Sixth Week - Welcome Young Scientist!

This week we were taken to a High-tech lab known as Micro -computer based laboratory (MBL). As we have learned about the theory, we are now go into the applications of MBL.

In groups, we were required to choose one tools to test. My group choose to use the Magnetic Field Sensor. However, we find it quite difficult and complicated as we never have use it before.

What is a magnetic Field Sensor? Magnetic Field sensor is used to investigate the relationship between magnetic field intensity and the distance from the magnet.

Magnetic Field sensor

The materials that were use are magnetic field sensor, USB link, permanent magnet and ruler.

The procedure of the experiment can be explained in these following steps:

1) Magnetic field sensor is plugged into the USB link that is connected to a computer

2) Data studio is configured with a graph of magnetic field intensity

3) The tip of the magnetic field sensor is placed, so that it is touching he permanent magnet. Click START in DataStudio to begin collecting data.

4) At the same time, magnetic field sensor is moved very slowly and steadily away from the permanent magnet.

5) The intensity of the magnetic field sensor in the DataStudio graph is observed.

6) The recording is stopped when the intensity reaches zero.

The Data collected is in the form of a graph. The intensity of the magnetic field is measured in Gauss. The unit is still the same whether we used a gaussmeter or a magnetic field sensor in MBL. (taken from Rafidah -We are in the same group).

As a group, we identified some advantages and disadvantages of using this tool.

Advantages : -

1) We believe that this tool is effective in collecting, analyzing and displaying data in the form of graphs and charts. It as well effectively showing the relationships that change as the values of the variables change.

2) All the data can be stored in the computer's memory.

3) We also believed that this tool can improve the students' ability to interpret graphs.

4) This tool is not time consuming as it saves time.

Disadvantages : -

1) We think that this tool is not very suitable for primary schools students. This is because this tool is quite complicated and teacher as well as students must have the skill and knowledge of how to use the tool.

2) The students might not able to able to see the relationship between the diagram of the magnetic field and the graphs collected.

3) By using this tool, the students may not be able to improve their science process skills. Students of level two primary schools may be able to grasp abstract concept but we need them to develop their science manipulative and process skills.

4) We found that the vocabulary use for this tool is too high and not suitable for primary schools students.