Set up a pulley timer

Use the pulley timer linear measurements to measure the position, speed, and acceleration of a cart on a track or a mass on an Atwood's machine. Use the rotational measurements to measure the angle, angular speed, and angular acceleration of a rotating object.

Equipment setup

• Photogate

  Use a Wireless Smart Gate (PS-3225), a Smart Gate (PS-2180) with a PASPORT interface, or a Photogate Head (ME-9498A) with a digital interface.

• Super Pulley (ME-9433)

  Clamp the Super Pulley to the end of a track (as shown below), to a ring stand, or to a rotational apparatus.

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 Smart Pulley (Linear), and select OK.

4. Enter the Spoke Arc Length. This value is equal to the circumference of the pulley's inner groove divided by the number of spokes. 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 spin the pulley. The software records a measurement each time the pulley blocks and then unblocks the photogate beam. Measuring speed requires two initial passes, and acceleration requires three initial passes, before the first measurement is recorded.