Past projects 3
Investigating Rotation
Funded Nov 30, 2023Thank you for the donations that allowed me to purchase two Vernier Go Direct Rotary Motion Sensors. My AP Physics students just used them to measure the angular acceleration of an aluminum disk and calculate the frictional torque in the axle of the sensor. We then used the frictional torque and a measurement of the angular acceleration of a different disk to calculate the moment of inertia of the disk. The last part of the lab had students dropping another disk on top of an already rotating disk to use the concept of conservation of angular momentum to calculate and confirm their earlier calculation of the moment of inertia of the disk.
My students found the sensors easy to use and intuitive when connected via bluetooth to an iPad. These sensors have greatly improved my students' understanding of a difficult unit.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Shoolroy
This classroom project was brought to life by Nevada Department of Education.Hands-on Science
Funded Nov 4, 2021Thank you so much for your donation to my classroom. My physics students are using the force probes right now to investigate the relationship between applied force and torque. Later in the spring we will be using the force sensors to investigate how mass and amplitude affect the frequency and period of an oscillating system like springs and pendulums. My chemistry students are using the temperature probes to make connections between temperature and motion of the molecules of a liquid. We are also seeing what temperature changes occur during phase changes of water. Later in the spring my chemistry students will be using them to make measurements necessary to calculate the specific heat of different substances. The wireless probes make lab setup and data collection with tablets so easy and seamless that it increases student engagement with the data and the relationships that they can see materialize in front of their eyes. Please keep supporting public education!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Shoolroy
Students Doing Real Science!!!
Funded Jun 2, 2013Thank you so much for funding my classroom project, "Students Doing Real Science". The impact on my students' learning was immediate and will be long lasting. The Vernier dynamics system (a high quality metal track and two carts) has been put to use by my AP Physics and Honors Physics students to investigate the motion of single objects and systems of mass. The dynamics system integrates seamlessly with the Vernier data collection software and probes that we already posses and provides the students with immediate position, velocity, and acceleration data that they can graphically analyze to mathematically model the motion of the carts on the track. The immediacy of the data collection and display engages the students in their lab activities and I have seen an increase in my students' desire to ask questions and test hypothesis that come up during the lab because of the materials' ease of use.
The gas pressure sensors and pH sensors that you helped to fund will be used by Chemistry students throughout my school starting in December when we will be investigating the gas laws and then in February when we start working with acids and bases. These additional probes will allow us to have smaller groups in our chemistry labs so that more students get the benefit of immediate data collection and analysis. One of the reasons that I love the Vernier equipment is that the immediacy and ease of data collection and analysis allow students to see right away if their results are not as expected in the lab. I see them questioning their lab procedures and figuring out what errors might be affecting their measurements. They are able to make immediate changes to their procedures and see the results of those changes. I love seeing my science students actually doing science!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Shoolroy