LabView and LabPro in LabView and LabPro in Introductory Physics Introductory Physics

InstructionInstruction

J.B. SharmaJ.B. SharmaGainesville CollegeGainesville College

AAPT-SACS Spring 04AAPT-SACS Spring 04Mercer University, Macon GAMercer University, Macon GA

LabViewLabView• ‘‘Graphical’ scientific programming language Graphical’ scientific programming language

by National Instrumentsby National Instruments

• The industry standard for controlling hardwareThe industry standard for controlling hardware

• You can do anything with LabView that you You can do anything with LabView that you can with C++ or any other scientific can with C++ or any other scientific programming languageprogramming language

• The Graphical User Interface is very intuitive The Graphical User Interface is very intuitive and and

the logic modules string together in a the logic modules string together in a flowchart like mannerflowchart like manner

The Vernier LabProThe Vernier LabPro

• Data Acquisition box with four analog Data Acquisition box with four analog channels and 2 digital channelschannels and 2 digital channels

• 8 TTL input/output lines (4 on each 8 TTL input/output lines (4 on each DIGITAL/SONIC port) DIGITAL/SONIC port)

• 1 channel (CH4), ±3 volts, 100 mA 1 channel (CH4), ±3 volts, 100 mA (with function generator (with function generator

• Usually driven by the ‘Logger Pro’ Usually driven by the ‘Logger Pro’ software for data acquisitionsoftware for data acquisition

LabView and LabProLabView and LabPro

• LabPro can be controlled by LabView LabPro can be controlled by LabView as wellas well

• LabPro driven by LabView can be LabPro driven by LabView can be used for data acquisition, signal used for data acquisition, signal output and hardware controloutput and hardware control

• Control of hardware by Control of hardware by LabPro/LabView needs a Digital LabPro/LabView needs a Digital Control Unit (DCU)Control Unit (DCU)

Pedagogic EfficacyPedagogic Efficacy• Takes out (or decreases) the Takes out (or decreases) the

‘blackbox’ mystery of a GUI driving ‘blackbox’ mystery of a GUI driving data acquisition and controldata acquisition and control

• Students develop their own data Students develop their own data acquisition interfacesacquisition interfaces

• Students can develop their own Students can develop their own probes, calibrate them, and then probes, calibrate them, and then acquire data thru a GUI they acquire data thru a GUI they developed themselvesdeveloped themselves

• Very marketable skillVery marketable skill• Very useful for upper level courses in Very useful for upper level courses in

physics and engineeringphysics and engineering

Using Labview with Freshman Using Labview with Freshman and Sophomore students …and Sophomore students …

• Intuitive interface makes it easy to learnIntuitive interface makes it easy to learn

• Powerful productivity tool for calculation, Powerful productivity tool for calculation, simulation, measurement and controlsimulation, measurement and control

• Introduction to scientific/engineering Introduction to scientific/engineering productivity tools early in student productivity tools early in student development allows for more creativity at development allows for more creativity at the junior and senior levelthe junior and senior level

Special Topics course with Special Topics course with LabView and LabProLabView and LabPro

• 1 semester hour credit; currently 1 semester hour credit; currently being taughtbeing taught

• Curricular material is available from Curricular material is available from both National Instruments both National Instruments www.ni.comwww.ni.com and Vernier Software and Vernier Software and Technology at and Technology at www.vernier.comwww.vernier.com

• Vernier’s LabView Software Vernier’s LabView Software Development Kit for the LabPro is Development Kit for the LabPro is particularly usefulparticularly useful

PHYS2901 Course StructurePHYS2901 Course Structure

• Project oriented courseProject oriented course• Intro LabView programmingIntro LabView programming kinematic eqns, temp conversions, graphing kinematic eqns, temp conversions, graphing

functionsfunctions• Intro to control and data acquisition with Intro to control and data acquisition with

LabViewusing LabPro via Vernier SDK LabViewusing LabPro via Vernier SDK modifying existing code, building a temperature modifying existing code, building a temperature

probe and a magnetic field probe and calibrating probe and a magnetic field probe and calibrating it, controlling a toy motor car using Vernier DCUit, controlling a toy motor car using Vernier DCU

Final Exam – student defined project; Final Exam – student defined project;

paper and presentationpaper and presentation

ConclusionsConclusions

• Technology like LabView and LabPro empower Technology like LabView and LabPro empower student creativity in the physics/engineeringstudent creativity in the physics/engineering

• If students entered upper level courses fluent If students entered upper level courses fluent in modeling and measurement tools, it would in modeling and measurement tools, it would help them connect advanced concepts with help them connect advanced concepts with real-world applications and the human real-world applications and the human conditioncondition

• This powerful capability is relevant to the high This powerful capability is relevant to the high school level as well and can be an effective school level as well and can be an effective tool for outreach and P16 partnershipstool for outreach and P16 partnerships