Photo-gates
Definition
Photo-gates are devices that use infrared light beams to detect the presence or absence of an object passing through them. They are commonly used in physics experiments to measure time intervals and calculate velocities.
Analogy
Imagine photo-gates as security lasers in a spy movie. When someone crosses the laser beam, an alarm goes off, indicating their presence. Similarly, when an object passes through the infrared light beams of photo-gates, it triggers a signal.
Related terms
Stopwatch: A handheld device used to measure time intervals with precision.
Velocity: The rate at which an object changes its position over time.
Acceleration: The rate at which an object's velocity changes over time.
"Photo-gates" appears in:
Additional resources (1)
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.