Set up a collision timer

Use this timer to measure the speed of two carts before and after a collision.

Equipment setup

• 2× Photogates

  Use one of the following setups:

  • Wireless Smart Gate (PS-3225) with a Photogate Head (ME-9498A)
  • Smart Gate (PS-2180) with a Photogate Head (ME-9498A) connected to a PASPORT interface
  • Two Photogate Heads (ME-9498A) connected to a digital interface

  The following image shows a setup using a Smart Gate with a connected Photogate Head.

  

• 2× carts and track

• 2× Cart Picket Fence (ME-9804)

  The Cart Picket Fence has three flags of different length. Adjust the height of the photogate so that the desired flag passes through the photogate beam, as shown below.

Set up the timer

1. Connect the Smart Gate, Wireless Smart Gate, or one of the Photogate Heads to SPARKvue.

2. Connect the second photogate through the appropriate means:

   • If your first photogate is a Smart Gate or Wireless Smart Gate, plug the digital jack of the Photogate Head into the Auxiliary Port of the Smart Gate or Wireless Smart Gate.
   • If your first photogate is a Photogate Head, connect the second Photogate Head to another digital input on the same interface as the first one.

3. Under Select measurements for templates, click the Properties icon next to the Smart Gate or Wireless Smart Gate's name, or next to the digital interface's name if using two Photogate Heads.

4. Click Two Photogates or Smart Gate and Auxiliary Port, select Collision Timer, and click OK.

5. Enter the Flag Length. Make sure to measure the length of the flag from end-to-end.

   

6. Select the measurements you want to display.

7. Select a template to display the selected measurements.

Record data

Click Start , then allow the flag to pass through the photogate. The timer keeps track of the speeds through each photogate individually. It measures the speed before the collision when it first goes through the photogate and the speed after collision when it returns back through the photogate.