PASCO ME-1240 User manual

Reference Guide
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Wireless Smart Cart
ME-1240 (Red) / ME-1241 (Blue)
®
800-772-8700 (US) [phone]
www.pasco.com [email protected]
Hardware
Required
See the PASCO Web page at
www.pasco.com/software
for help in selecting the right PASCO software and to
check the latest versions.
Introduction
The Wireless Smart Cart is a combination wireless and
USB device that connects to a computer or tablet
through Bluetooth® (version 4.2 or later), or to a
computer or USB charger with a micro USB cable
(included). The Smart Cart has a durable ABS body, a
three-position plunger, and nearly frictionless wheels. It
includes built-in sensors that measure force, position,
velocity, and three degrees of freedom in acceleration.
The Smart Cart also includes a gyroscope-type sensing
element that can measure rotational motion. The Smart
Cart can make its measurements on or off a dynamics
track and transmit them wirelessly. For easy identifica-
tion, the Smart Cart is available in red or blue.
Bluetooth Status LED
Battery Status LED
Bumper
Attachment Hook
Attachment
Magnetic Bumper
Power: Rechargeable Battery
OR
USB Cable
Micro USB Cable
Connection:
Device ID
Micro USB Port
Plunger Release
Velcro® Tab
Velcro® Tab
ON/OFF Icon USB Icon
Accelerometer Position
M5 Threaded Hole
ON/OFF Button
Accessory Tray
Attachment
Point
Built-in Wheel Encoder
for Position and Velocity
Included Equipment Part Number
Wireless Smart Cart ME-1240 or ME-1241
Magnetic Bumper ME-9885A
Hook Attachment
Bumper Attachment
Micro USB Cable (1 meter)
Software For Information
PASCO Data Collection Software www.pasco.com

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The accessory tray on the top of the Smart Cart can hold
any of the accessories designed for a PASCO cart. The
Smart Cart dimensions are the same as other PASCO
carts and can be used with any PASCO track. The
Smart Cart can be stacked with any PASCO cart and its
mass is approximately 0.250 kilograms (about 250
grams). It has attachment points on the top and bottom
of both ends, and Velcro® tabs for inelastic collisions on
one end. The Magnetic Bumper, Bumper Attachment,
and Hook Attachment fit into the threaded hole in the
end of the Smart Cart opposite to the tabs.
The built-in sensors measure force in the range between
-100 newtons (N) and +100 N, acceleration in the range
between -16g and +16g (g = ±9.8 m/s2), and angular
rotation rate up to ±245 degrees per second (dps). It
measures force as a push or pull along its X axis and
measures acceleration in three dimensions (X, Y, and
Z). The PASCO Data Collection Software can also show
the resultant acceleration. The encoder wheels on the
Smart Cart measure motion to a maximum of 3.0 meters
per second with a resolution of 0.2 millimeters (mm).
The positive direction of motion is the same as the
X-axis in the graphic that represents the acceleration
sensor’s position
.
The Smart Cart is designed to optimize the battery
usage time. Since each Smart Cart has a unique Device
ID number, more than one can be connected to a
computer or tablet at the same time.
Data Collection Software
See the PASCO Web page at
www.pasco.com/software
for help in selecting the right PASCO software and to
check the latest versions.
Software Help
See the SPARKvue Help or PASCO Capstone Help for
information about collecting, displaying, and analyzing
data.
• In SPARKvue, select the HELP button ( ) in any
screen including the Home Screen.
• In PASCO Capstone, select PASCO Capstone Help
from the Help menu, or press F1.
Compatibility
Check the PASCO Web page at
www.pasco.com/wireless
for the latest information on Bluetooth SMART
compatibility.
Three-position Plunger
Hook
Attachment
+X
+Y
+Z
Acceleration Sensor
Position
Attachment
point
Attachment point
The Smart Cart is designed by PASCO
in California and assembled in China.
PASCO Capstone SPARKvue
• Mac OS X • Mac OS X
• Windows • Windows
•iOS
•Android
• Chromebook
Platform Bluetooth SMART Compatibility
iOS iPad 3 and later
iPhone 4S and later
iPod touch 5 and later
SPARK Element All models
Android Android 4.3 and later
Chromebook Chrome OS (requires PS-3500 Adapter*)
Mac OS X Models introduced July 2011 or later*
Windows Windows 7 and later (requires PS-3500 Adapter*)

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+See Appendix A for more information about the PS-3500 Adapter and
Mac OS X models.
Initial Step: Charge the Battery
•Connect the Cable: Use the Micro USB Cable to
connect the micro USB port on the Wireless Smart
Cart to a USB port or USB charger such as the
PASCO PS-3501 USB Charging Station. Charging
begins automatically. The charger circuit inside the
Smart Cart turns itself off when the unit is fully
charged. The battery status LED will shine yellow as
the battery is charging, and will shine green when
the battery is charged. The battery is partially
charged at the factory. Initial charging time may be
three hours or longer depending on the power
source and the condition of the battery.
ON/OFF Information
To turn the Smart Cart on, press and hold the ON button
for a moment until a status LED starts blinking. To turn
the Smart Cart off, press and hold the ON button for a
moment until the status LEDs stop blinking. The
Wireless Smart Cart puts itself to sleep after several
minutes of inactivity if not connected and a much longer
time of inactivity if connected.
LED Information
The Bluetooth and the Battery Status LEDs operate as
follows depending on the type of connection:
For a wireless Bluetooth connection:
For a micro USB cable connection to a USB
port :
For a micro USB cable connection to a USB
charger :
Check the PASCO Web page at:
www.pasco.com/software
for help in selecting the right software and to check the
latest software version.
Set Up the Software
SPARKvue
See the SPARKvue Help for information about setting up
the software:
• In SPARKvue, select the HELP button ( ) in any
screen, such as the Home Screen.
Connecting the Wireless Smart Cart to a Tablet or a
Computer via Bluetooth
• For SPARKvue, select the Bluetooth icon ( ) to
open the Wireless Devices list. In the Wireless
Devices list, the devices are ordered by proximity to
the tablet or computer. Select the Smart Cart that
matches the XXX-XXX number found on the Smart
Cart. Select Done. A list of measurements appears
under the Smart Cart in the Home Screen.
Connecting the Wireless Smart Cart to a Computer with
the Micro USB Cable
• Connect the micro end of the included Micro USB
Cable into the micro USB port on the end of the
Smart Cart. Connect the other end of the Micro USB
Cable to a USB port on the computer, or into a
powered USB hub connected to the computer.
Micro USB
Port
Micro USB Cable
USB
Port
Bluetooth LED Status Battery LED Status
Red blink Ready to pair Red blink Low power
Green blink Connected
Bluetooth LED Status Battery LED Status
OFF -- Yellow ON Charging
OFF -- Green ON Charged
Bluetooth LED Status Battery LED Status
Red blink Ready to pair Yellow ON Charging
Green blink Connected Green ON Charged

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Zero (Tare) the Smart Cart
At the beginning of an experiment, the measurement
from the built-in force and acceleration sensors may not
be zero when the force or acceleration is actually zero.
This is a normal behavior that is corrected when you
zero (or tare) the sensor using the PASCO Data
Collection Software. See Appendix B for information
about setting the built-in sensors to zero.
Collect Data
• In the SPARKvue Home Screen, select a
measurement from the list under the sensor’s name.
A graph of the measurement versus time opens.
• In SPARKvue, select the Start button ( ) to begin
collecting data.
PASCO Capstone
See the PASCO Capstone Help for information about
setting up the software:
• In PASCO Capstone, select PASCO Capstone Help
from the Help menu, or press F1.
Connecting the Wireless Smart Cart to a Tablet or a
Computer via Bluetooth
• For PASCO Capstone, select Hardware Setup in the
Tools palette. The devices in the list are ordered by
proximity to the tablet or computer. Select the Smart
Cart with the address that matches the XXX-XXX
Device ID number on the Smart Cart.
Connecting the Wireless Smart Cart to a Computer with
the Micro USB Cable
• Connect the micro end of the included Micro USB
Cable into the micro USB port on the side of the
Smart Cart. Connect the other end of the Micro USB
Cable to a USB port on the computer, or into a
powered USB hub connected to the computer.
Zero (Tare) the Force Sensor
At the beginning of an experiment, the measurement
from the built-in force and acceleration sensors may not
be zero when the force or acceleration is actually zero.
This is a normal behavior that is corrected when you
zero (or tare) the sensor using the PASCO Data
Collection Software. See Appendix B for information
about how to set the built-in sensors to zero.
Collect Data
• In PASCO Capstone, select a display in the main
window or from the Display palette. In the display,
use the <Select Measurement> menu to pick a
measurement to be shown.
•Select Record to begin collecting data.
Troubleshooting the Wireless Smart Cart
• If the Wireless Smart Cart loses Bluetooth
connection and will not reconnect, try cycling the ON
button. Press and briefly
hold the button until the
status LEDs blink in sequence, and then release the
button. Start the Smart Cart in the usual way.
• If the Smart Cart stops communicating with the
computer software or tablet application, try
restarting the software or application. If the problem
remains, press and hold the ON button for 10
seconds and then release. Start the Smart Cart in
the usual way.
• Turn Bluetooth off and then turn it back on. Retry.
Set Up the Hardware
Connecting Bumper and Hook Attachments
Screw the bumper or hook attachment into the threaded
hole on the front end of the Smart Cart as shown.
The Magnetic Bumper
has a metal post that
fits in the small hole to
the side of the threaded
hole in the front end of
the Smart Cart. The
post ensures that the
Magnetic Bumper is
mounted in the correct
orientation.
Bumper
Attachment
Hook
Attachment
Magnetic
Bumper
Metal
Post

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Direction of Acceleration Sensitivity
The acceleration sensing unit inside the Smart Cart is
oriented so that the lines of greatest sensitivity follow the
three X-Y-Z arrows indicating the direction of
acceleration.
In this orientation, the X-axis direction is ‘along’ the long
axis of the Smart Cart, the Y-axis direction is
‘perpendicular’ relative to the top of the Smart Cart. The
Z-axis direction is ‘perpendicular’ to the long axis of the
Smart Cart and parallel relative to the top of the cart.
Test the Smart Cart’s Output Using Earth’s Gravity
Start the PASCO Data Collection Software. If the Smart
Cart is held so that the X-axis on the top of the Smart
Cart is vertical and pointing upward, the Acceleration
X-axis reading is +1.0 g. If the Smart Cart is turned so
the X-axis is vertical but pointing downward, the
Acceleration X-axis reading is -1.0 g (where “g”
represents the acceleration due to gravity).
If the Smart Cart is held so that the accessory tray is on
top and horizontal, the Acceleration Y-axis reading is 1.0
g. If the Smart Cart is turned so that the accessory tray is
horizontal and on the bottom, the Acceleration Y-Axis
reading is -1.0 g.
If the Smart Cart is placed so its side so that the Z-axis
on the top of the cart is pointing upward, the
Acceleration Z-axis reading is 1.0 g. If the Smart Cart is
placed on its other side so the Z-axis is pointing down-
ward, the Acceleration Z-axis reading is -1.0 g.
Smart Cart Accessories
For help in deciding on accessories for the Smart Cart,
go to
www.pasco.com/products
and select Carts and Tracks under Product Families.
Accessories Include:
• Fan Accessory
• Ballistic Cart Accessory
+X
+Y
+Z
+1.0 g in X
-1.0 g in X
+1.0 g in Y
-1.0 g in Y
+1.0 g in Z
-1.0 g in Z

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• PAScar Cart Masses
• Compact Cart Mass
• IDS Spring Kit
• Dynamics Track End Stop (2 pack)
• Dynamics Track Feet (pair)
• Discover Collision Bracket
• Mechanical Oscillator/Driver
• PAStrack
• Curved PAStrack
• PAStrack Inclined Plane Accessory
• Classic Dynamics Tracks (1.2 and 2.2 m)
Systems
• Smart Cart Dynamics System 1.2 m
• Smart Cart Dynamics System 2.2 m
Mounting the Fan Accessory on the Smart Cart
• Snap the sides of the Fan Accessory over the rails
on the accessory tray of the Smart Cart.
About the Battery
The Smart Cart’s battery is partially charged at the
factory. If the battery status LED blinks red, use the
micro USB cable to connect the sensor to a USB port or
a USB charger.
Battery Usage
Battery life is very important to making the product
simple and always ready to use, so all of the PASCO
wireless products are designed for long battery life. For
example, the Smart Cart turns itself off after a few
minutes of inactivity to conserve battery life.
The battery life between charges for the Smart Cart
varies depending on the sampling rate. The battery life
ranges between eleven hours for high sample rates to
more than 70 hours for low sample rates.
In typical classroom/lab use, this would translate to a
battery life between charges ranging from one to four
weeks or more, because full-day continuous sampling
would be unusual. Even in the most extreme case with a
high sample rate, the Smart Cart battery would support a
full day of use before needing to recharge.
Fan
Accessory
Rails
ON/OFF
Switch

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Maximizing Battery Life
One of the factors that affects battery life is the storage
temperature. Therefore, avoid storing the Smart Cart in
very cold or very hot environments.
Troubleshooting
If the Battery Status LED blinks red, use the micro USB
cable to connect the Smart Cart to a USB port or a USB
charger.
If the Smart Cart battery will not charge, it may need to
be replaced. Contact Technical Support for information
about battery replacement.
Suggested Experiments
Practically any experiment that has a force, acceleration,
linear motion, or rotational motion measurement can be
done with the ME-1240 or ME-1241 Smart Cart. See the
PASCO Web site at
www.pasco.com/products/lab-manuals
for more information about experiments.
Calibrating the Sensors
The Smart Cart is factory calibrated. Further calibration
is not necessary, especially if you are measuring a
change in force, acceleration, or motion rather than
absolute values. However, it is possible to calibrate the
sensors. For detailed information, see Appendix C.
Specifications
*During burst mode, other sensors will be turned off.
Bluetooth distance
30 m (unobstructed)
Technical Support
For assistance with any PASCO product, contact
PASCO at:
The Reference Guide will be updated periodically. For
the latest revision of this Reference Guide, visit the
PASCO Web site at
www.pasco.com/manuals
and enter the product number, PS-3202, in the text
window.
Replacement Parts
For information about replacement parts, contact
Technical Support:
USB Cable, Micro-to-USB A
Hook Attachment
Bumper Attachment
Magnetic Bumper (ME-9885A)
Limited Warranty
For a description of the product warranty, see the PASCO catalog. For
more information visit www.pasco.com/legal
Copyright
This PASCO scientific
Reference Guide is copyrighted with all rights
reserved. Permission is granted to non-profit educational institutions for
reproduction of any part of this manual, providing the reproductions are
used only in their laboratories and classrooms, and are not sold for profit.
Reproduction under any other circumstances, without the written consent
of PASCO scientific, is prohibited. V: 4/16.
Trademarks
PASCO, PASCO scientific, PASCO Capstone, PASPORT, and
SPARKvue are trademarks or registered trademarks of PASCO scientific,
in the United States and/or in other countries. All other brands, products,
Item: Force Value
Range ±100 newtons (N)
Resolution 0.1 N
Accuracy ±1%
Maximum sampling rate 500 samples/second
Burst mode sampling rate* 5000 Hz (for 1 second)
Item: Position Value
Resolution ±0.2 mm
Item: Velocity Value
Maximum velocity ±3 m/s
Maximum sampling rate 100 samples/second
Item: Acceleration Value
Range ±16g (g = 9.8 m/s2)
Maximum sampling rate 500 samples/second
Address: PASCO scientific
10101 Foothills Blvd.
Roseville, CA 95747-7100
Phone: [phone] (worldwide)
8700-772-8700 (U.S.)
Web: www.pasco.com/support
Email: [e-mail]

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or service names are or may be trademarks or service marks of, and are
used to identify, products or services of their respective owners. For more
information visit www.pasco.com/legal.
FCC Statement
This Class A digital device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may
not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
CE Statement
This device has been tested and found to comply with the essential
requirements and other relevant provisions of the applicable EU
Directives.
Product End of Life Disposal Instructions:
This electronic product is subject to disposal and recycling regulations that
vary by country and region. It is your responsibility to recycle your
electronic equipment per your local environmental laws and regulations to
ensure that it will be recycled in a manner that protects human health and
the environment. To find out where you can drop off your waste equipment
for recycling, please contact your local waste recycle/disposal service, or
the place where you purchased the product.
The European Union WEEE (Waste Electronic and
Electrical Equipment) symbol (to the right) and on the
product or its packaging indicates that this product
must not be disposed of in a standard waste
container.
Battery Disposal Instructions:
Batteries contain chemicals that, if released, may affect the environment
and human health. Batteries should be collected separately for recycling,
and recycled at a local hazardous material disposal location adhering to
your country and local government regulations. To find out where you can
drop off your waste battery for recycling, please contact your local waste
disposal service, or the product representative.
The Lithium Polymer (Li-Poly) rechargeable battery used in this product is
marked with the International symbols to indicate the need for the
separate collection and recycling of batteries.

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Appendix A: Compatibility
Check the PASCO Web page at
www.pasco.com/wireless
for the latest information on Bluetooth SMART
compatibility.
*The PS-3500 USB Bluetooth 4.0
Adapter, when connected to a USB
port, allows up to three Bluetooth
SMART devices, such as this PASCO
wireless device, to connect to Windows
computers, Chromebooks, and older
Macintosh computers.
Note: The PS-3500 USB Bluetooth 4,0
Adapter is the only adapter we can currently
recommend. Many other Bluetooth 4.0 adapters are
available but this adapter has a specific design that
enables in-app pairing of Bluetooth SMART sensors.
1To check the Mac computer’s Bluetooth compatibility,
do the following:
• Click the  (Apple) Menu.
• Select
About This Mac
• Click the More Info ... button.
• Click the
System Report ... button.
• Select
Bluetooth from the sidebar on the left,
underneath
Hardware .
• Scan down the list of information until you find “LMP
Version”.
• If your Mac is equipped with Bluetooth SMART, the
LMP Version will show 0x6. (Anything lower than
0x6 means an older version of Bluetooth. Your
device will need the PS-3500 USB Bluetooth 4.0
Adapter.)
1The Mac Mini and MacBook Air were updated with
Bluetooth SMART support in 2011. The MacBook Pro
was updated in 2012. The Mac Pro that debuted in
December 2013 has Bluetooth SMART support.
Exception: Please contact PASCO Technical Support for
further instructions before you upgrade to El Capitan
(Mac OS X 10.11.x), if you have a Macintosh with LMP
version “0x4” that requires the PS-3500 USB Bluetooth
4.0 Adapter.
What is Bluetooth SMART®?
Bluetooth SMART (also known as Bluetooth Low Energy
or Version 4.0 of the Bluetooth specification) is the latest
protocol of the proprietary open wireless technology
standard created by telecoms vendor Ericsson in 1994.
It is the power- and application-friendly version of
Bluetooth that was built for the Internet of Things (IoT).
Appendix B: Zero (tare) the Sensors
Zero (Tare) the Smart Cart
At the beginning of an experiment, the measurement
from the built-in force and acceleration sensors may not
be zero when the force or acceleration is actually zero.
This is a normal behavior that is corrected when you
zero (or tare) the sensor using the PASCO Data
Collection Software.
See the SPARKvue Help for up-to-date information
about zeroing the Smart Cart:
• In SPARKvue, select the HELP button ( ) in any
screen, such as the Home Screen.
In SPARKvue, the process for setting the Wireless
Smart Cart to zero starts in the Home Screen ( ).
1. To zero the force sensor, start by selecting Force in
the Home Screen to open a Graph display of Force
versus Time.
2. In the Graph display, select the Experiment Tools
( ) icon to open the Experiment Tools window.
3. In the Experiment Tools window, select Configure
Sensor in the menu to open the Sensor
Configuration window.
4. In the Sensor Configuration window, select the Edit
Sensor Properties button to open the Edit Sensor
Properties menu.
5. The Edit Sensor Properties menu shows two
choices:
Platform Bluetooth SMART Compatibility
iOS iPad 3 and later
iPhone 4S and later
iPod touch 5 and later
SPARK Element All models
Android Android 4.3 and later
Chromebook Chrome OS (requires PS-3500 Adapter*)
Mac OS X1Models introduced July 2011 or later
Windows Windows 7 and later (requires PS-3500 Adapter*)
PS-3500 USB
Bluetooth 4.0
Adapter

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•Smart Cart Force Sensor
•Smart Cart Acceleration Sensor.
6. Select the Smart Cart Force Sensor choice from the
menu to open the Edit Sensor Properties window.
7. The Edit Sensor Properties window offers two
choices under Tare Sensor:
•Zero Sensor Automatically On Start:
• Zero Sensor Now
8. In the Edit Sensor Properties window, select Zero
Sensor Automatically On Start if you want the
sensor to be set to zero every time that data
collection begins. Select Zero Sensor Now to set the
sensor to zero manually.
9. Select OK at the bottom of the window to return to
the Graph display.
To zero the acceleration for the Acceleration Sensor,
return to the Home Screen ( ). (NOTE: There may
be a message about saving your data.)
1. To zero the Smart Cart Acceleration Sensor, start by
selecting any of the choices for acceleration in the
Home Screen to open a Graph display of
Acceleration versus Time.
2. In the Graph display, select the Experiment Tools
( ) icon to open the Experiment Tools window.
3. Follow the same procedure that you used for setting
the force measurement to zero.
See the PASCO Capstone Help for up-to-date
information about zeroing the Smart Cart:
• In PASCO Capstone, select PASCO Capstone Help
from the Help menu, or press F1.
In PASCO Capstone, there are options for setting the
Wireless Force Sensor to zero.
One option is to use the Zero button:
1. Select Smart Cart Force Sensor from the Common
Rate menu and then click the Zero button. This will
set the sensor reading to zero.
2. Repeat the process to zero the Smart Cart
Acceleration Sensor if needed.
Another option is to select a choice in the sensor’s
Properties palette:
1. Click Hardware Setup in the Tools palette to open
the Hardware Setup window.
2. Click the Properties icon for the Smart Cart Force
Sensor to open the Properties window.
3. In the Properties window, select one of the three
choices and then click OK at the bottom to close the
window.
•Zero Sensor Measurements at Start – Zero the
Wireless Force Sensor at the start of data collection.
•Zero Sensor Now – Works the same as the Zero
button.
•Remove Sensor Zero Offset – Undo. Return the
Wireless Force Sensor to its previous state.
4. Repeat the process for the Smart Cart Acceleration
Sensor if needed.
Appendix C: Calibration
The Smart Cart is factory calibrated, so calibration is not
necessary, especially if you are measuring a change in
force rather than absolute force values. However, it is
possible to calibrate the sensor.
Zero
button
Common Rate menu Default sample rate
Properties
icon
C.
Smart Cart Force Sensor Properties Window

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Prepare for Calibration
Calibration will need a 1 kilogram mass, the hook
attachment, string, and a horizontally mounted support
rod to hold the Smart Cart. The Smart Cart will need to
be “connected” with a tablet or computer, and the data
collection software (for example, SPARKvue) should be
running.
Using SPARKvue Software for Calibration
See the SPARKvue Help for information about
calibrating:
• In SPARKvue, select the HELP button ( ) in any
screen, such as the Home Screen.
1. Screw the hook attachment into the Smart Cart.
2. Use string tied to the two attachment points on the
pad end of the Smart Cart to hang the cart from a
horizontal rod.
3. Click (or press) the Experiment Tools button ( ).
•The Experiment Tools screen opens.
4. Click Calibrate Sensor.
•The Calibrate Sensor: Select Measurement screen
opens.
5. Click the Sensor box and click the sensor to be
calibrated.
6. Click the Calibration Type box and click a calibration
type. (For this example, click “2-point”.)
7. Click Next.
•The Calibrate Sensor Enter Values screen opens.
8. Hang the 1 kilogram mass on the hook attachment.
9. The gravitational force on the mass is pulling in the
negative direction at -9.8 newtons (N). Under
Calibration Point 1, click the Standard Value box
and enter the known force value (that is, -9.8).
10. Under Calibration Point 1, click Read From Sensor.
• The value measured by the sensor is transferred to
the Sensor Value box.
11. Remove the 1 kilogram mass from the hook
attachment. The net force now is zero N.
12. Under Calibration Point 2, click the Standard Value
box and enter the second known force value (i.e., 0).
13. Under Calibration Point 2, click the Read From
Sensor box.
• The second value measured by the sensor is
transferred to the Sensor Value box.
14. Click OK.
Using PASCO Capstone for Calibration
See the PASCO Capstone Help for information about
calibrating:
• In PASCO Capstone, select PASCO Capstone Help
from the Help menu, or press F1.
1. Screw the hook attachment into the Smart Cart.
2. Use string tied to the attachment points on the pad
end of the Smart Cart to hang the cart from a
horizontal rod.
3. Click Calibration ( ) in the Tools palette.
4. Choose the measurement you would like to calibrate
now: Force Measurement.
5. Click Next.
6. Choose the type of calibration you would like to
perform: Two Standards (2 point).
7. Click Next.
8. Hang the 1 kilogram mass on the hook attachment.
9. The net force on the sensor is -9.8 N. Enter the
value in the Standard Value text box.
10. When the Current Value stabilizes, click Set Current
Value to Standard Value.
11. Click Next.
12. Remove the 1 kilogram mass from the hook
attachment. The second force value is zero N.

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13. Enter the second known force value (i.e., 0) in the
Standard Value text box.
14. When the Current Value stabilizes, click Set Current
Value to Standard Value.
15. Click Next.
16. Click Finish.
Theory of Calibration
One of the functions of the PASCO Data Collection
Software is to take the stream of raw data from a sensor
and transform it into the calibrated data that you see in
the Graph, Table, and other displays. If you do not
calibrate a sensor yourself, the software uses a default
calibration that is loaded when the sensor is connected.
You can think of the software as taking in raw data and
outputting calibrated data. When you perform a
calibration, the software redefines the linear equation
that transforms the raw input data into the calibrated
output data. The linear function is of the form:
Raw Input = Slope x Calibrated Output + Offset
Or:
Calibrated Output = (Raw Input - Offset)/Slope
The function can be represented graphically as a line.
Two points, Pt 1 and Pt 2, define the line. In the
two-point calibration procedure, each point is reset by
associating a known standard value (for instance, the
temperature of ice water) with a raw input measurement
that the sensor sends out when it is in that standard. In a
one-point calibration, only one of the points is reset by
the user.
Types of Calibration
There are three types of calibration: two-point, one-point
slope, and one-point offset. Any of these calibrations can
be performed on a single sensor, or simultaneously on
multiple similar sensors; however, for any given sensor,
the software will automatically select the most typical
calibration type as the default setting.
Two-Point
In a two-point calibration, you reset two points to define
a new line. This type of calibration affects both the slope
and the offset.
One-Point Slope
In a one-point slope calibration, you reset only one point.
The slope of the line changes so that the line intersects
the new point, while the offset (or Y-intercept) does not
change.
One-Point Offset
In a one-point offset calibration, you reset only one point.
The line shifts so that it intersects the new point, but its
slope does not change.
Offset calibration is usually used to make one sensor
agree with another sensor. Due to normal variation
among probes, a second probe might read consistently

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Technical Support ME-1240 (Red) / ME-1241 (Blue)
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013-14727B
higher than the first probe. Normally this difference
would be insignificant; however, an offset calibration can
be used to bring the sensors into closer alignment.