A Student Controlled Two Degree Of Freedom Vibration Laboratory

In recent years there has been a significant increase in the use of computers in teaching. At the same time there has been a corresponding reduction in laboratories undertaken by students, especially where large classes are involved. With increasing student/staff ratios the cost of running well staffed laboratories has become unacceptable. At the same time very few universities reward staff for producing new laboratories. All these factors have led to fewer laboratories. The need for hands-on laboratories is as great as ever, particularly to illustrate that the real world does not behave as mathematical models predict it will. This paper describes a computer controlled vibration laboratory that is inherently safe and does not need an instructor. The laboratory is controlled through the computer which protects both it and the student. Results are collected and analysed by the computer. Most importantly the laboratory has been designed to behave in a different manner from the theoretical models developed in lectures and students are expected to criticise their lecture models. Finally students may leave comments for fellow students so that the laboratory may slowly evolve in content.