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Set up a picket fence timer

Use this timer to measure position, speed, and acceleration of a cart that has a picket fence attached. Also measure the acceleration due to gravity when dropping the picket fence through a photogate.

Equipment setup

Set up the timer

  1. Connect the photogate to SPARKvue.
  2. Under Select measurements for templates, select the Properties icon next to the photogate's name, or next to the digital interface's name if using a Photogate Head.
  3. Select One Photogate or Device or Smart Gate Only, select Photogate and Picket Fence, and select OK.
  4. Enter the Flag Spacing. This value is equal to the distance between the leading edges of two flags. Select OK when finished.

  5. Check the boxes next to the measurements you want to display.

  6. Select a template to display the selected measurements.

Record data

Select Start , then let the entire picket fence pass through the photogate. The first time the photogate is blocked, it records a position of zero. The second time the photogate is blocked, it records the second position and the speed. The third time the photogate is blocked, it records a third position, a second speed measurement, and the acceleration.