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Re: [Phys-l] glassware needed



More important than a wattmeter is a precise method of turning the heater on
and off. RTP uses the Vernier pulser module. You really want students to
be able to compare change in temperature with the number of pulses of heat.
From the point of understanding, knowing the exact amount of energy is much
less important. And as mentioned before, just using Styrofoam cups makes
the process almost adiabatic.

John M. Clement
Houston, TX


Make sure that the 'inexpensive' watt-meter can correctly handle non-
sinusoidal wave forms.
Triac's don't output sine wave by a LONG shot.

True RMS measurement are often NOT produced by cheap meters.

(Or so it has been in the past - maybe things are better now??)


On Jan 1, 2009, at Jan 1(Thu) 3:26 , Brian Whatcott wrote:

a wattmeter is now so within reach that it would be a good accessory.
This would enable a TRIAC dimmer to moderate the power,