PASCO ME-6988A User Manual

®

Instruction Sheet

Attachment

positions

Thumbscrews

Brackets

Storage hole

Storage hole

012-12312A

*012-12312*

Force Platform Structures Bracket

ME-6988A

Introduction

The PASCO model ME-6988A Force Platform Structures
Bracket includes two brackets and four thumbscrews. The
adapter bracket is designed to connect members of the PASCO
Structures System to a PASCO Force Platform.

Force Platform Model Number

PASPORT 1-Axis PS-2141

PASPORT 2-Axis PS-2142

ScienceWorkshop 1-Axis CI-6461

Recommended Equipment Model Number

PASCO Structures System see www.pasco.com

800-772-8700 www.pasco.com

Each Force Platform Structures Bracket has six positions where
members of a PASCO Structure System can be attached, and two
thumbscrews for attaching the bracket to a Force Platform. Note
that each bracket also has two threaded holes for storing the
thumbscrews when they are not in use.

Examples of the PASCO Structures System include:

Truss Set (ME-6990) - A small set for building trusses

Bridge Set (ME-6991) - A larger set with road bed and

cables for building bridges and roller coasters

Advanced Set (ME-6992A) - The largest set with pulleys,
axles, and additional connectors that make possible bridges
which have angles other than 45 and 90 degrees. This set can
also be used to build suspension bridges, cranes, cars and
catapults.

Model No. ME-6988A Installation

Use the thumb­screws to attach
the Bracket to a
Force Platform.

Thumbscrew in
storage hole.

Use Truss Set thumbscrews to attach
I-beams, etc., to the Bracket.

Tr u s s S e t
thumbscrew

Figure 1: Force Platform

Structures Bracket

Bracket

Structures
I-beams

Attachment
positions 3,
4, and 5

#3

#3

Innermost
attachment
position (3)

Thumbscrew

Span

Separation

#4

#4

Middle
attachment
position (4)

Figure 2: Mount Various Structures on a Force Platform

The Structures System also includes sensors for measuring forces
in a structure.

Load Cell and Amplifier Set (PS-2199) - Load Cell Ampli­fier (PS-2198) with four 100 N Load Cells (PS-2200)

Load Cell Amplifier (PS-2198) - Can plug in up to six Load
Cells; requires a PASPORT interface to connect to the USB
port of a computer.

100 N Load Cell (PS-2200) or 5 N Load Cell (PS-2201) ­Strain gauges mounted on a beam with no electronics so a
Load Cell requires the Load Cell Amplifier (PS-2198).

The Force Platform allows the student to measure tension and
compression forces in trusses, bridges, roller coasters, or other
structures assembled with the PASCO Structures System sets.

See the PASCO catalog or web site (www.PASCO.com) for
more information about the PASCO Structures System.

Installation

Using Brackets on a Force
Platform

If a structure is connected to one or two Force Platform Structure
Brackets that are mounted on a Force Platform, the dynamic
changes in tension or compression of the members of the struc­ture can be measured.

The different attachment positions along the side of the bracket
allow different I-beam members to be used between two Brackets
mounted on a Force Platform. Let the span of a structure be the
distance between its attachment positions on two Brackets. Let
the separation of the structure be the distance between two verti­cal members attached to the same Bracket.

The center attachment positions (labeled “3”) allow a span and
separation of a #3 I-beam member. The next two attachment posi­tions relative to the center allow a span and separation of a #4
I-beam. (See Figure 2.)

Use two thumbscrews to mount a bracket to one side of a PASCO
Force Platform. Note that two brackets will fit on one Force Plat­form.

Use Truss Set thumbscrews (ME-6994) from one of the PASCO
Structures Systems sets to attach I-beams or other members of a
structure set to the six attachment positions on the bracket. (See
Figure 1.)

2