Vernier Sensors and Design Briefs

Vernier sensors and probes provide a number of opportunities to add Mathematics to Science Design Briefs.  The sensors link to a computer and with the Vernier software provide real-time data in tabular and graphical formats.  You can set experimental factors such as rate and length of data collection and determine whether the collection will be time-based or event-based. The resulting data can be used to determine if a particular device (a wind turbine for example) met the criteria set in the Design Brief. The software, depending on version, provides a number of tools for analyzing the data, from basic statistics to modelling and curve-fitting.

The software is available in Windows, Mac, and Chromebook App versions.  The Chromebook Graphical Analysis App and the Logger Lite software are free downloads from the Vernier site.  The Logger Pro version is available as a school site license for $249.00.  You can download a free 30-day demo version, fully working, from this link: http://www.vernier.com/downloads/logger-pro-demo/

Logger Lite Software

Logger Pro Software

Chromebook Graphical Analysis App

Available probes are listed on the Vernier website: http://www.vernier.com/products/sensors/

The Vernier site also provides a lot of great resources including tutorials and ideas for experiments. They have an excellent collection of lab books, http://www.vernier.com/products/books/, and you can download and preview a number of the experiments from each book.

To see how Dr. Suzanne Sumner (Mathematics) used Vernier Sensors to teach Mathematics, go to the Design Briefs - Mathematics page and the Design Brief Topics - Mathematics page, both on this site.