A Gentle Introduction to the TI-CBL

The Texas Instrument CBL (Calculator-Based Laboratory) is a very flexible device that can collect and record data using a variety of probes or sensors. Data can then be sent to a TI graphing calculator (the TI-82, TI-85, or TI-92) for analysis and graphing. The same calculators are used to program the TI-CBL for data collection. It can be programmed to collect data from several sensors at once, over a period of milliseconds or days, and it can be programmed to begin data collection on the basis of readings from a sensor. It is enormously flexible. From the calculators, data can be sent to a Macintosh or IBM PC. The picture below shows a simple set-up using the TI-CBL, the motion detector, and a TI-82.

This module contains five quick experiments with the CBL that are intended as a gentle introduction to just a few of the CBL's capabilities. We recommend that you begin with a clean TI-82. Reset your TI-82 and load the five programs below. If you have TI-Graph-Link82 on your computer and your browser has been configured to use TI-Graph-Link82 as a helper application then you can download these programs by clicking on the appropriate icons below. Programs can also be transferred from one TI-82 to another using the linking cable or, as a last resort, they can be entered via the keyboard.

Load the five programs below into your TI-82 now -- one way or another. After you've loaded the programs try the five quick experiments below.

• Getting to Know the Motion Detector

• Getting to Know the Light Probe

• Fluorescent Lights and Television Screens -- A Story with a Moral

• Light versus Distance -- Using Two Probes Together

• Hot Stuff

AMOTLITE

AREALTMP