PASCO ME-8752 User Manual

Instruction Sheet

®

Figure 1

Pendulum

Clamp

Photogate Pendulum Set

ME-8752

Other Equipment Needed

• PASCO Interface and data acquisition software*

• Accessory Photogate (ME-9204B) or Photogate Head
(ME-9498A)

• Base and Support Rod (ME-9355)

• Pendulum Clamp (SE-9443) or other horizontal support
for the pendulum string

012-07569B

*012-07569*

Introduction

The ME-8752 Photogate Pendulum Set is designed for use
with a PASCO photogate (such as the ME-9204B Accessory
Photogate or the ME-9498A Photogate Head). The photo­gate can be used with a computer and interface to time the
period of the various pendula very precisely. The set con­tains four cylindrical pendula identical in size and made of
different materials: brass, aluminum, plastic and wood.

This set can also be used as a multipurpose pendulum set
without the use of interfaces or sensors.

Items Included

• Brass Pendulum

• Aluminum Pendulum

• Physics String (SE-8050)

Setup Procedure: Classic Pendulum Experiments

The various pendula can be suspended from a support rod
using a Pendulum Clamp (SE-9443). The photogate is
blocked each time the pendulum passes through the photo­gate. Three successive blocks of the photogate would consti­tute one period of the pendulum.See Figure 1..

• Plastic Pendulum

• Wood Pendulum

800-772-8700 www.pasco.com

®

Photogate Pendulum Set ME-8752

Choose Photogate

and Pendulum

ScienceWorkshop Digital Sensors

Choose Photogate

and Pendulum

PASPORT Timer

The “V” shaped bifilar arrangement of the string insures that
the pendulum will swing back-and-forth in the same plane.

*See the PASCO catalog or web site at www.pasco.com for
more information.

Measuring the Period of a Pendulum:

DataStudio: When using DataStudio software with a Science­Workshop interface, go to the Experiment Setup window and

click the icon of a digital channel on the picture of the inter­face. Select the “Photogate and Pendulum” choice from the
“Choose sensor or instrument” panel. Click OK.

Using this experimental setup, students can investigate the
relationships between length and period, mass and period, and
amplitude and period. In all cases, the effects of air resistance
are held constant since the shape and size of the pendula are
identical.

Technical Support

For assistance with any PASCO product, contact PASCO at:

Address: PASCO scientific

10101 Foothills Blvd.
Roseville, CA 95747-7100

Phone: [phone] (worldwide)

800-772-8700 (U.S.)

Fax: [phone]

Web: www.pasco.com

Email: [e-mail]

For more information about the Photogate Pendulum Set and
the latest revision of this Instruction Sheet, visit:

www.pasco.com/go?ME-8752

When using DataStudio software with a PASPORT interface,
go to the Experiment Setup window and click ‘Setup Timers’.
Select the “Photogate and Pendulum” choice from the “Choose
sensor or instrument” panel. Click OK.

Check the PASCO web site at www.pasco.com for information
about using the SPARK Science Learning System (SPARK
SLS) to measure the period of a pendulum.

Data Recording: Align the pendulum with the photogate so
that the pendulum will block the photogate beam as the pendu­lum swings back and forth. Pull the pendulum back a few cen­timeters and release it so it swings through the photogate. Press
‘Start’ to begin recording data. Let the pendulum swing several
times, and then press ‘Stop’ to end recording data. Use a Table
display to view the data.

Limited Warranty For a description of the product warranty, see the
PASCO catalog. Copyright The PASCO scientific 012-07569B Pho-
togate Pendulum Set Instruction Sheet is copyrighted with all rights
reserved. Permission is granted to non-profit educational institutions for
reproduction of any part of this manual, providing the reproductions are
used only in their laboratories and classrooms, and are not sold for
profit. Reproduction under any other circumstances, without the written
consent of PASCO scientific, is prohibited. Trademarks PASCO and
PASCO scientific are trademarks or registered trademarks of PASCO
scientific, in the United States and/or in other countries. All other
brands, products, or service names are or may be trademarks or ser­vice marks of, and are used to identify, products or services of, their
respective owners. For more information visit www.pasco.com/legal.

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