Physics Labs with Computers, Vol. 1
Tutorial Activities: Light Sensor
Student Workbook
012-07000A
Light Sensor
The Light Sensor measures relative light
intensity. The sensing element is a photodiode
that produces a voltage proportional to the
light intensity across a wide spectrum ranging
from 350 nanometers to 100 nanometers (nm).
The sensor includes a cable for connecting to
the interface. The sensor has one built-in
control.
Gain Select Switch: Use the gain select
switch to set the maximum input light levels
of the sensor. The three settings are as
follows.
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Gain Select setting
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Maximum Input (lux)
1
500
10
50
100
5
Set up the sensor with the interface
•
•
Plug one end of the DIN-to-DIN cable into the sensor and then connect the other end of the
cable into Analog Channel A on the interface.
Note: You can connect the sensor directly into the interface if needed.
Set up the sensor in the software
•
•
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In DataStudio, double-click the name of
the sensor in the Sensors list in the
Experiment Setup window. Result: The
sensor icon appears below Channel A of
the interface. The sensor’s parameters
appear in the Data list.
In ScienceWorkshop, click-and-drag the
‘analog sensor plug’ icon to the Channel
A icon in the Experiment Setup window,
select the name of the sensor from the list
of sensors and click ‘OK’ to return to the
Experiment Setup window. Result: The
sensor’s icon appears below Channel A of
the interface.
©1999 PASCO scientific
Find the name
of the sensor.
Student Workbook
012-07000A
Physics Labs with Computers, Vol. 1
Tutorial Activities: Light Sensor
Set up a display
•
In DataStudio, double-click the ‘Graph’ icon in the Displays list. Result: The display
automatically shows voltage versus time. To make the Graph show light intensity instead
of voltage, click-and-drag ‘Light Intensity, ChA’ from the Data list to the vertical axis of
the Graph display.
Drag ‘Light Intensity,
Ch A’ to the Y-axis.
•
In ScienceWorkshop, click-and-drag the ‘Graph display’ icon to the Light Sensor icon in
the Experiment Setup window. Result: The Graph display shows ‘Intensity (% max)’
versus Time (s).
Start recording data
•
Set the GAIN switch on the top of the Light Sensor to 1 .
•
In DataStudio, click the ‘Start’ button (
). In ScienceWorkshop, click the ‘REC’
button (
•
).
Move your hand over the Light Sensor, point the sensor at different light sources, and
watch the results on the Graph display.
Stop recording data.
•
Click ‘Stop’ to end data recording.
©1999 PASCO scientific
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