PASCO PS-2113A User Manual

Instruction Sheet

Quick Connector

Inline Connector

Quick Connector

Pressure Port

Sensor

PASPORT

Input Port

Interface

012-07578F

Barometer/Low Pressure Sensor

PS-2113A

.

Included Items

Tubing, 60 cm (2 ft) - not shown
Connector, inline (4)
Connector, quick (4)

Required Items*

PASCO Interface
PASCO Data Acquisition Software

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

Other Item*

PS-2500 PASPORT Extension Cable

Introduction

be used to measure the barometric pressure over a period of
time, the difference in air pressure related to a change in alti­tude, or the the change in pressure inside a plant due to tran­spiration.

The sensor includes plastic tubing, four inline connectors,
and four quick connectors. The quick connector attaches to
the pressure port on the front end of the sensor. The inline
connector can be used to attach a piece of tubing to a
one-hole stopper, for example.

Set-Up

• Plug the Barometer/Low Pressure Sensor into one of the
PASPORT input ports of a PASCO interface.

The PS-2113A Barometer/Low Pressure Sensor measures
atmospheric pressure in inches of mercury (Hg), hectopas­cals (hPa), kilopascals (kPa), and millibars (mBar).

The sensor is designed to work with a PASPORT-compati­ble interface (such as the UI-5100 850 Universal Interface)
and PASCO data acquisiition software (such as PASCO
Capstone). With the data acquisition software, the sensor can

NOTE: If more distance is needed between the sensor and
the interface, plug the sensor into a PASPORT Extension
Cable, and then plug the cable into the interface.

• Start the P ASCO data acquisition software. Set up a data
display in the software. Begin recording data.

Barometer/Low Pressure Sensor Suggested Activities

Barometric Pressure Over Three Daysw

Petroleum

Jelly

Plastic
Tubing

Air Gap

Setup for Plant Transpiration

Clamp

Specifications

Item Value
Range: 150 to 1090 hPa

150 to 1090 mBar
15 to 109 kPa

4.4 to 34 inches Hg
Accuracy: ±0.03 inches Hg
Resolution 0.001 inches Hg
Operating Temperature: 0 to 40 °C
Relative Humidity Range 5 to 95%, non-condensing*

*Condensation on the unit will negatively affect performance.

Suggested Activities

Measure Pressure Differences

Use the sensor to measure the difference in air pressure from
the floor to the ceiling of the classroom.

the sensor’s pressure port. (WARNING: Do not allow fluid
to enter the pressure port, as this will damage the sensor.)

Using a rod stand and two clamps, build the setup shown
below. Keep the sensor’s pressure port 5–7 cm higher than
the plant’s end of the tube.

Measure Barometric Pressure

Set up the sensor and the data acquisition software to record
barometric pressure for a long period of time (24 to 48
hours). Compare the barometric pressure.

Plant Transpiration

Obtain a healthy plant seedling and soak its stem in a bowl of
water. Make a 45° cut near the end of the stem.

Plant-Tube Joint: Fill a foot-long piece of the supplied tub­ing with water. To avoid air bubbles in the tube, submerge
the tubing in the water bowl, and insert the seedling stem
into the tube under water. Seal the joint with petroleum jelly.

Quick

Connector

Click the Start button to record pressure data for at least 400
seconds.

Repeat data recording, but place a blowing fan next to the
plant to simulate transpiration conditions on a windy day.

Compare the two graphs of pressure versus time.

Setup the Barometer/Low Pressure Sensor

Using the PASCO Capstone Software

• In the PASCO Capstone software, click the “Hardware
Setup” icon in the Tools palette to open the “Hardware
Setup” panel. Confirm that the Barometer/Low Pressure
Sensor icon appears with the interface’s icon.

• Click the “Data Summary” icon in the Tools palette to
open the “Data Summary” panel. The panel lists the sen­sor’s measurements.

• To select the units of measure or make other changes to
the measurement properties, select the parameter in the
Sensor Data Summary panel, and then click the “Proper­ties” icon (shaped like a gear) to open the Properties
panel.

Using the SPARK Science Learning System

Sensor-Tube Joint: Create a 2–3 cm air pocket at the other
end of the tube. Using a quick connector, connect the tube to

2

• Start the interface and plug the sensor into a port on the
SPARK SLS.