PASCO© Interface and Computer Primer

INTRODUCTION:

The Physics 201/207 207/208 laboratories utilize a Web-browser based display format in combination, when necessary, computer controlled data acquisition interface (typically the PASCO CI-700 or 750). Various sensors are plugged into either digital I/O (phone jack style inputs 1 to 4) or analog I/O ports (DIN-9 style inputs A, B and C). To aid in the data acquisition and analysis PASCO module also requires use of a special purpose software package which can be easily reconfigured for the particular need of a experiment. In general all experiment starting configuration will be preset and launched through a Web-browser button at the appropriate place in the lab.
THE MOUSE

CLICKING: Most of the operations of your computer are controlled by locating the cursor on the appropriate symbol (icon) and by clicking (CLICK) or double clicking (DCLICK) the left button of the mouse.

If the operation you have to perform requires clicking the right button this will be shown by CLICK-R or DCLICK-R. Double clicking means pressing the mouse button twice in rapid sequence without moving the mouse. The image of an hour glass appears momentarily indicating that the computer is loading the program, that is, getting ready to do what you requested. It will not do this if you moved the mouse while double clicking.
WINDOWS

The monitor usually displays various ``windows'' with a title bar. If you CLICK anywhere inside the window, the title bar turns blue, and the window is ``active'' (i.e. the computer will respond to any clicks on the ``icons'' on the border of the window).

BASIC OPTIONS:
I.
CLICK on the head bar to ``drag'' the window to a different position.
II.
Enlarge the window by placing the cursor on the corner, a diagonal arrow will appear, then CLICK and drag to change the size of the window.
Depending on which experiment you are performing you will see various windows. These will be discussed separately.
Figure 1: The main PASCO Data Studio window

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ICONS: THE GRAPH WINDOW:
Across the top of the graph window you will find a litany of icons: The icons that appear at the top right of all windows are (see Fig. 2):
  1. EXIT: The window is removed permanently.
  2. RESIZE: The size is changed from large to small, or vice-versa.
  3. MINIMIZE: The window is shrunk and should appear as an icon in the Data Studio workspace.
    Figure 2: The Graph Window

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  4. SCALE TO FIT will rescale the x and y axes to fit the current data set.
  5. ZOOM IN will enhance the size of the graph features.
  6. ZOOM OUT will reduce the size of the graph features.
  7. 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.
  8. ALIGN X SCALE: If there are multiple graphs this will align all the X axes.
  9. SMART TOOL turns on cross hairs so that graph x,y positions are read out directly.
  10. SLOPE TOOL determines the slope at a point
  11. CURVE FIT
  12. CALCULATE launches the calculator applications
  13. TEXT
  14. DRAW PREDICTIONS
  15. 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.
  16. REMOVE DATA:
  17. GRAPH SETTINGS: This icon allows for complete customization of the plot.

THE EXPERIMENT SETUP WINDOW:

Usually you will find this window in its ``minimized'' form but this window control the physical instrumentation connected to the PASCO computer interface
Figure 3: The Experimental Setup Window.
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  1. Sensors Icon: CLICKing here alternately open and closes the sensor list on left. A sensor must be ``grabbed" from the list and then ``dropped" onto the appropriate PASCO channel.
  2. Options Icon: CLICKing here open a window for various custom data acquisition options (Manual sampling, Delayed acquisition, Automatic start)
  3. Timers Icon: CLICKing, if active (by using e.g. the ``Time of Flight" sensor), will allow for a customized time sequence.
  4. Change Icon: CLICKing here will allow you to change the type of Pasco computer interface (e.g., CI-750, CI-700, etc.)
  5. FUNCTION GENERATOR: Output from a built-in signal generator (e.g. sine or square waves) and allows control of both frequency and amplitude.
  6. DIGITAL CHANNELS: These components produce or require signals (i.e., input/output) that switch between two levels, typically 0 and 5 volts. NOTE: Exceeding 10 volts may damage the port.
  7. ANALOG CHANNELS: These components produce or require signals that have a large range of values. If voltage is specified then the range is typically between -5 and 5 volts. NOTE: Exceeding 10 volts may damage the port.
  8. GROUND: Electrical access for signal ground. Note that this does not necessarily mean the ground of the outlet.

THE TABLE WINDOW:

Figure 4: The Table Window

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  1. SHOW TIME: Alter the display to include time at which data was recorded.
  2. SHOW STATISTICS: Toggles off and on a display for various selected values including: minimum, maximum, mean, standard deviation and the count.
    NOTE: Subsets of the full data set can be analyzed by using the mouse and highlighting (through a CLICK and drag motion) the rows of interest.
  3. Almost all of the heading are self explanatory.


Michael Winokur 2005-08-30