot colours on the computer screen Sockets for LogIT Microsense Sensors ...

Page 7: ...uter Plug Black Box into a free USB port The LED s should momentarily flash Run the datalogging software should automatically recognise Black Box Plug LogIT Microsense sensors into Black Box either directly or via an extension cable sensors are automatically recognised Start logging ...

Page 8: ...in Black Box it enables the sensor to be used for measuring Time Frequency Counts etc You do this by simply aiming a fairly bright light eg window or torch at SmartEye and passing the object you wish to time or count in between the sensor and the light source effectively breaking the beam this is further explained in experiments later in this book This extra digital functionality is selected by th...

Page 9: ...ould fracture wires inside we suggest it is treated with the same care as you would the flexible wires used for music player headphones Also take care not to force the sensor into things like hard soil and never expose it to strong acids or alkalis which could attack the plastic or stainless steel tip Do not expose the sensor to temperatures outside of its range for example take special care if mea...

Page 10: ... your datalogging software by checking www logitworld com or the datalogging software publishers website Install new software using the CD supplied with Black Box or check with your existing datalogging software publisher to see if there is an update available Check you do not have other software running at the same time which may conflict with its operation also check your computer has enough powe...

Page 11: ...atalogging tool The experiments have been written from the teachers perspective and can be adapted for the abilities of the students as well as providing a basis for the development of work sheets if required As secondary school teachers tend to be science specialists the experiments are left fairly open ended This was deliberate to allow teachers to refine the resource to their own teaching style ...

Page 12: ... any way Always check your local regulations or the school advisory service such as CLEAPSS or SSERC for guidance on the use of any hazardous material or source Setup 1 Connect Black Box to the computer using the USB cable 2 Plug the SmartEye sensor into any channel of Black Box 3 Start LogIT Lab software 4 Click Setup then select Fast with trigger one sensor only and click Next 5 Select 500 micro...

Page 13: ...calculated from the results What is surprising about this result What factors do you think may have contributed to any incorrect results What would you do to improve the accuracy of the experiment Going further A television infrared remote control can give interesting results Use the same method but instead of holding a finger or card over the sensor simply aim the remote directly at the end of the...

Page 14: ...s trolley toy car or similar 20cm matt black card Light source such as torch lamp or similar Test track which can be raised to form a ramp Different materials to be placed on the track Hazards Students should be supervised at all times Ensure the datalogger cannot come into contact with water or damp Always check your local regulations or the school advisory service such as CLEAPSS or SSERC for gu...

Page 15: ... usually be attributed to a false trigger of the light gate This can happen if a hand or other object inadvertently passes through the gate You can also get false triggers if the ambient light changes suddenly for example bright sunlight falling on the sensor part way through an experiment Results There are a number of factors which affect the outcome of this experiment and can be used to form the...

Page 16: ...in a box might be used to catch the magnet as it falls to prevent injury Always check your local regulations or the school advisory service such as CLEAPSS or SSERC for guidance on the use of any hazardous material or source Setup 1 Connect Black Box to the computer using the USB cable 2 Connect the signal adapter into Black Box and connect the coil to the adapter 3 Start LogIT Lab software 4 Clic...

Page 17: ...d is caught by a soft cloth as continual impacts will weaken the magnet or indeed break it completely Results Why does the voltage go first one way then the other Are the results what you expected What was done to ensure accuracy of readings How would you make the experiment a fair test Going further How might the graph change if more coils were added or a stronger magnet used What happens if the m...

Page 18: ...come into contact with water or damp Goggles should be worn and avoid skin contact with samples Always check your local regulations or a school advisory service such as CLEAPSS or SSERC for guidance on the use of any hazardous material or source Setup 1 Cut strips of a paper towel about 3 cm long and the width of the temperature sensors stainless tip About 7 mm 2 Mount the temperature sensor horiz...

Page 19: ...f the previous graph 8 Repeat step 1 above using the spirit in place of water Results What do the results show How do the two traces differ What can be concluded about the latent heat of the two samples Going further What other liquid could you try What would happen to the latent heat if a fan was used to blow air continuously over the sample This can also make an interesting demonstration On a su...

Page 20: ...small Tray and paper towels to catch spillage Note Make sure that the small container fits safely inside the larger one Hazards Students should be supervised at all times Ensure the datalogger cannot come into contact with water or damp Hot water above 55O C should be avoided as this can scold Always check your local regulations or the school advisory service such as CLEAPSS or SSERC for guidance o...

Page 21: ...l stop the datalogging software and save or print the results Results Looking at the two traces where did the heat energy appear to go What would happen to the two temperatures if the experiment was left for a few hours When did the cold water gain heat energy and then lose it What happens to the heat energy lost by the cold water in the outer container Why is it important not to let the temperatu...

Page 22: ...tions or the school advisory service such as CLEAPSS or SSERC for guidance on the use of any hazardous material or source Setup 1 Connect Black Box to the computer using the USB cable 2 Connect the Sound wave sensor into any channel of Black Box 3 Start LogIT Lab software 4 Click Setup then select Fast with trigger sensor 1 only and click Next 5 Select 100 microseconds for 20 milliseconds as the l...

Page 23: ...om the results students can see the difference in frequency as one is twice the other The amplitude can be investigated by using one tuning fork but striking it harder to increase the amplitude Results What do the results show How can you tell one tuning fork has a higher frequency than the other Are the readings accurate How can you check this from the graph Going further How might you investigat...

Page 24: ...sure the water is not too hot for the ability of the students Water temperature above 55o C will scold students Allow the temperature to cool before use Place the tubes over a tray to catch any spilt water Alka seltzer or similar can contain asprin Setup 1 Connect the Temperature sensor to Black Box and then connect Black Box to the computer 2 You can use a clamp stand to hold the sensor if requir...

Page 25: ...nels and record the temperature changes on the same graph This could also be achieved by using the Overlay feature found in datalogging software You may also need to use the zoom facility of the software to show the results more clearly You can also use the smoothing function to produce a cleaner curve from the gathered results Results How much of a temperature change was there How does this show ...

Page 26: ...ater temperature above 55 o C will scold Students It is sometimes useful to use hot water from the schools water supply Care must be taken if using kettles to heat the water Allow the temperature to cool before use To avoid cross contamination do not use a freezer which contains food for human consumption Do not put very hot water into a freezer as damage to the freezer may result Setup 1 Connect ...

Page 27: ...the expected result What factors might have affected the final curve What is significant about the shape of the cooling curve How do the distilled salty and tap waters compare Why is this so Why might the tap water not freeze at 00 C Going further Try different starting temperatures of water Try using more than one temperature sensor and have different concentrations of salt Calculate the rate of te...

Page 28: ... point light is no longer reduced Thus the time of the reaction can be more accurately observed The products of this reaction are Sodium Chloride Sulphur Water and Sulphur Dioxide Equipment required LogIT Black Box SmartEye sensor Small test tube and cotton wool used to seal the tube Pipette or small burette 0 15 Molar Sodium Thiosulphate 1 Molar Hydrochloric Acid Distilled water Paper towels or t...

Page 29: ... about 15 seconds add 1 ml of Hydrochloric Acid The dropping of the acid should be enough to mix the reactants 6 Keep collecting data until the light levels no longer drop ie the reaction has finished 7 Stop logging and then repeat for the different concentrations by adding distilled water shown in the above table Note It is important to clean the test tube thoroughly with distilled water between r...

Page 30: ...ure the datalogger cannot come into contact with water or damp Always check your local regulations or the school advisory service such as CLEAPSS or SSERC for guidance on the use of any hazardous material or source Setup 1 Clamp the conical flask into the clamp stand and insert the temperature probe 2 Plug the temperature probe into Black Box and connect Black Box to the computer 3 Put 100 ml of wa...

Page 31: ...mass of 100 grams Energy released kJ mass of water g x temperature rise O C x 4 2 1000 Energy released per gram Energy released kJ Amount of fuel burnt g How accurate do you think the results are Has all of the heat energy released by the fuel been used to heat the water What effect does heat loss have on the results How could you prevent this Going further What factor could you vary in this inves...

Page 32: ...be supervised at all times Goggles should be worn and heat proof mats also used Water over 55O C can scold so extra care must be taken if investigating the change of state at the boiling point Teachers may decide to perform this as a demonstration Ensure the datalogger cannot come into contact with water or damp Always check your local regulations or the school advisory service such as CLEAPSS or ...

Page 33: ...ults can occur due to convection effects in the tube Results Was there a flat area of the graph Was the water pure How might you tell from the graph Did the results match the students prediction Discuss the change of state from Solid to liquid and then liquid to gas or demonstrate the liquid to gas change of state if this was not performed by the students themselves Going further Look at how the st...

Page 34: ...not come into contact with water or damp Always check your local regulations or the school advisory service such as CLEAPSS or SSERC for guidance on the use of any hazardous material or source Setup 1 Find a secure place for Black Box and the sensors 2 Plug the sensors into two channels of Black Box 3 Connect the Black Box to the computer using the USB cable and start the datalogging software 4 De...

Page 35: ...e temperature change Did the light level change Did the changes take place at the same time When was it the coldest Did anything happen after you left school or before you arrived Was it always hot or cold at certain times Going further Try the experiment on different days in the week Try the experiment at different times of the year e g Autumn Spring Summer and Winter Move the Black Box somewhere...

Page 36: ...b to act as the sun Hazards Students should be supervised at all times Ensure the datalogger and lamp cannot come into contact with water or damp Always check your local regulations or the school advisory service such as CLEAPSS or SSERC for guidance on the use of any hazardous material or source Alka seltzer or similar can contain asprin Setup 1 Pour the same amount of water into each bottle We u...

Page 37: ... bottles Results Does the temperature in the bottle containing carbon dioxide rise more than the bottle containing air Are these results reliable How could you alter the investigation to ensure that the difference in temperature at the end was due to the two different gases and not that the bulb was closer to one of the bottles Going further What factor could you vary in this investigation in orde...

Page 38: ...t to be eaten Goggles should be worn and heat proof mats also used Ensure the datalogger cannot come into contact with water or damp Always check your local regulations or the school advisory service such as CLEAPSS or SSERC for guidance on the use of any hazardous material or source Setup 1 Clamp the boiling tube into the clamp stand and insert the temperature probe 2 Plug the temperature probe i...

Page 39: ... your values into the following Energy transferred J mass of water kg x specific heat capacity of water J kgO C x rise in temperature O C So Energy transferred J 0 025 x 4200 x rise in temperature O C Note 25 ml of water has a mass of 25 g 0 025kg Therefore the energy transferred by each gram of food burnt is given by Energy transferred by each gram J g 0 025 x 4200 x rise in temperature O C mass o...

Page 40: ...e soil temperature is an important factor in plant growth and water loss in the soil Equipment required LogIT Black Box Temperature sensor 2 were used for this example Plastic cups or beakers Soil samples such as sandy clay or peat Heat source 60 watt lamp was used for this example Hazards Ensure the datalogger cannot come into contact with water or damp Always check your local regulations or the ...

Page 41: ...amples Going further Why is soil temperature such an important issue in plant growth Try switching off the heat source and log how quickly the soil cools down What might this show How might you show heat flowing through the soil using three temperature sensors What does this show How is soil temperature used in heat pumps that heat houses What environmental impact does soil temperature have on the ...

Page 42: ...itters for rate display not LIVE compatible Pulse Monitor Intelligent pulse monitor for rate waveform clips on stationary ear or finger Sound Level sensor Measures sound level calibrated Range 50 100dBA Sound Wave Sensor Display records Sound Waveforms for new LogIT DataVision CX only pH amplifier Compact pH amplifier with BNC socket for standard pH electrodes pH electrode High Quality pH electrode w...

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Page 44: ...ts and SCC Research DCP Microdevelopments Limited Bryon Court Bow Street Great Ellingham Norfolk NR17 1JB Great Britain Telephone 44 01953 457800 FAX 44 01953 457888 eMail support dcpmicro com Web site www logitworld com DCP microdevelopments www dcpmicro com D771045 1 ...