Logger+Pro+Lab+-+Differential+Voltage+Probe

This was an experiment that we performed last class and the period before that as well. It includes using the Vernier LabPro working with Differential Voltage Probe. What we had was a nail wrapped in iron wire and then we moved a magnet close to or around the wrapped nail and we recorded the results with Logger Pro.

Trial 1 : For the first trial we twirled the nail and just kept the magnet close by but still.

For trial 1 we twirled the nail fast while keeping the magnet at the same place. Problems that occurred during this trial were for example when the nail was twirled too far away from the magnet, or the magnet stuck to the nail or maybe the nail wasn't twirled for a moment. These can all be seen in the "flat" parts of the graph where the voltage isn't or is barely recorded. The voltage is mainly collected through areas of movement in the nail or the magnet. We learned through this experiment that speed and position of both nail and magnet plays a large role in the amount of voltage that is collected.

Trial 2 : For the second time we repeatedly hit the magnet to the nail.

In the second trial what we see is a wide variety of samples in voltage. The parts that are the greatest (largest 'spikes') are the ones where the nail and magnet are actually in contact with each other. The parts that aren't as big as the others are areas where we didn't come in contact with the nail as fast or the magnet could have stuck to the nail and while we had to get it off the voltage decreased. Such areas are shown at about the 2 second mark lasting for the entire second. Other reasons could have been that the connection between nail and magnet could have been broken over the distance.

Trial 3 : This time what we did was keep the magnet on the nail.



In trial 3 what we did was very different from the first two trials since we completely eliminated the variable of speed. Instead what we did was simply keep the magnet on the nail and collect the samples. As you see in the graph above this had almost no impact on the voltage, and the impact it did have was very little. It could help prove the idea that speed and situation of magnet affects the voltage conducted. This trial is reflected again in trial 5, neither had much success in creating voltage.

Trial 4 : For this trial we decided to try sliding the magnet up and down the nail.

In trial 4 we wanted to do something that actually came up with voltage. In the previous trial we had conducted almost none while just keeping the magnet on the nail. So this time we decided to slide the magnet up and down the nail instead of just keeping it still. This way the magnet was still close enough to the nail so that it could create voltage but it was still in fast enough movement, this is what kept it from being indifferent in collection as both trials 3 and 5 were.

Trial 5 : All we did for the fifth trial was move the magnet close to and around the nail.

Trial 5 is much like trial 3 in the idea that none of them show any change (increase or decrease) in voltage. This could be due to the fact that the nail was too far away from the iron wrapped nail. The program was then unable to pick up any change in voltage that may have occurred. What we could have done to improve the data is move the magnet closer to the nail and as we had seen in other trials that speed was an important factor we could have moved it around the nail speedier than earlier on in the trial. However we would have to do so without touching the nail or else it would be too similar to the independent variable in trial 2.