LabView and LabPro in Introductory Physics Instruction J.B. Sharma Gainesville College AAPT-SACS Spring 04 Mercer University, Macon GA

LabView ‘Graphical’ scientific programming language by National Instruments ‘Graphical’ scientific programming language by National Instruments The industry standard for controlling hardware The industry standard for controlling hardware You can do anything with LabView that you can with C++ or any other scientific programming language You can do anything with LabView that you can with C++ or any other scientific programming language The Graphical User Interface is very intuitive and The Graphical User Interface is very intuitive and the logic modules string together in a flowchart like manner the logic modules string together in a flowchart like manner

The Vernier LabPro Data Acquisition box with four analog channels and 2 digital channels Data Acquisition box with four analog channels and 2 digital channels 8 TTL input/output lines (4 on each DIGITAL/SONIC port) 8 TTL input/output lines (4 on each DIGITAL/SONIC port) 1 channel (CH4), ±3 volts, 100 mA (with function generator 1 channel (CH4), ±3 volts, 100 mA (with function generator Usually driven by the ‘Logger Pro’ software for data acquisition Usually driven by the ‘Logger Pro’ software for data acquisition

LabView and LabPro LabPro can be controlled by LabView as well LabPro can be controlled by LabView as well LabPro driven by LabView can be used for data acquisition, signal output and hardware control LabPro driven by LabView can be used for data acquisition, signal output and hardware control Control of hardware by LabPro/LabView needs a Digital Control Unit (DCU) Control of hardware by LabPro/LabView needs a Digital Control Unit (DCU)

Pedagogic Efficacy Takes out (or decreases) the ‘blackbox’ mystery of a GUI driving data acquisition and control Takes out (or decreases) the ‘blackbox’ mystery of a GUI driving data acquisition and control Students develop their own data acquisition interfaces Students develop their own data acquisition interfaces Students can develop their own probes, calibrate them, and then acquire data thru a GUI they developed themselves Students can develop their own probes, calibrate them, and then acquire data thru a GUI they developed themselves Very marketable skill Very marketable skill Very useful for upper level courses in physics and engineering Very useful for upper level courses in physics and engineering

Using Labview with Freshman and Sophomore students … Intuitive interface makes it easy to learn Intuitive interface makes it easy to learn Powerful productivity tool for calculation, simulation, measurement and control Powerful productivity tool for calculation, simulation, measurement and control Introduction to scientific/engineering productivity tools early in student development allows for more creativity at the junior and senior level Introduction to scientific/engineering productivity tools early in student development allows for more creativity at the junior and senior level

Special Topics course with LabView and LabPro 1 semester hour credit; currently being taught 1 semester hour credit; currently being taught Curricular material is available from both National Instruments and Vernier Software and Technology at Curricular material is available from both National Instruments and Vernier Software and Technology at Vernier’s LabView Software Development Kit for the LabPro is particularly useful Vernier’s LabView Software Development Kit for the LabPro is particularly useful

PHYS2901 Course Structure Project oriented course Project oriented course Intro LabView programming Intro LabView programming kinematic eqns, temp conversions, graphing functions kinematic eqns, temp conversions, graphing functions Intro to control and data acquisition with LabViewusing LabPro via Vernier SDK Intro to control and data acquisition with LabViewusing LabPro via Vernier SDK modifying existing code, building a temperature probe and a magnetic field probe and calibrating it, controlling a toy motor car using Vernier DCU modifying existing code, building a temperature probe and a magnetic field probe and calibrating it, controlling a toy motor car using Vernier DCU Final Exam – student defined project; paper and presentation Final Exam – student defined project; paper and presentation

Conclusions Technology like LabView and LabPro empower student creativity in the physics/engineering Technology like LabView and LabPro empower student creativity in the physics/engineering If students entered upper level courses fluent in modeling and measurement tools, it would help them connect advanced concepts with real-world applications and the human condition If students entered upper level courses fluent in modeling and measurement tools, it would help them connect advanced concepts with real-world applications and the human condition This powerful capability is relevant to the high school level as well and can be an effective tool for outreach and P16 partnerships This powerful capability is relevant to the high school level as well and can be an effective tool for outreach and P16 partnerships