Abstract
We describe a temperature-controlled experiment suitable for undergraduate laboratory instruction in computer-based data acquisition and control. The experimental system, which we call “the bug,” is a simple and inexpensive three-component system made up of a thermistor, a heater resistor, and a ceramic capacitor bonded together. The thermistor and heater resistor combine to form the temperature measurement and control system. The ceramic ferroelectric capacitor is the component under study; the overall objective of the experiment is to measure its capacitance as a function of temperature. This simple and inexpensive system allows us to explore a significant range of computer-based data acquisition and control topics. Over a three-week period, our students develop a fully-automated, temperature-controlled experiment much like they would in a condensed-matter research lab. The difference is that the experiment costs just a few dollars to build and fits easily on an electronics prototyping breadboard.
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