Calculators | Texas Instruments - Science | Introduction

The TI-83 Calculator and CBL ~ Introduction

By David Proctor,

Katanning SHS

If you use or quote from the following programs, please acknowledge the author above.

The Texas Instruments' Calculator Based Laboratory (CBL) can be used as a stand alone device to make measurements or it can be linked to a calculator to receive programmed instructions on what measurements to make and then send them for storage as a list on the calculator.

It is this second use that has the most wide and varied applications within a classroom. However, to use the CBL in direct link with a calculator, a set of instructions (program) is required. The activities which follow this preamble have been developed using programs purchased commercially.

Recommended Resources:

• Chemistry with CBL  by Dan D. Holmquist, Jack Randall, and Donald L. Volz, (Vernier). Experiments available in PDF format from Vernier

  www.vernier.com/cmat/CWCBL.html

• Physical Science with CBL  by Donald L. Volz and Sandy Sapatka, (Vernier). Experiments available in PDF format from Vernier

  www.vernier.com/cmat/PSWCBL.html

• Exploring Physics and Math with the CBL System by Chris Brueningsen and
  Wesley Krawiec, (Texas Instruments). Two activities from this title are available from Texas Instruments

  www.ti.com/calc/docs/cblwb2.htm

These 3 packages have a workbook of student experiments and a disk containing the programs for linking the CBL to the calculator. The disks are available in DOS, Windows or Macintosh format.

A second disk is supplied with the Vernier products. This contains Microsoft Word files of each experiment. I have found this very useful as it allows for the editing of each experiment to best suit the experiences and capabilities of different classes.

The programs that come with the Vernier packages are easy to use in experiments of your own design as they require the user to direct the CBL on what probe to use, what measurements to make and how often they need to be taken. The programs can be obtained from the Internet at no charge from:

www.vernier.com/cbl/progs.html

Simplified User's Guide to CBL (Calculator- Based Labs)

www.ncsu.edu/science_house/LearningMaterialsFolder/cbl/cblguide.html

An easy guide for students and teachers on how to the use of the combined CBL interface and the Texas Instruments (TI)-83 calculator, developed by North Carolina State University.

Downloading information from computer to calculator (or vice-a-versa) is relatively straight forward using TI Graphlink - especially once I read the pertinent instructions.

TI Graphlink can be used to download and print graphs and lists stored on the calculator, however the quality of the graphs is poor. The Vernier product Graphical Analysis is very easy to use and for approximately $100 produces graphs and lists of a much more acceptable standard.

Examining the Motion of a Pendulum
Year 8 Extension Activities

I have used this as an activity for extending small groups of students during the Forces in Nature Unit. It allows for the development of the outcomes in the Working Scientifically strand.

Year 9 Human Body Measurements

Year 9 classes of all ability ranges enjoy measuring their pulse rate and body temperature. Using the CBL can provide an alternative method for students to measure these items. The temperature probe is much easier to use than a clinical thermometer however the heart rate monitor is very temperamental and students find a stethoscope and stop watch much more reliable and motivating.

Year 10 Colour and Heat Absorption

A common experiment in Year 10 is to examine the rate at which tin cans heat up when placed in the sun. The combined power of the graphics calculator and temperature probe connected to a CBL enables these experiments to be set up and a continuous record of the temperature in a can, car or model house to be measured every few minutes for several hours.

Students find the collection of this real time, continuous data to be interesting and motivating. The number of experiments that can be easily conducted in this area is limited only by time, number of CBLs and number of temperature probes available. I have also used these activities with Y11 physics students.

Upper School Physics and Chemistry

For anyone beginning with the TI-83 and CBL in Upper School, I would strongly recommend the purchase of the Vernier packages (workbooks and programs) as they provide an excellent starting point and can save a large amount of time.

The CBL comes with a light, temperature and voltage probes. Any physics course covering motion is greatly enhanced with the use of the motion detector. The motion of trolleys, people, toys, remote control vehicles, etc can be thoroughly explored with the motion detector.

Using a student force sensor with the motion detector also allows the accurate measurement of forces that cause acceleration. A dual range force sensor includes an attachment for measuring the forces when collisions occur, this is very useful during analysis of momentum and impulse.

The pH probe is excellent value when doing acid/base volumetric analysis. It is not necessarily a better way of doing titrations but it is very useful in rapidly producing concentration versus time graphs to introduce the equivalence point concept.