PASCO Capstone^™ Software

The Most Advanced Data Collection Software in Science Education

PASCO is pushing the limits of technology, so you can push your students to their potential. Working closely with educators, we continuously develop Capstone™, making improvements and enhancing the teaching features. Capstone is designed to handle large data sets, high-speed sampling, and customized preferences to fit the needs of your lab. A straightforward user interface is approachable for beginners, yet Capstone offers all the capabilities needed for even the most advanced users.

You never take only one run in science. You take multiple runs and calculate averages. Next, you vary a parameter while holding the other constant; again, taking more runs and calculating averages. Most software data tables don't actually allow this to be done easily.

The Capstone Trials Table was created for how data is collected in the science lab and allows for the kind of analysis students need to perform.

• Organize your data to easily define physical relationships
• Track variables
• Average runs
• Plot derived values

Using the simple pendulum lab as an example, students will time a simple pendulum under various conditions. They will vary the mass, length, and starting angle. The Capstone Trials Table allows you to vary and keep track of experimental parameters between trials and runs taken in each trial. You can also keep track of statistics for averaged runs and experimental error.

Real-world Science

Scientists always take multiple runs and calculate averages. Next, they vary a parameter while holding the others constant; again, taking more runs and calculating averages. Most software data tables don’t support this and require data export and processing… until Capstone 2.

The Capstone Trials Table was created to reflect how data is collected in science labs. It supports the analysis students need to develop critical thinking skills and interpret the data.

With Capstone students can:

• Organize data to easily define variable relationships
• Track multiple variables
• Average runs within a trial group
• Plot derived values (such as an average of runs vs. a group parameter)

For example, in the Simple Pendulum lab, students time a pendulum under different conditions by varying the mass, length, and starting angle. The Capstone Trials Table allows you to manipulate variables and track experimental data between trials and runs. You can also keep track of statistics for averaged runs and experimental error.

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Graph Pop-Up Tools

Now, whenever tools are activated, the most common actions will be easily accessible on the graph. The pop-up tools allow for easy access to tool features and options.

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Circuits Emulation

Reinforce circuit concepts and tackle student misconceptions using circuit visualization. Combine real-world circuits with simulations, animation, and live measurements. Drag components from the components list, then rotate them and connect pieces together by drawing wires.

With the Circuits Emulation tool in Capstone 2, you can:

• Construct and modify circuits
• Show conventional current and electron flow animation
• Animate circuits with live sensor data

Drag components out from the components list. Rotate components and connect pieces together by drawing wires.