Post-Secondary | AYVA Educational Solutions

SPARKvue is now completely free as a browser-based application!

We’re excited to announce SPARKvue is now available free of charge on all your devices as a browser-based application.

This new version of our software as a Progressive Web Application (PWA) means you have free access to all the features of SPARKvue from Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers. That’s right: No download fees, subscription fees, or update fees, even for Windows^® and Mac^®. Plus, the app is always updated to the latest version automatically, so you never have to worry about it.

Access SPARKvue from your Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browser from any device–online or offline–and start collecting data with three simple steps:

Open Browser
Download SPARKvue
Connect PASCO Sensors

Try SPARKvue in your browser today!

Watch the video below to get started:

SPARKvue (PWA) is designed for use on laptops, computers, and Chromebooks. To download SPARKvue for your iPhone or iPad, download the free SPARKvue app on the App Store. For Android devices, get SPARKvue on Google Play. Skip to the article section, Free Apps for Android and iOS Devices, for links to download SPARKvue to your mobile device.

System Requirements

Windows

Windows 10 or later
Processor: Intel i3 1st Gen (or equivalent) or later
RAM: 4GB or greater
Disk Space: 349 MB
Resolution: 1024 x 768 or higher

Mac

Mac OS v 10.14 or later
Processor: Intel i3 1st Gen (or equivalent) or later, or Apple M1 (using Rosetta 2)
RAM: 2 GB or greater
Disk Space: 504 MB
Resolution: 1024 x 768 or higher

Chromebook

It is recommended to be on the latest OS the machine supports

iOS

iOS v13 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Android

Android v7.1 or later. Compatible with tablets or phones.

Manuals

SPARKvue Online Help

Support

Resources

Free Apps for Chromebook, Android, and iOS Devices

These free SPARKvue apps provide the complete software install so that the user experience is the same regardless of platform. Updates for these apps are handled via direct notification and installation on your device, including SPARK LX/LXi users.

Chromebook Devices

Get SPARKvue for Chrome OS devices in the Chrome Web Store.

Android Devices

Get SPARKvue for Android based phones & tablets on Google Play.

iOS Devices

Get SPARKvue for Apple iPhones & iPads in the App Store.

Sideloading on Android

Android users who do not have access to Google Play may optionally sideload the application by downloading the SPARKvue APK and following this Knowledge Base article. This includes updating SPARKvue on PASCO’s SPARK LXi/LX Dataloggers.

Need the 64-bit installers for Windows and Mac for a local installation? Click here.

In-app Updates for Windows^® and Mac^® Computers

Existing users of SPARKvue on Windows and Mac computers may update to the latest version using the in-app update feature. Simply launch the SPARKvue application and choose “Check for Updates” from the file menu to get started.

Why Carolina Perfect Solution® Specimens?

Safe. Quality. Convenient.

Carolina’s commitment to providing the highest quality specimens has led to Carolina’s Perfect Solution, a unique and revolutionary fixative that is improving the conditions of lab dissections.

No formalin odour
Natural texture and colour
Non toxic
No ventilation required
Regular garbage disposal

See the difference between Perfect Solution Specimens and Traditional Specimens.

No need to compromise

Provide your students with higher quality preserved specimens, and an enhanced dissection experience while also increasing the safety of the learning environment. Carolina’s Perfect Solution is a great alternative to traditional formaldehyde-preserved specimens.

Carolinas Perfect Solution offers multiple injection options which alters the number of colours visible in the specimens. These injections are useful in helping students better understand the anatomy of specimens. For beginner level students, a plain injection may be best. There are also latex injections that are used for a more enhanced study, with different colour options. Single injection highlights red arteries, double injection highlights red arteries and blue veins, and triple injection includes red arteries, blue veins, and yellow hepatic systems. Vivid colours allow for easy identification of internal tissues, organs, and systems.

Our goal is to provide the best and safest preserved specimens available. Carolina’s unique preservation method provides slow firming action that results in more life-like tissues and organs with natural colours and texture. Tissues are pliable and easy to dissect. Perfect Solution specimens last just as long as formalin specimens, and refrigeration is not required for long term storage, they can be kept at room temperature out of direct sunlight. In addition, no harmful chemicals such as glutaraldehyde are used in the fixing process (common in traditional formalin specimens).

Independent, certified laboratory analysis of specimens fixed in Carolina’s Perfect Solution have found them to be nontoxic and free of dangerous off-gassing. Classrooms and labs using these specimens do not require specialized ventilation. However, some active ventilation is recommended when working with any preserved specimens or chemicals. Due to the safe nature of Carolina’s Perfect Solution, there are no mandated disposal requirements. Be sure to check with local sewer and landfill authorities, as procedures may vary.

Which Bullfrog Would You Rather Dissect?

Carolina’s Perfect Solution® Specimen

Vivid colours allow for easy identification of internal tissues, organs, and systems
Expertly injected to facilitate studies of the circulatory system
Tissues are pliable and easy to dissect

PIGNAT’s Refrigeration Cycle Unit at University of Windsor

PIGNAT’s Technical Specialist, Regis Rodriguez was at University of Windsor at the end of May to install a recently purchased Refrigeration Cycle Unit. He also provided a day-long training session to graduate students, instructors, and professors. Everyone in attendance found it very informative and was excited to start using the equipment. Click here to find out more about this unit.

In the past, several PASCO, Tecquipment and Elettronica Veneta equipment have also been purchased by the University from AYVA.

How does the PASCO Smart Cart Compare to the Vernier Go Direct® Sensor Cart?

Smart Cart Comparison Banner

How does the PASCO Smart Cart Compare to the Vernier Go Direct^® Sensor Cart?

The Smart Cart may appear to be equivalent to competitors like Vernier’s Go Direct Sensor Cart–they include many of the same features and specifications–but several distinctions set the PASCO Smart Cart apart.

What’s the Same?

Both Measure:

Position
Velocity
Acceleration
Force

Both Feature:

Wireless software connection
Use on or off a track
Plunger

Both Include:

USB Cable
Rubber Bumper
Hook

What’s Different?

PASCO Includes More

The PASCO Smart Cart comes with both hook and loop and magnetic bumpers. The magnetic bumper attaches to the force sensor, enabling you to measure the impulse during a collision. You must order bumpers separately for the Vernier sensor cart.

Smart Cart Callout

Why?

PASCO’s design makes it easy to launch the cart at 1x, 2x, and 3x velocities. With F, 2F, and 3F settings built-in to the Smart Cart, students can spend more time gathering data and solving for unknown variables and less time fiddling with cart settings.

This is important because you want to do more collisions, and with included bumpers, you can. Use the hook and loop tabs for inelastic collisions, magnetic bumper for elastic collisions, or unscrew the magnet and replace it with the rubber bumper for harder impacts.

Simple to Use Plunger

The Smart Cart plunger easily clicks into 3 different settings that correlate proportionally to 1, 2, and 3 units of force. By simply pressing the plunger to your desired setting, you can easily launch the Smart Cart at three different velocities that correlate to 1F, 2F, or 3F. Vernier’s plunger does not click into distinct velocity settings. What’s more, the total range of force on the Vernier cart is smaller than the range available to the Smart Cart, as you can only increase the force on the Vernier cart up to 1.3x.

Why?

Larger Load Cell Capacity

PASCO’s Smart Cart load cell capacity is ±100N, double that of Vernier’s cart which is ±50N.

Why?

A larger load cell capacity means students are less likely to damage the sensor. Measure larger impulses and create collisions with higher impact. Since the sensor can withstand 100N, it is less likely to break during a tug-of-war demonstration of Newton’s 3rd Law.

Smart Cart Rubber Band Experiment

Sealed & Protected Encoder Wheel

PASCO’s encoder wheel is internal and connects to the axle of an existing wheel. Vernier’s encoder wheel is an exposed 5th wheel on the underside of their Sensor Cart.

Why?

A built-in optical encoder wheel means it is sealed and protected from everyday student use. It won’t fall victim to dust, grime, or student abuse, ensuring your data is as accurate as possible for kinematics studies.

Higher Encoder Sampling Rate

PASCO’s Smart Cart encoder maximum sampling rate is 500Hz. Vernier’s rate is 30Hz.

Why?

A higher sampling rate means you can collect more data points! This is important to match a higher sampling rate of the force sensor during impulse experiments.

Smart Cart Magnetic Collision

PASCO Doesn’t Manipulate the Data!

Vernier’s software performs data smoothing automatically so it cannot be turned off completely.

Why?

You’re a science educator who wants your students to collect and graph the real data, so that’s what we give you.

3-Axis Gyro

PASCO’s 3-axis accelerometer includes a 3-axis gyro, and Vernier’s 3-axis accelerometer does not.

Why?

The gyro allows you to measure angular velocity right out of the box so you can study centripetal force.

EX-5551 Graph

No Bumper Assembly Required

No classroom management or assembly is required to ensure the magnetic bumper is the correct orientation (north and south poles) for the Smart Cart. For the Vernier cart, you must assemble all magnetic and velcro bumpers separately, and make sure the four pieces for each Vernier cart are accounted for.

Smart Cart with Mass

Why?

Fewer pieces and minimal assembly means easier setup, easier cleanup, and less items to lose–giving you more time for investigations.

Bluetooth Time Sync Within & Between Carts

We’ve engineered our Smart Carts to time-synchronize all on-board sensors; In other words, force data syncs with velocity data from the encoder. Further, data also syncs between multiple carts in a collision so the data from both carts lines up. Vernier’s data is out of sync, and synchronization worsens as sampling rate increases.

Why?

Dependable time sync between carts means your data and graphs correlate with the phenomenon, making it easy for your students to interpret what their data is showing.

Proportional Smart Cart Masses

The Smart Cart and masses are proportional and stackable; the Smart Cart is 250 grams and the cart masses are each 250 grams. Vernier’s cart is 286 grams and the masses are 125 grams which creates strange multiples of total mass as you add masses.

Why?

Stackable and proportional masses create conceptual demonstrations and easier numbers to work into equations, aiding students in understanding core concepts.

Force Velocity Graph

More Accessories Available

PASCO has several add-ons that pair seamlessly with our Smart Cart’s design, including a Smart Fan, Smart Ballistic Accessory, Rod Clamp, Vector Display, and Motor. Vernier does not offer any of these accessories.

Why?

Do more physics! PASCO’s accessories are designed to easily attach to the Smart Cart so students can examine core physics concepts. Also, when you connect a Smart Accessory to the Smart Cart, the Smart Cart can control the accessory for customizable investigations!

With an unparalleled design and countless applications in the physics lab, the PASCO Smart Cart will undoubtedly become one of your favorite teaching tools!

Back to School Resources for Fall ’23

Fire up that printer! Charge those devices! Brew that coffee! It’s back to school season everyone, and we’re sharing our top eight tech tips and resources to help you prep like a pro.

Most PASCO sensors and interfaces don’t require any maintenance, but a quick tune-up before school starts can help prevent surprises during class time.

Relevant Resources

Knowledge Base: Updating Firmware for Wireless Sensors and Interfaces

Video: Update the Firmware on a Wireless Sensor (Capstone)

Video: Pre-lab Prep for Chromebooks (SPARKvue)

Skip the chaos of in-class software updates by making sure your class devices are running the latest versions of SPARKvue (v4.9.1) or PASCO Capstone™ (v4.6.1) software prior to starting a lab.

SPARKvue

PASCO Capstone™

Whether you use laptops, Chromebooks, or desktop computers, updating to the latest Bluetooth driver helps ensure your PASCO sensors connect reliably to classroom devices.

Relevant Resources

Knowledge Base: Wireless Sensors not Detected on Windows with PS-3500 Adapter

Video: How to Determine the Bluetooth Version of My PASCO Device

Knowledge Base: How Do I Troubleshoot Connecting a Wireless Sensor?

Check that the sensors you’ll be using this year are in working condition. Replacement parts and consumables, such as electrodes and carbon paper, can be ordered through our website or by calling us at 877-967-2726.

Replacement parts and consumables are listed on the Buying Guide tab of their respective product pages. They can also be found by using the search bar at the top of the website.

Common Consumables	Replacement Parts
Coin Cell Battery Pack	pH Electrode
Carbon Paper	Soaker Bottle Replacement pH/ISE (5 Pack)
Field Mapper Kit	Replacement Cart Axles
pH Storage Solution	Replacement Jumper Clips (Modular Circuits)

Video Library

From full product guides to bite-size how-tos, the Video Library hosts a variety of media to help you maximize your PASCO solutions.

Software Help Guides

Bookmark these handy software guides for quick access to answers during class time. Each guide is fully searchable, making it easy to find step-by-step solutions for most software questions.

Knowledge Base

The Knowledge Base is a treasure trove of resources for your most specific product questions. It’s consistently updated by our Technical Support team and includes answers to all types of FAQs—both new and old!

PASCO Technical Support

When you need personalized, step-by-step guidance, reach out to Technical Support. Our friendly team members are here to help via chat, email, or phone call during business hours.

Comprehensive Materials Testing Systems for Engineering Programs

Understanding the characteristics and performance of materials, and the effects of different forces on them, is at the very heart of engineering.

To help instructors teach these notions to students, PASCO and TecQuipment both offer a wide range of systems that will provide them with direct hands-on exposure to the principals involved.

PASCO

PASCO’s Materials Testing System allows for the study of tension, column buckling, bending and shearing.

This system is an excellent alternative for instructors looking for cost-efficient equipment allowing them to utilize the powerful Capstone software for data collection, analysis and video syncing.

Click here to view our MTS video and sample labs

PASCO’s Materials Testing Machine (ME-8230)

TQ’s Universal Testing Machine (SM1000)

TecQuipment

AYVA Educational Solutions also offers a complete

line of TecQuipment Materials Testing

equipment.

TQ’s high quality and robust machines have a

maximum load of 100kN and can be used as

stand-alone items, making it an excellent solution for

more advanced experiments.

These items also include impact testing apparatus

and come with a broad range of specimens, allowing

for testing on numerous materials..

TQ also offers an Engineering Science range of products: a system of equipment kits that covers many of the underlying mechanical engineering topics such as Forces and Moments, Vibration, Materials Testing, Mechanisms or Friction.

Wireless Sensors are Now Stocked in Oakville!

Here are just a few of the products currently available! If you need something quickly, please give us a call @ 877-967-2726. We can ship across Canada for delivery within a few days for all Canadian stocked items.

Also in-stock & on sale!!

Many of PASCO’s wireless sensors are now stocked in Oakville, Ontario.

Smart Carts
Red: ME-1240
Blue: ME-1241

Wireless pH Sensor
PS-3204

Wireless Light Sensor
PS-3213

Wireless Temperature Sensor
PS-3201

Wireless Sound Sensor
PS-3227

Wireless EKG Sensor
PS-3236

Wireless Spirometer
PS-3234

Wireless Force Sensor
PS-3202

Wireless Soil Moisture Sensor
PS-3228

Airlink
PS-3200

Wireless Acceleration Sensor
PS-3223

Wireless Colorimeter
PS-3215

Wireless Pressure Sensor
PS-3203

Wireless Rotary Motion Sensor
PS-3220

Wireless Temperature Link
PS-3222

Wireless Conductivity Sensor
PS-3210

From Concept to Completion

AYVA’s Technical Services Manager and Dianne Beveridge travelled to Calgary where Regis Rodriguez, the Chemical Engineer from Pignat in France, and his team had recently installed two training systems.

The new Distillation and Absorption Pilot Plants are now fully commissioned in SAIT’s state-of-the-art Chemical Engineering Technology Lab at the McPhail School of Energy.

Over the past year, Regis has worked closely with the SAIT team to customize the equipment to suit their specific needs. The final step was two 4-day training sessions for SAIT’s instructors and technologists to ensure that everyone was confident using the software and hardware.

This is indeed a world-class installation and we are proud of our association with SAIT.

Engineering students in Newfoundland lend a helping hand

Second and third year students at Newfoundland’s College of the North Atlantic (CNA) are lending a hand to Habitat for Humanity.

While this isn’t the first year CNA students have worked with the charity, 2012 marks the first time the students were able to gain practical experience by working on site.

“I started with Habitat for Humanity in 2009 and one of reasons I got involved was because I saw a great potential for our students in the trades and technology programs to learn on the job and apply their skills to help their community so it’s a form of community engagement,” said Craig Greene, the Architectural Engineering Technology instructor at CNA, in a statement.

“I’m an architect and I believe in what Habitat for Humanity does but I also saw an opportunity for our students to benefit from that experience, to learn on site and have a good time.”

The students helped with wood framing, which they had learned about a few months prior.

Construction on the home began on October 9 and is expected to be complete in early December.

Click here to find out how you can get involved with Habitat for Humanity.

Physics in Soccer: World Cup 2022

The 2022 World Cup has officially begun, and there’s never been a better time to explore the physics of soccer (or in Europe, football) with your students! From predicting the outcome of a crossbar challenge to understanding the science behind Ronaldo’s famous knuckleball free kick, physics plays an important role in determining which team rules the pitch.

Throughout the World Cup, we’ll be sharing soccer-themed content to help you bring the excitement of the World Cup into your physics course. In our first segment, we’ll explore the physics of soccer’s most infamous pre-match event: the crossbar challenge.

The Physics of Soccer: Crossbar Challenge

The crossbar challenge is a popular pre-game competition held between players from opposing teams. To compete, players take turns kicking soccer balls into the crossbar of a goal. The player who hits the crossbar the most wins the crossbar challenge. Seems simple enough, right? Well, not exactly!

In reality, the crossbar challenge is, well, challenging. The average player is lucky to land two of their five shots, which makes the five-for-five performances of superstars like Neymar Jr. all the more impressive. In fact, Neymar’s success in crossbar challenges is so repeatable that it begs the question: what is Neymar doing that other soccer players aren’t? (Check out this video to see Neymar demonstrate his technique in a crossbar challenge against two other professional soccer players.)

As it turns out, there is a secret to Neymar’s success: physics! When a player kicks a soccer ball, its landing position is largely determined by both the aerodynamics of the ball and the angle, direction, and velocity of the player’s kick. If we ignore aerodynamics for a moment (more on that later), then the crossbar challenge becomes a real-world example of projectile motion.

Incorporate the World Cup into your physics course with these soccer-themed projectile motion problems! Download the student worksheet for free below.

Celebrate the World Cup with these Soccer-Themed Practice Problems!

Download the free Physics in Soccer student handout and answer key below.

1. While warming up for a match at the World Cup, Neymar challenges Aleksandar Mitrović to a crossbar challenge. Both players must take their shot 11 meters away from the goal, but the angle and speed of their kicks can vary. The crossbar is 2.4 meters above the ground. Assuming air resistance is negligible, answer the following questions:

a. If Neymar kicks the ball at a 40° angle, and it takes .87 seconds to hit the crossbar, what must the initial speed of the ball be?

b. Mitrović launches the ball at a 41° angle with a velocity of 18.4 m/s. It flies through the air, passing 1 meter above the crossbar. How long is the ball in the air?

c. Challenge Question: The next round, Mitrović kicks the ball with an initial velocity of 21.0 m/s. Determine the minimum and maximum kicking angles required for the ball to make contact with the crossbar.

2. During a World Cup match, Lionel Messi kicks the ball at a 45° angle from ground level. It reaches a maximum height of 3.2 meters and lands 22.7 meters down the pitch. Assuming air resistance is negligible, answer the following questions:

a. What is the initial vertical velocity of the ball?

b. How long does it take for the soccer ball to reach the ground?

c. What is the initial horizontal velocity of the ball?

3. When the soccer ball leaves the field during a match, a corner kick is performed to restart the game. To perform a successful corner kick, the player must kick the ball at just the right angle, so that it bypasses opponents and lands near teammates. During a practice session for the World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo makes a corner kick at a 42° angle, launching the soccer ball with an initial velocity of 26 m/s. Assuming the ball travels with projectile motion and air resistance is negligible, answer the following questions:

a. At what time does the soccer ball reach its peak height?
b. What is the maximum height reached by the soccer ball?

4. While practicing for the World Cup, Kylian Mbappé kicks the ball from the ground at a 41° angle. As the ball launches with an initial speed of 28.5 m/s, an opponent 54 meters away at the opposite side of the soccer field begins running to get the ball. What is the average speed he must maintain in order to make contact with the ball just before it hits the ground?

File Attachments

	Physics in Soccer: Projectile Motion Problems – Student V	File Size: 81.32 KB
	Physics in Soccer: Projectile Motion Problems – Editable	File Size: 37.64 KB
	Physics in Soccer: Projectile Motion Problems – Answer Key	File Size: 55.11 KB

Try SPARKvue in your browser today!

Watch the video below to get started:

System Requirements

Windows

Mac

Chromebook

iOS

Android

Manuals

Support

Resources

Free Apps for Chromebook, Android, and iOS Devices

Chromebook Devices

Android Devices

iOS Devices

Sideloading on Android

Need the 64-bit installers for Windows and Mac for a local installation? Click here.

In-app Updates for Windows® and Mac® Computers

Which Bullfrog Would You Rather Dissect?

Carolina’s Perfect Solution® Specimen

How does the PASCO Smart Cart Compare to the Vernier Go Direct® Sensor Cart?

What’s the Same?

Both Measure:

Both Feature:

Both Include:

What’s Different?

PASCO Includes More

Why?

Simple to Use Plunger

Why?

Larger Load Cell Capacity

Why?

Sealed & Protected Encoder Wheel

Why?

Higher Encoder Sampling Rate

Why?

PASCO Doesn’t Manipulate the Data!

Why?

3-Axis Gyro

Why?

No Bumper Assembly Required

Why?

Bluetooth Time Sync Within & Between Carts

Why?

Proportional Smart Cart Masses

Why?

More Accessories Available

Why?

Understanding the characteristics and performance of materials, and the effects of different forces on them, is at the very heart of engineering.

To help instructors teach these notions to students, PASCO and TecQuipment both offer a wide range of systems that will provide them with direct hands-on exposure to the principals involved.

PASCO

TecQuipment

The Physics of Soccer: Crossbar Challenge

Celebrate the World Cup with these Soccer-Themed Practice Problems!

File Attachments

In-app Updates for Windows^® and Mac^® Computers

How does the PASCO Smart Cart Compare to the Vernier Go Direct^® Sensor Cart?