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	Lights Out: Periodic Phenomena

Activity Overview

In this activity, students will use a light sensor to collect intensity data for fast and slow variations of intensities. They will then describe these variations using the concepts of period and frequency.

Before the Activity

Connect the light sensor to Channel 1 on the CBL 2™ or Vernier LabPro®

Connect the CBL 2 or LabPro to the calculator using the Unit-to-Unit cable

See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity

Print pages 237 - 243 from the attached PDF file for your class

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During the Activity

Distribute the pages to your class.

Follow the Activity procedures:

Method 1:

Point the sensor toward a light source and begin data collection

Use the thumb to cover and uncover the light sensor at one-covering-per-second rate

Observe the graph of light intensity versus time

Determine the period and frequency of the cover-uncover function

Method 2:

Point the sensor toward a fluorescent light source and recorded intensity every 0.0005 seconds

Examine the light intensity versus time plot

Determine the period and frequency of the pattern from the fluorescent light

Model the data using an absolute value sinusoidal equation

calculate the flicker frequency

After the Activity

Students will analyze the data and fill in the Data Collection and Analysis Sheet. They also answer the questions listed in it.

Review student results

As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging

Re-teach concepts as necessary

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