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Advancing Physics is a contemporary course for AS/A2 level, developed by the Institute of Physics as part of a response to the falling numbers of students studying physics beyond 16.
Pico oscilloscope and data logging products are ideal for the course, in fact PicoScope is described in the recommended apparatus list (SFT12) as “A software / hardware combination that transforms your PC into a very effective storage oscilloscope. Available in a range of configurations; increasing speed being matched by increasing cost.”
Recommended Equipment (Oscilloscope Products)
Our recommended oscilloscope product is a PicoScope 3000 series PC Oscilloscope. These are dual-channel PC-based oscilloscopes / spectrum analysers that easily meets the requirements for EMT 5 (oscilloscope) in the apparatus list which states that “A PC-based oscilloscope is to be preferred for new purchases.”
If you are on a very limited budget, consider also the PicoScope 2202 entry-level oscilloscope.
The numbers of oscilloscopes required will depend on class size, budget and availability of PCs. The course guidelines recommend 1 oscilloscope as a minimum, 4 to undertake the course with few compromises and 8 as ideal.
Course activities / experiments that PicoScope PC Oscilloscopes are suitable for
Recommended Equipment (Data Logging Products)
Our recommended data logging product is the DrDAQ. This is a low cost data logger with built in sensors for light, temperature, sound level and sound waveform. It also has connectors for voltage, resistance and pH electrodes.
DrDAQ meets the requirements for MPU 2 (data capture device) and due to its built in sensors, it also meets most of the requirements of MPU 3 (range of sensors).
The course recommends a minimum of 1 data logger and 8 as ideal. Due to the low cost (Under £60) it may make sense to buy as many DrDAQ data loggers as you have PCs available.
Course activities / experiments that the DrDAQ data logger is suitable for
Light Gates
Some of the experiments in Chapters 8 and 9 require the use of light gates. Most commercially available light gates can be interfaced to the PicoScope 3000 range of PC Oscilloscope. The course requires that time can be resolved to 0.001 sec, oscilloscopes in the PicoScope 320x family can resolve to 5 ns so easily meets this.
Light gates can also be used with the DrDAQ which can resolve to better than 0.001 sec. Suitable light gates can be purchased from Technology Supplies (Tel 01630 637300, part no 970-128). When using a pair of light gates, plug one into the voltage input and the other into the resistance input (which when driven from a low impedance will measure voltage). Using PicoScopes rulers (or automated measurements) time measurements can easily be made.
Our version of activity 110E Predicting the motion of a falling card shows the use of light gates with DrDAQ. The science experiment Measuring the speed of a model car shows how to make your own light gates.
Free Equipment!
We have a number of activities written up for this Advancing Physics Course in our library of science experiments.
If you are interested in writing up an activity that you have performed using one of our products, please e-mail experiments@picotech.com. In return for writing up a suitable experiment we will donate a FREE DrDAQ data logger to your school / college.
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