Getting Started with the Xplorer GLX

These five movie lessons will walk you through the essential features of your Xplorer GLX standalone datalogger in a series of basic lab activities. So that you don't miss any essential information, we suggest that you view the lessons in order. We encourage you to use your equipment to follow along.
Download QuickTime 7 Player

A fast computer (1.5GHz+), a broadband internet connection, and the free QuickTime 7 Player are required to view the movies. Note: Higher quality, more widely-compatible versions of these movies are available on the "Getting Started with the Xplorer GLX" CD included with every Xplorer GLX.
Lesson 1 -- Quick Start
Collect your first run of data with the included temperature probe and view it in a graph.

Quick Start
Running time: 4:12   File size: 5.8 MB

Topics
  • navigating the home screen
  • opening the graph display
  • connecting a temperature probe
  • starting and stopping data collection
  • understanding the graph data cursor
  • auto scaling the graph
Equipment
  • Xplorer GLX
  • Fast Response Temperature Probe
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Lesson 2 -- Coffee Cooling
Learn to view two measurements in the graph and analyze regions of interest in your collected data as you investigate the cooling rates of two cups of hot coffee.

Coffee Cooling
Running time: 16:58   File size: 19.4 MB

Topics
  • using graph hot spots (active fields)
  • changing y-axis measurements
  • viewing two measurements
  • adjusting screen contrast
  • renaming measurements
  • entering text
  • using the linear fit tool
  • understanding regions of interest
  • creating a new graph page
Equipment
  • Xplorer GLX
  • 2 Fast Response Temperature Probes
  • 600 ml hot coffee (or water)
  • 200 ml room temp cream (or water)
  • 2 500 ml containers
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Lesson 3 -- Bouncing Ball
Use the built-in calculator to transform sensor data and learn how to save files and print graphs while you explore the energy of a bouncing ball.

Bouncing Ball
Running time: 23:51   File size: 30.8 MB

Topics
  • creating a new file
  • viewing two graphs
  • changing a sensor's sample rate
  • using navigation shortcuts
  • deleting data runs
  • transforming data with the calculator
  • using the graph's scale tool
  • defining the units of a calculation
  • saving a file
  • printing a graph
Equipment
  • Xplorer GLX
  • Motion Sensor
  • ball (volleyball-size or larger)
  • rod stand (optional)
  • 2 rods (optional)
  • right angle clamp (optional)
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Lesson 4 -- pH of Household Chemicals
Collect and label discrete data points from a calibrated sensor, and then view and classify the data in a table display as you determine the pH of some household chemicals.

pH of Household Chemicals
Running time: 20:23   File size: 26.6 MB

Topics
  • calibrating a sensor
  • setting up manual sampling
  • averaging data points
  • creating a table display
  • performing manual sampling with text data entry
  • adding a table column
  • editing table data
  • graphing data with text labels
Equipment
  • Xplorer GLX
  • pH Sensor
  • 3 small beakers
  • 3 household chemicals
  • 2 pH buffer solutions (eg: pH 4 & 10)
  • rinse bottle
  • rinse beaker
  • compatible USB keyboard (optional)
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Lesson 5 -- Boyle's Law
Practice manual sampling with numeric data entry as you explore the relationship between the pressure and volume of air in a syringe.

Boyle's Law
Running time: 13:54   File size: 20.0 MB

Topics
  • performing manual sampling with numeric data entry
  • using the graph's move tool
  • linearizing graph data
Equipment
  • Xplorer GLX
  • Absolute Pressure Sensor
  • syringe (provided with sensor)
  • 1 cm of tubing (provided with sensor)
  • quick connector (provided with sensor)
  • PASPORT extension cable (optional)
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