Pasco Scientific launches Wireless Smart Cart for Physics Experiments
Pasco
Scientific has unveiled a new Smart Cart,
a low-friction cart with sensors that will allow students to collect
data from
experiments to learn physics concepts. With the use of the sensors, students can
transfer
information acquired in lab experiments directly to their devices,
simplifying
lab setup and allowing teachers and students more time to perform their
experiments.
Students
can collect data on position and displacement, speed and velocity,
one-dimensional
motion, acceleration, Newton's laws, friction, kinetic energy,
conservation of
momentum, elastic and inelastic collisions and conservation of energy.
The
Smart Cart's onboard sensors can transmit
data wirelessly to any kind of device using Bluetooth.
The
cart is based on an ABS body with nearly
frictionless wheels. It includes a sensor that measures force, a
three-axis accelerometer,
motion encoder for measuring position and velocity, a rubber bumper,
magnetic
bumper and mass tray. There is also a hook, three-position spring
plunger,
Velcro tabs, a rechargeable battery and USB port and cable for charging.
The
new cart is expected to be available in June
(in either red or blue) for a special price to U.S. educators of $159.
Pasco
Scientific has created other innovative
teaching products to help students conduct scientific experiments. This
one is
different, according to company representatives, because there are no wires,
thus
improving measurement because there are fewer impediments to experiment
outcomes.
Earlier
this year, the Smart Cart was named a
finalist in the Global Education Supplies and Solutions Innovation
Product
Award.
About the Author
Michael Hart is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer and the former executive editor of THE Journal.