With YP Vernier, it is easy to learn how to use a vernier to measure length with great precision. YP Vernier simulates a vernier caliper on the screen. Using a scroll bar, the user moves the movable jaw, and the corresponding numerical value is displayed on the screen. The program can also be used in "quiz mode": the movable jaw is placed at a random position, and the user try to find the corresponding measure.
Students use YP Vernier to:
- Learn how to use a vernier caliper
Teachers use YP Vernier to:
- Show to their students how to use a vernier caliper
- Generate several different exam questions
Required Hardware and Software: YP Vernier runs on any Macintosh computer with MAC OS 7.0 or later, and supporting color QuickDraw (it can't run on Mac Plus or Mac Classic, but it runs on a Classic II). It needs about 300 Kb on your hard disk and 800 Kb of RAM.
Theory (How to use a vernier):
A vernier caliper is an instrument for accurately measuring length. The engineer and mathematician Pierre Vernier (1584-1638) described his invention for the first time in is book titled: La Construction, l'usage, et les propriétés du quadrant nouveau de mathématiques (1631).
The instrument consists of graduated scales, a main scale (graduated exactly like a ruler) and a second scale, the vernier, that slides parallel to the main scale. The vernier scale, is 9 mm (or 0.9 cm) long, and has ten divisions.
The object to be measured is placed between the jaws.
The first digits of the measure are obtained by counting, on the main scale, the number of divisions that are between the zero line of the main scale and the zero line of the vernier scale.
The last digit is found by counting, on the vernier scale, the number of divisions between the zero line of the vernier, and the line of the vernier scale that is perfectly lined up with any line of the main scale.
Example:
In the illustration below, the zero line of the vernier scale is between 6 and 7 mm on the main scale. The correct measure is thus 6 mm (or 0,6 cm), plus a fraction of a millimeter.
The second division of the vernier scale is the only line that perfectly lines up with a line of the main scale. Thus we can write the digit "2" at the end of our previous, incomplete number, which becomes " 0,62 cm " .
Now you should tinker with the simulation program, until you are able to read the accurate measure every time, without any mistake!
Using YP Vernier:
Note: To help you explore all menus of the program, you may use balloon help (with the "?" menu, in the top right corner of the screen).
Menus:
"Apple" Menu:
Use this menu to
- open an item from the Apple Menu Folder,
- read information about YP Vernier,
- consult online help, or
- unlock your copy of the program.
• "About YP Vernier..." item: When you select this item from the Apple menu, a dialog box showing information about the version number and copyright is displayed, as well as whether your copy of the software has been registered or not.
"Unlock" button: This button is visible only if your copy of the software has not yet been personalized. After receiving your personal unlocking code, click on this button to open another dialog box so that you may enter (or paste) your name and your unlocking code in the appropriate zones.
"Help & Info" Button: This button gives you access to online help. Information included in the help window is the same as that you are now reading.
"File" Menu:
Use the "File Menu" to
- save content of the active window as a PICT file,
- close the active window,
- print the active window,
- quit the application YP Vernier.
"Save as PICT..." item:
When you select this item from the "File" menu, content of the active window is saved as a PICT file, which can be open by any draw of paint program.
"Close Window" item:
When you select this item from the "File" menu, the program closes the active window.
"Page Setup..." item:
Use this item when you want to use a different paper size, or orientation.
"Print" item:
Use this item to print the content of the active window.
"Quit" item:
Use this item from the file menu to quit the program "YP Vernier".
"Edit" Menu:
The "Cut", "Paste" and Delete" items are available only when a dialog box in which you may enter text is active.
The "Copy" item is also available when the main is active, so you can easily copy the picture in the clipboard.
"Options" Menu:
Use this menu to:
- show or hide the pointers (arrows)
- show or hide the numerical values
- enter quiz mode, or exit from quiz mode
- display the theory window.
"Show Pointers" Item:
When this item of the "Options" menu is checked, the program displays arrows allowing the vernier to be read more easily. These pointers disappear when this item is not checked.
"Show Numerical Value" Item:
When this item of the "Options" menu is checked, the program displays the numerical value corresponding to the correct measure. This value is not displayed if this item is not checked.
"Quiz Mode" Item:
When this item of the "Options" menu is checked, the movable jaw of the vernier caliper is placed at a random position, and the user must click on the "Show Answer" button to see the numerical value. The user can then click on the "Next Question" button, so the movable jaw takes another random position.
This feature can be use by the student to exercise his skills. The teacher can also use this feature to generate several random exam questions, using the "Print" or "Copy" menu items.
When this item is not checked, the user controls the vernier caliper with the scroll bar.
"Theory…" Item:
When you choose this item from the "Options" menu, a window with information about the correct way to use a vernier caliper is displayed.
"Help" Menu:
YP Vernier supports Balloon Help. Use this menu to show or hide help balloons, and to display online help. The information included in the help window is basically the same you are now reading.
Ordering information:
YP Vernier is shareware. The unregistered version of YP Vernier may be freely distributed to allow anybody to try it before registering. You are permitted to upload it to a BBS, distribute it on a CD-ROM, or give a copy to a friend.
If you want to use YP Vernier on a regular basis, you must pay for a user license. You will then receive an unlocking code that will allow you to personalize your copy of the program.
The unregistered version have the following limitation: the mention "This copy is for evaluation only." is permanently displayed in the main window, and in a dialog box at startup.
Your unlocked version will have the following advantages:
• the mention "This copy is for evaluation only." will never be displayed again in the main window, nor at startup.
• in addition, you will be able to unlock all future updates of YP Vernier with the same unlocking code.
Methods of Payment:
You can pay your license to Kagi (located in the United States). With Kagi, it is possible to pay by credit card (Visa, Master Card, American Express), by check or postal money order (in american dollars), with cash, or by "First Virtual". For more information about registering YP Vernier with Kagi, please read the file "Registering with Kagi".
Detailed Prices:
Single User License: A $15.00 US registration fee will license one copy of YP Vernier for use on any one computer at any one time. For example, one copy may be used by any number of people and may be freely moved from one computer to another as long as there is no possibility of it being used simultaneously on more than one machine.
Site License: A license covering all locations for your organization within a 160 kilometer radius of your site (100 miles), is available at the price of $200.00 US.
Technical Support:
If you have any comments or suggestions, please feel free to e-mail me at pelletier@kagi.com (or ch865@freenet.carleton.ca).
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To download the latest versions: http://www.kagi.com/pelletier
YP Vernier is provided “as-is”. Yves Pelletier hereby disclaims all warranties relating to this software, whether express or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Yves Pelletier will not be liable for any special, incidental, consequential, indirect or similar damages due to loss of data or any other reason, even if Yves Pelletier or an agent of his has been advised of the possibility of such damages. In no event shall Yves Pelletier be liable for any damages, regardless of the form of the claim. The person using the software bears all risk as to the quality and performance of the software.
