Getting Started

XXXe q u i p t m e n t

XXXg e t t i n gXs t a r t e d

XXXa d v a n c e dXa n a l ys i sX(graphing)

XXXa p p e n d i xXA X(glossary of Physics menu items)

XXXa p p e n d i xXBX(suggested starting values)

XXXa p p e n d i xXCX(glossary for advanced analysis)

XXXa p p e n d i xXDB(special directions for selected probes)



g e t t i n g ..s t a r t e d

  1. Connect the CBL interface to the TI-83 using the black connector cord called the link (two metal probes on each end of this cord). Make sure the link is pushed in firmly on both ends as this is a VERY common problem.


  2. Turn both the CBL interface and the calculator ON. (The CBL interface and the calculator will turn themselves off ("go to sleep") after a certain period of time. Be aware of this and make sure you have both units on before starting the experiment.)


  3. Hit the PRGM button on your calculator. A screen similar to the one you see here will appear.Select PHYSICS (choice 2 here) and hit ENTER. Hit ENTER again.



  4. A message will appear on screen which says "Vernier Software Physics with the CBL". Hit the ENTER key.


  5. The main menu will appear as shown below. The first step is to set up the probe. Place the probe into the matched port in the CBL interface. The probes are made to only fit into one particular port, so don't worry too much about putting it into the wrong port.



  6. Making sure the CBL interface and calculator are still on, hit ENTER to select Set Up Probes.


  7. The screen will ask you to enter the number of probes. Hit 1 and the ENTER key. (If you have more than one probe hooked into the CBL, adjust the number you hit accordingly. You will need to go through steps 8 and 9 for each probe selected.)


  8. The screen will list possible probes. Arrow down to the one that is hooked to the CBL interface and hit ENTER.


  9. * Some probes will have an extra screen appear which asks you to enter the lowest channel number. Skip this step if no such screen appears. If this screen appears, look at the CBL interface port where the probe is connected. Your choices are CH1, CH2 and CH3. Hit 1, 2 or 3 and then hit the ENTER key.


  10. The Main Menu will reappear on the screen. Arrow down to the Collect Data choice and hit ENTER.


  11. A Data Collection menu will appear. Arrow down to Time Graph and hit ENTER.


  12. You will see a screen which asks you to enter time between samples in seconds. See your instructor or Appendix B for what number to enter. Hit the ENTER key. The screen will then ask you to enter the number of samples. Again ask your instructor or see Appendix B. Enter your value and then hit the ENTER key. [ The total time the CBL interface will take data is the time (in seconds) between samples multiplied by the number of samples. For example: Time between samples=.05 s; Number of samples=60; The time for data collection will be (.05 s) X (60) = 3 s.]


  13. The screen will list your entered sample time, your number of samples, and the experiment length. Review this information and if it matches what you entered hit ENTER. If it doesn't match what you entered, hit ENTER anyway and go to the next step.


  14. If your setup was entered correctly, select Use Time Setup and hit ENTER. If your setup was was entered incorrectly, select Modify Time Setup, hit ENTER and you will be brought back to step 12. Repeat 12, 13 and 14 until your time setup is correct.


  15. * If your time between samples is big enough, you will see an additional screen which is a Time Graph Menu. If you don't see this, skip this step. If you see this screen, arrow down to Live Graph. You now will see a screen that asks you to enter y-axis information.

    For Ymin, pick the smallest probe value you think you will get, hit ENTER.

    For Ymax, pick the largest probe valueyou think you will get. Hit ENTER.

    For Yscl, find the difference between Ymin and Ymaxand divide by 5. Hit ENTER.


  16. The screen will tell you to ready equipment. (This screen will not appear if you had a live graph.) This means you should make sure the CBL interface is ON, and that you are ready to collect data. When you are ready, hit ENTER. The probe will then start to take data. The CBL interface should say Sampling. The calculator screen will say Collecting Data if you do NOT have a live graph. If you have a live graph, you will see it on the calculator screen while the data is being collected. Both the CBL interface and the calculator will tell you when they are done.


  17. The calculator will then tell you where your data is stored. For an example, see a sample screen below. You should make a note of where each piece of data is stored.



  18. If you hit ENTER, a graph will appear. If you were using a live graph, this graph has been automatically scaled and will appear differently from what you saw during data collection. The calculator automatically rescales to spread the graph out as much as possible. A cursor will appear on the graph. You can move the cursor along the graph using the arrow keys and x and y values will appear on the bottom of the screen. If you don't like how the experiment went, you can repeat the experiment. Hit ENTER and a screen will appear asking if you would like to repeat the data. Arrow down to Yes and hit ENTER. You will be taken back to the second part of step 15 where you enter Ymin, Ymax, and Yscl.




    19. equiptment | getting started | advanced analysis | appendix A | appendix B | appendix C | appendix D





    last updated 8.23.98