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Rotary Motion Sensor User Manual

Order Code: RMV-BTD

The Vernier Rotary Motion Sensor is a bidirectional angle sensor designed to measure rotational or linear position, velocity and acceleration. It is used for a variety of investigations, including measurement of rotational inertia and verification of the conservation of angular momentum.

Additional experiments and innovative uses can be found at www.vernier.com/rmv-btd

Note: Vernier products are designed for educational use. Our products are not designed nor are they recommended for any industrial, medical, or commercial process such as life support, patient diagnosis, control of a manufacturing process, or industrial testing of any kind.

What's Included

  • Rotary Motion Sensor
  • Thumb screw
  • 3-step pulley and mounting screw
  • O-ring

Compatible Software

Choose a platform below to see its compatibility requirements. This sensor requires an interface (sold separately).

LabQuest
InterfaceLabQuest App
LabQuest 3Full support
LabQuest 2 (discontinued)Full support
LabQuest (discontinued)Full support
Computers
Software
InterfaceGraphical AnalysisLogger Pro
LabQuest MiniFull supportFull support
LabQuest 3Full supportFull support
LabQuest 2 (discontinued)Full supportFull support
LabQuest Stream (discontinued)Full support 1Full support
LabQuest (discontinued)Full supportFull support
LabPro (discontinued)IncompatibleFull support

Compatibility Notes

  1. Connect LabQuest Stream via USB. Wireless connection is not supported.
Chromebook
Software
InterfaceGraphical Analysis
LabQuest MiniFull support
LabQuest 3Full support
LabQuest 2 (discontinued)Full support
LabQuest Stream (discontinued)Full support 1
LabQuest (discontinued)Full support

Compatibility Notes

  1. Connect LabQuest Stream via USB. Wireless connection is not supported.
iOS
Software
InterfaceGraphical AnalysisGraphical Analysis GW
LabQuest Stream (discontinued)Full supportIncompatible
LabQuest 3Full support 1Full support 1
LabQuest 2 (discontinued)Full support 1Full support 1

Compatibility Notes

  1. iOS and Androidâ„¢ devices can only connect to LabQuest 2 or LabQuest 3 via Wireless Data Sharing.
Android
Software
InterfaceGraphical AnalysisGraphical Analysis GW
LabQuest Stream (discontinued)Full supportIncompatible
LabQuest 3Full support 1Full support 1
LabQuest 2 (discontinued)Full support 1Full support 1

Compatibility Notes

  1. iOS and Androidâ„¢ devices can only connect to LabQuest 2 or LabQuest 3 via Wireless Data Sharing.
Arduino
Software
InterfaceArduino
Vernier Arduino® Interface ShieldFull support
LabVIEW
Software
InterfaceNI LabVIEW
SensorDAQ (discontinued)Full support
Vernier myDAQ AdapterFull support
Texas Instruments
Software
InterfaceEasyDataDataMateDataQuestTI-Nspire Software
CBL 2 (discontinued)Full support 1 2Full support 1 2 3IncompatibleIncompatible
LabPro (discontinued)Full support 1 2Full support 1 2 3IncompatibleIncompatible
TI-Nspire Lab Cradle (discontinued)IncompatibleIncompatibleFull supportFull support

Compatibility Notes

  1. EasyData and DataMate do not support this sensor. Use DaRotary (not supported on color screen TI-84 Plus calculators).
  2. CBL 2 and LabPro interfaces cannot be used with TI-84 Plus CE calculators.
  3. DataMate cannot be used with color screen TI-84 Plus calculators; use EasyData with these calculators.

Getting Started

  1. Connect the sensor to the interface (LabQuest Mini, LabQuest 3, etc.).
  2. Start the appropriate data-collection software (Vernier Graphical Analysis®, LabQuest® App, or Logger Proâ„¢) if not already running, and choose New from File menu. The software will identify the sensor and load a default data‑collection setup. You are now ready to collect data.

If you are collecting data using a Chromebook™, mobile device such as iPad® or Android™ tablet, or a Vernier wireless interface, please see the following link for up-to-date connection information:

www.vernier.com/start/rmv-btd

Using the Product

Example Experiments

The following examples show various ways to use the Rotary Motion Sensor. Some of these examples use accessory products described below.

Atwood’s Machine

Attach the 3-step pulley to the rotating shaft. Use the thumb screw to attach the Rotary Motion Sensor to a ring stand. Attach each end of the string to a mass and run the string over the pulley. Use the Rotary Motion Sensor to determine the acceleration of the system.

Moment of Inertia of a Disk

(requires Rotational Motion Accessory Kit, see Accessories section)

Attach an Ultra Pulley to the Rotary Motion Sensor. Attach the 3-step pulley to the rotating shaft. Attach the disk to the 3-step pulley. Attach a string to the underside of the hub. Attach the Ultra Pulley to the Rotary Motion Sensor using the Ultra Pulley Swivel Mount. Run the string over the Ultra Pulley and attach a weight to the end of the string. Use the weight to apply a torque to the system while the Rotary Motion Sensor measures the angular acceleration.

Moment of Inertia of Point Masses

(requires Rotational Motion Accessory Kit, see Accessories section)

Use the same set up as described in the previous section. This time attach a rod with two masses to the 3-step pulley. Use the weight to apply a torque to the system while the Rotary Motion Sensor measures the angular acceleration.

Conservation of Angular Momentum

(requires Rotational Motion Accessory Kit, see Accessories section)

Attach the disk to the 3-step pulley. Give the disk a spin. While the system is rotating, drop a second disk onto the first disk. Observe the change in the angular velocity before and after the mass is added to the system.

Motion of a Physical Pendulum

(requires Rotational Motion Accessory Kit, see Accessories section)

Attach the 3-step pulley to the Rotary Motion Sensor with the small step next to the sensor body. Attach the center of the rod with two masses to the pulley. Position the masses so they are not symmetric. Position the sensor so the face of the pulley is vertical. Start the pendulum swinging, and determine the angular acceleration as a function of the angle.

Configuring the Sensor

The 3-step pulley can be mounted on the rotating shaft in either of two orientations: with the wide side of the pulley near the sensor body, or with the narrow side of the pulley near the sensor body. The easiest way to insert the
3-step pulley on the Rotary Motion Sensor shaft is hold the shaft to prevent rotation as you turn the pulley to align the key to the slot. The o-ring can be slipped over the outer pulley to increase friction when the pulley is in contact with a surface.

The thumb screw can be threaded into the back of the sensor allowing the Rotary Motion Sensor to be attached to a ring stand.

The sensor also has a set of accessory mounting holes which allow it to connect to existing accessories.

Specifications

Resolution

1° or 0.25° 1

Maximum speed

30 rev/s at 1° resolution

7.5 rev/s at 0.25° resolution

3-step pulley

10 mm, 29 mm and 48 mm groove diameter

Note: High resolution mode is also known as X4 mode. When active, the sensor has a 0.25 degree resolution and a limited maximum measurable rotational velocity.

Care and Maintenance

Do not wrap the cable tightly around the sensor for storage. Repeatedly doing so can irreparably damage the wires and is not covered under warranty.

How the Sensor Works

The Rotary Motion Sensor uses a quadrature optical (incremental type) encoder to measure the amount and direction of rotation. The encoder, which is attached to the rotating sensor shaft, consists of a coded pattern of opaque and transparent sectors. The quadrature encoder produces two pulse output patterns 90° apart in phase. The position of the shaft is determined by counting the pulses. The phase relationship between the output signals determines the direction of rotation.

Troubleshooting

For troubleshooting and FAQs, see www.vernier.com/til/1439

Repair Information

If you have watched the related product video(s), followed the troubleshooting steps, and are still having trouble with your Rotary Motion Sensor, contact Vernier Technical Support at support@vernier.com or call 888-837-6437. Support specialists will work with you to determine if the unit needs to be sent in for repair. At that time, a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number will be issued and instructions will be communicated on how to return the unit for repair.

Accessories

Item Order Code

Rotary Motion Accessory Kit

AK-RMV

Rotary Motion Motor Kit

MK-RMV

Warranty

Warranty information for this product can be found on the Support tab at www.vernier.com/rmv-btd/#support

General warranty information can be found at www.vernier.com/warranty

Disposal

When disposing of this electronic product, do not treat it as household waste. Its disposal is subject to regulations that vary by country and region. This item should be given to an applicable collection point for the recycling of electrical and electronic equipment. By ensuring that this product is disposed of correctly, you help prevent potential negative consequences on human health or on the environment. The recycling of materials will help to conserve natural resources. For more detailed information about recycling this product, contact your local city office or your disposal service.

The symbol, shown here, indicates that this product must not be disposed of in a standard waste container.

Contact Support

Fill out our online support form or call us toll-free at 1-888-837-6437.

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