Measure velocity using NXT and sensors

Write a series of articles that show ways to measure velocity using NXT sensors.
  • velocity using rotation sensor
    • degrees to rotations
    • rotation to circumference
    • rotations to distance
    • use Investigator mode
    • plot degrees vs time
    • convert degrees to rotations
    • convert rotations to distance
    • plot distance vs time
    • vary power to motors - any difference between plots? (will see steeper slopes for larger powers)
    • use d2,t2 - d1,t1 to determine velocities for different motor powers - do they agree?
    • what happens if you program the motors to go backwards?
    • randomly select a distance and mark it with tape on the floor.  Have students use their data only to go up to finish line.
  • velocity using ultrasonic sensor
    • use Investigator mode
    • start close to wall and move away
      • vary power to motors (run three times for each power, if feasible)
      • plot velocity vs time (for different motor power)
      • notice positive slopes
    • start a distance from wall and move toward it
      • vary power to motors
      • plot velocity vs time (for different motor power)
      • notice negative slopes
    • use d2,t2 - d1,t1 to determine velocities for different motor powers - do they agree?
    • Instructor selects a motor power and a distance (less than 2 m).  Students use their data in a challenge to go up to but not over the finish line.
  • velocity using light sensor
    • similar to a photogate - show students how it works with a cart on a track and Loggerpro
    • use a piece of white posterboard
    • create varying strips of of black tape of different widths (three of each size)
    • use Investigator mode
    • test each strip size at different powers
    • calculate velocity by dividing length of black by time in light sensor reads black
    • three strips provide data to get an average
    • Give the students a motor power and time, ask them to calculate how far the robot will go.
    • Write a program using this data to go up to but not over the finish line.
  • Do the picket fence activity with the NXT
    • this is like the LoggerPro activity where you drop the picket fence through a photogate to measure gravitational acceleration
    • create a picket fence (equally spaced white and black stripes) - measure them
    • Make sure the robot is pretty close to the fence
    • measure at least 10 points per second
    • Have the robot go by the picket fence with the light sensor pointed toward the picket fence on the side of the road
    • Determine speed (for a constant speed robot)
    • Determine acceleration for an accelerating robot
  • Angular velocity