Roger Frost: science, sensors and automation

Tagged: physics

science experiments

characteristics of a thermistor

visitors this year: 224 A thermistor is an electronic component whose resistance changes with temperature. The voltage and current of a thermistor can be measured as the temperature changes. Sensors allow you to take...

science experiments

magnetic field in a coil

visitors this year: 134 You can ‘see’ magnetic fields using iron filings. You can measure the strength of magnetic fields using a magnetic field sensor connected to a computer. How, for example, does that...

science experiments

current-voltage relationships

visitors this year: 149 In this experiment the resistance of a lamp, resistor or diode is measured as the current is varied. Voltage and current sensors make the measurements while the software plots the...

science experiments

capacitor discharge

visitors this year: 97 The voltage and current in a circuit change when a capacitor charges and discharges. Computer sensors can measure these changes and software can plot a graph as fast as this...

science experiments

types of battery 2

visitors this year: 131 Batteries or electrical cells are made using different substances. There are zinc dry-cells, alkaline cells and lead-acid accumulators. When you use them, the chemicals become exhausted at different rates. So...

science experiments

types of battery

visitors this year: 166 Batteries are a handy source of power. You’ll know that there are different kinds of batteries, and maybe that some are good for some jobs, and some for others. But battery...

science experiments

pendulum & simple harmonic motion

visitors this year: 287 A position sensor can be used to study this. The sensor is attached to a weight and spring assembly as shown. This can also be used to study the effects...

science experiments

pressure & temperature

visitors this year: 332 The pressure in a sealed container changes with temperature. These changes can be monitored using sensors attached to the computer. A graph of pressure against temperature can be plotted as...

science experiments

radioactive half-life

visitors this year: 245 Radioactive materials decay, or lose their radioactivity, in a predictable way. If you have a fast decaying source, such as Protactinium with a half life of just 72 seconds, you...

science experiments

heat conduction through a window

visitors this year: 63 Get two temperature sensors to measure the temperature inside and outside a window. You may find that over a long period of time it is best to record your data...

science experiments

heat conduction

visitors this year: 142 You can use a temperature sensor to study the conduction of heat through materials. Two temperature sensors allow you to compare different materials at the same time. In this example,...