Motion sensor and data logger sim
The sensor sends a pulse of ultrasound 20 times a second.
Motion sensor and data logger · covers the GCSE, IGCSE, O-Level topic
What the sim shows
The sensor sends a pulse of ultrasound 20 times a second. Each pulse goes to the trolley and back at 340 m/s, so the distance is 340 m/s × echo time ÷ 2: at 0.34 m the echo takes 2.00 ms. The logger plots each distance against time, and works out the velocity from neighbouring readings: change in distance ÷ time between them. Moving away gives a rising distance-time line and a positive velocity; coming back, a falling line and a negative velocity. Drag the trolley to make your own graph.
- The sensor's light: on while it logs
- Below: the logger's screen, a dot a reading
Use it in your lessons
- Try it here: anyone can unlock 2 figures free, and a free account unlocks up to 5. Runs on a laptop, a Chromebook or a phone; nothing to install.
- Present it and share student links with the teacher plan, from US$5 a month, billed yearly.
- Put it on your own website or LMS for US$9, paid once, or every sim from US$29 a month.
Free guide: 12 practicals as sims, and how to run one in a lesson →
Need a version for your exact set-up? Have one made: US$49 a figure in an order of 5.
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