60

Variation of Light Intensity

(Light Sensor)

Optics: Variation of light (AC vs DC) DataStudio file: 60 Light Bulb Intensity.ds

Equipment List

Qty Items Part Numbers

1 PASCO Interface (for one sensor)
1 Light Sensor CI-6504
1 Flashlight (or other DC light source)
1 Fluorescent light source (AC)
1 Incandescent light source (AC)

Introduction
The purpose of this activity is to compare the variation in light intensity of light from different
light sources (for example, incandescent versus fluorescent or AC versus DC). Use a light sensor
and the DataStudio software to record and compare the intensity of light from various sources.
Background
Electric light bulbs are powered by a voltage at a frequency of 60 Hz (or 50 Hz in some
countries). The maximum amplitude of the voltage, and thus a maximum
brightness from the bulb, occurs twice per cycle because an electric bulb is
energized when the voltage increases, regardless of the polarity of the voltage. An
electric bulb energized by alternating current will have maximum intensity 120 (or
100) times per second.
Fluorescent lights blink on and off at a particular frequency. Light from
incandescent bulbs powered by alternating current fluctuates at well. The light
intensity from a light bulb powered by direct current should not vary.

SAFETY REMINDERS
• Follow directions for using the equipment.

Setup
1. Set up the PASCO Interface and computer and start DataStudio.
2. Connect the Light Sensor to the interface.
3. Open the DataStudio file: 60 Light Bulb Intensity.ds
• The file opens with a Scope display of voltage from the Light Sensor and a Frequency
Spectrum (FFT) display. The sample rate is set at 5000 Hz. The FFT is set to 256 data
points.
Adjusting Light Sensor Sensitivity
• The Light Sensor has a GAIN switch on the top of the sensor box. The GAIN switch
selects the amount of amplification for the signal that is sent to the interface. The settings

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are 1, 10, and 100. The setting of 10 amplifies the signal ten times and the setting of 100
amplifies the signal one hundred times.
Try the following to become more familiar with the Light Sensor:
• Place the Light Sensor on a table so the port on the sensor is below an overhead light. Set
the GAIN switch to 1.
• Start monitoring data. Move the Digits display of Input Volts so you can see it clearly.
• Switch the GAIN to 10 and observe the value of Input Volts in the Digits display. Then
switch to 100 and observe the value of Input Volts.
NOTE: The maximum voltage from the sensor is 4.9 V for any GAIN setting.
• Cover the Light Sensor port and observe the value of Input Volts.
• Return the GAIN setting to 10. Pick up the sensor. Observe the value of Input Volts as you
move the Light Sensor closer to the overhead light source. Observe what happens when
you move the Light Sensor farther from the light source.
• Click ‘Stop’ to stop monitoring data.
Procedure
1. Place the Light Sensor within a few feet of a fluorescent
bulb that is powered by alternating current (AC).
2. Turn on the fluorescent bulb.
3. Start monitoring the measurements from the sensor. Click ‘Start’. Arrange the Scope
display and other displays so you can see them clearly.
NOTE: It is likely that you will see a value in the Digits display, and a spectrum in the Frequency
Spectrum display, but nothing in the Scope display. This is because the trigger control in the Scope is on,
and the trigger level may be set too low for the voltage produced by the Light Sensor.

4. Adjust the Scope display until you can see a

trace of voltage from the Light Sensor. Move Trigger
the small triangle (the ‘Trigger Level’ pointer) menu
on the left side of the display up or down to
the desired voltage level. Trigger
Level
5. Second, adjust the vertical position of the pointer
trace of voltage. Click the up or down arrows
next to ‘Offset’

‘Offset’
arrows

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6. Finally, adjust the Sensitivity (volts per division). Click the

arrows to increase or decrease the sensitivity (and expand or
reduce the amplitude of the trace).
7. Use the Frequency Spectrum to measure the frequency of the
signal from the Light Sensor. Record the value of the
frequency in the Lab Report section.
Sensitivity
8. Make the FFT display (Frequency Spectrum) active. In controls
DataStudio, click the ‘Smart Tool’ button. The frequency is
the first number in the ordered pair.
9. Click the STOP button to stop monitoring data.
10. Save the trace that is displayed on the Scope. Click
the Scope to make it active. Click the ‘Transfer’
button ( ). The data in the Scope is
automatically added to the data list.
11. Repeat the activity using an incandescent light
connected to an AC power supply.
12. Repeat the activity using a battery operated flashlight.
Analysis
1. Set up a Graph display to show data for the AC fluorescent light, AC incandescent light,
and DC incandescent light.
2. Click ‘Add Display’ from the Experiment menu. Select ‘Graph’ from the ‘Please Choose’
window. Click OK.
3. Click and drag ‘Data’ from the Data list to the new display.

Drag and drop

‘Data’ onto the
Graph.

4. Repeat for the other runs of data.

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Lab Report: Variation of Light Intensity

Name: ________________________________________________________________
Analysis
Data Table
Complete the data table.

Light Source Frequency

Fluorescent, AC
Incandescent, AC
Incandescent, DC
Questions
1. How does the frequency of light intensity variation for the fluorescent AC bulb and the
incandescent AC bulb compare to the accepted value for AC frequency?

2. How does the fluctuation of an incandescent bulb run on 60 Hz (or 50 Hz) AC differ from
the fluorescent bulb?

3. How does the fluctuation of a light bulb run on 60 Hz (or 50 Hz) AC differ from the
incandescent bulb powered by DC?

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Teacher Notes

Time Estimates Preparation: 15 min Activity: 45 min

Objectives
Students will be able to…
• use the Light Sensor to measure the light intensity versus time for various light sources.
• use the Scope display to ‘capture’ the Light Sensor data.
• use the Frequency Spectrum (FFT) display to measure the frequency of the AC light sources.
• compare the data for the different light sources.
Analysis
Data Table (sample)
Complete the data table.

Light Source Frequency

Fluorescent, AC 123 Hz
Incandescent, AC 117 Hz
Incandescent, DC 0 Hz
Questions
1. How does the frequency of light intensity variation for the fluorescent AC bulb and the
incandescent AC bulb compare to the accepted value for AC frequency?
Both the fluorescent bulb and the incandescent bulb show a variation in frequency of
approximately 120 Hz.
2. How does the fluctuation of an incandescent bulb run on 60 Hz (or 50 Hz) AC differ from
the fluorescent bulb?
The fluorescent bulb has a greater variation in the light intensity than the incandescent bulb. The
light versus time pattern has a ‘spike’ appearance. The incandescent bulb does not show this
variation, probably because the hot filament in the bulb does not have time to cool down quickly
enough. The fluorescent bulb ‘turns off’ as soon as the voltage drops below a threshold level.
3. How does the fluctuation of a light bulb run on 60 Hz (or 50 Hz) AC differ from the
incandescent bulb powered by DC?
The DC incandescent bulb powered by DC showed no variation in the light output intensity.

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DataStudio Sample Data

This example shows the Graph display for the data for two of the three light sources.

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