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Re: revolution! online REAL DATA from lab experiments

Today I was participating in a "poling optical fiber" experiment
at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The purpose was to induce
quazi-permanent optical birefringence. The dielectric material (fiber)
was placed in a strong electric field at several temperatures up to
260 degrees C, kept at the maximum temperature for an hour and
allowed to cool without turning the "voltage" off. It was like
making an electret. Among other things we saw how the leakage
current (of our "capacitor") increased by six orders of magnitude
while the temperature of the polymere was rising.

Then the fiber was used to electrically modulate light passing
through it. It worked (others did it before) but we must see if the
fiber will still modulate light in the same way a month or two
from now.

The leakage current versus temperature data can easily be
collected in a student lab using our standard Vernier probes.
Suppose I want to share these data. To do this I would describe
the experiment and produce a table with data. Those who are
interested would analyze the data (plotting the curves, drawing
conclusions, etc., either by hand or by using software with
which they are familiar). What benefits could be derived from
sharing experimental data via eMBL? (See below.)
Ludwik Kowalski

Cindy Schwarz wrote:

Hi

Cindy Schwarz here. I am looking for people who are interested in becoming
involved in a new project that I have been working on called eMBL. In a
nutshell eMBL is a way to analyze lab experiments over the internet. Logal
has developed software to make this possible. THESE ARE NOT SIMULATIONS,
THEY ARE REAL DATA. If you want to see a sample go to
http://www.logal.net/eMBLsite/eMBL/default.htm. Don't forget to download
the simplayer before running the experiment. Currently physics is the only
section that has stuff in it. The eMBL site is free for anyone to use.
Eventually all users will be able to upload their experiments and lesson
plans directly, but in this early development stage, we will need to do it
for you.

CAUTION: THIS IS IN DEVELOPMENT. IT WILL RUN ON MAC AND WINDOWS WITH
NETSCAPE 4 AND UP. WINDOWS ALSO INTERNET EXPLORER 4 AND UP. AT THIS TIME
THEY NEED ALOT OF MEMORY TRY 15 MEG ON EITHER PLATFORM IF YOU CAN TO
MINIMIZE PROBLEMS.

What I am looking for now is

1) Anyone who has done an experiment using sensors (CBL or MBL) to collect
data. At this point, motion/force data is preferable (1-d or 2-d), but don't
hesitate to send me something else (as it may help shape the needs of this
project). If you have such data (in Excel preferably) you can send it to me
along with a description of the experiment.

2) If your experiment looks like one that can be included in the site, I
will get back to you for more information like details of the experiment,
pedagogy, lesson plans, photo/drawing of set up etc.

3) Logal is offering a FREE three month subscription to logal.net for a 30
student class for the first 10 experiments selected for early inclusion in
this project. SEND ME INFO BY FRIDAY TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE FREE
SUBSCRIPTION!!!!!!!

email me schwarz@vassar.edu
attachments can be read (I am on Mac)

or call with additional questions/comments 914-437-7349

Cindy Schwarz
Associate Professor and Chair
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Vassar College