If you're trying to understand the physics of a car crash, it's far more effective and accurate to set one up and measure it, rather than just studying the velocity and vector forces at play. Students at the school of Physics at the University of NSW, can do just this using LabPro data loggers connected to a lab of Apple iMacs .
Data logging is central to an understanding of the laws of physics.
If students can collect data and then analyse it, they can see first-hand how different variables affect outcomes. The sensor is connected to a data logger, which in turn is connected to the iMac via a 'plug and play' USB cable. Changes in velocity are instantly displayed as a graph on the iMac. This experiment can be varied by including a simulated airbag, increasing the weight of the block or increasing the speed. The pocket-sized LabPro data logger can be set to sample up to 50,000 readings per second or as few as one a day.