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PASPORT Motion Sensor
(PS-2103)
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ScienceWorkshop
Motion Sensor
(CI-6742)
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Purpose:
Students will move in relation to the Motion Sensor as they attempt to closely follow a path that has been graphed for them by the computer.
Background Information:
Do you remember the classic story of the race between the tortoise and the hare? How could you best describe the motion of the over-confident hare compared to the slow, plodding tortoise? Even if you did not watch the two animals race, you can "see" a visual picture of how they moved by studying a graph of their motion. Try to imagine creating a Position vs. Time graph for each animal. How would the graphs be different? Each of them traveled along the same course, but where the tortoise moved at the same steady rate (constant average speed), the hare had a different strategy. On a Position vs. Time graph, what would you see for the times the hare napped? (Hint: was he moving when he napped?) What kind of line would you see on the graph at the times the hare jumped up and nervously sped off to catch the tortoise? What about the tortoise -- would a graph of his motion change over time (during the course of the race)? Scientists often use this kind of tool in order to better understand how objects moved -- for example, NASA might graph the position of a rocket each second after it is launched toward space. Can you think of other situations where a graph might be helpful for understanding how an object moved?
Hypothesize: In this experiment, YOU will be the moving object, and your distance from the Motion Sensor (starting point) will be recorded by the computer. How will you need to move in order to match the graph displayed on the screen? Before beginning each data run, describe how you plan to move to your lab partners.
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Equipment and Supplies:
For each lab group:
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Software and Probeware Setup:
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Mount the Motion Sensor on a stand or set it on a table so that it is stable and facing you. Adjust its height and tilt so the metal screen is aimed right at the middle of your shirt.
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Set up your area so that you are able to back away from the Motion Sensor’s metal screen, without running into anything, for 2 meters. Make sure that you can see the computer screen as you are backing up.
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Set the switch on the top of the Motion Sensor to the People/Long Range setting.
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Ensure that your USB Link, Xplorer, or ScienceWorkshop 500 interface is connected to the computer and connect the Motion Sensor to your computer interface.
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PASPORT users: When you plug in the PASPORT Motion Sensor, the PASPORTAL window appears (figure at right). Choose Launch EZ-SCREEN.
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Data Collection & Recording
ScienceWorkshop 500 users: Follow the on-screen instructions. Hint: to move through the pages in the electronic Workbook, use the navigation buttons at the bottom of the page: 
 PASPORT users: After the Motion Sensor’s EZ-SCREEN launches, find the selection buttons for the four different Match Graph courses, along with a Match Mode On/Off button (figure at right). Click on the first graph, in the top left corner, to turn on Match Mode and display the graph on the EZ-screen.
Data Collection & Recording:
Once you click the Start button, you will have a 5-second countdown to position yourself in front of the Motion Sensor. The computer will count down the 5 seconds, and then will automatically begin data collection. If you are using a reflector board, be sure the board is aimed squarely at the sensor screen. Data recording will automatically end after 10 seconds.
Data Analysis:
The Match Score is a representation of how closely your movements matched the course laid out by the computer.
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Conclusions and Extensions:
- How close were the predictions you made regarding your starting and ending positions relative to the Motion Sensor?
- What kind of motion produces a straight horizontal line on the Position vs. Time graph?
- How would you move in order to produce a straight line with a positive slope on the Position vs. Time graph? What about a straight line with a negative slope?
- Try creating your own "Match Graph" and challenging a classmate to move to match it. (DataStudio’s online Help menu includes instructions for creating an editable Table of data you generate.)
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