The 550 is fast, powerful, and incredibly affordable. It offers half the ports and many of the same features as our 850 Interface in a smaller package.
See the Buying Guide for this item's required, recommended, and additional accessories.
Product Summary
The 550 Universal Interface is fast, powerful, and incredibly affordable. The cost-effective 550 offers half the ports and many of the same features as our 850 Universal Interface, including both Bluetooth and USB connectivity. The 550 Universal Interface includes two PASPORT sensor ports, two digital sensor ports, two analog sensor ports, and a built-in signal generator.
The 550’s two digital inputs are compatible with all ScienceWorkshop digital sensors, as well as timing devices, and photogates. The two analog ports connect with our analog ScienceWorkshop sensors and can support a 2.0 MHz max sampling rate and 1.22 mV resolution for voltage sensing.
The 550’s built-in signal generator powers motors, speakers, circuits, and many other devices. With PASCO Capstone software and the 550, you can control various DC and AC waveforms, without requiring any other technology. The 550 provides 8V at 400 mA, selectable voltage limits, built-in voltage and current measurements, and DC offset. Capstone software turns the 550 into a live oscilloscope that can display simultaneous traces.
Beyond having USB 2.0 connectivity, the 550 can also send data wirelessly to any Bluetooth enabled computer, iPad, or Android tablet using PASCO Capstone or SPARKvue software.
Features
- USB or Bluetooth Connection
- 3.2 W power amplifier
- 2.0 MHz max sampling rate
- 100 kHz signal generator with built-in Voltage and Current sensors
- Compatible with PASPORT, ScienceWorkshop, and Wireless Sensors
- 2 high-speed analog inputs
- 2 digital inputs for photogates and other timing sensors
- 2 PASPORT sensor inputs
- Can be used simultaneously with other PASPORT interfaces
- Uses Capstone Software or SPARKvue Software
Typical Experiments
- Newton’s Laws
- Conservation of Momentum
- Brewster’s Angle
- DC and AC Circuit Analysis
- Simple Harmonic Motion Oscillator/Driver
Product Specifications
| 2 High-Speed Analog Inputs |
|
| 2 Digital Inputs |
|
| 2 PASPORT Inputs |
|
| Signal Generator |
|
Data Collection Software
This product requires PASCO software for data collection and analysis. We recommend the following option(s). For more information on which is right for your classroom, see our Software Comparison: SPARKvue vs. Capstone »
Connectivity Options
This product can connect directly to your computer or device with the following technologies. No Interface required.
- Bluetooth Classic
- Universal Serial Bus (USB)
Buying Guide
| Requires One Of These | P/N | Price |
|---|---|---|
| PASCO Capstone Software | -- | -- |
| Recommended Accessories | P/N | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Universal 550 Physics Experiment Bundle | UI-5830 | -- |
| Universal 550 Physics Experiment Manual | UI-5831 | -- |
| Voltage Sensor (shrouded) | UI-5110 | -- |
Product Guides & Articles
PASCO Interfaces Comparison
We offer a variety of interfaces with diverse applications. Some of our products, such as the PASPORT and ScienceWorkshop sensors, require an interface, while others do not. This helpful page compares interface features, applications, and connectivity to help you decide which interface will serve you best.
Temperature Sensors
Our highly affordable temperature sensors provide unparalleled convenience during any experiment by eliminating the need for manually recorded temperature data. This page contains a comparison chart for PASCO temperature sensors to help you discover what’s possible when you use a modern thermometer.
Experiment Library
Perform the following experiments and more with the 550 Universal Interface.
Visit PASCO's Experiment Library to view more activities.
Physical Pendulum
A rod oscillates as a physical pendulum. The period is measured directly by the Rotary Motion Sensor, and the value is compared to the theoretical period calculated from the dimensions of the pendulum.
Ballistic Pendulum
A Ballistic Pendulum is used to determine the muzzle velocity of a ball shot out of a Projectile Launcher. The laws of conservation of momentum and conservation of energy are used to derive the equation for the muzzle velocity.
Interference and Diffraction of Light
The distances between the central maximum and the diffraction minima for a single slit are measured by scanning the laser pattern with a light sensor and plotting light intensity versus distance. Also, the distance between interference...
Series and Parallel Circuits
Series/Parallel circuits are reduced to an equivalent resistance and that resistance is verified by measuring the total current and total voltage. In a second stand-alone experiment, the behavior of lamps in series, parallel,...
Rotational Kinetic Energy
This lab investigates the potential energies for a modified Atwood's Machine, where a disk has been added to the Rotary Motion Sensor pulley.
Resonance in Air Columns
A sine wave generator drives an open speaker to create a standing sound wave in a resonance tube. The driving frequency and the length of the tube are varied to study their relationship to wavelength and the speed of the sound...
Interference of Sound Waves
The purpose of this activity is to measure and analyze the behavior of two sounds that combine to produce beats. This activity also examines the relationship between the beat frequency and the frequencies of the two interfering...
Ohm's Law
The purpose of this experiment is to verify Ohm’s Law for commercially manufactured resistors and to examine the limits of validity for Ohm’s Law. The behavior of resistors, a diode, and a light bulb are examined.
Rotational Inertia
The purpose of this experiment is to find the rotational inertia of a ring and a disk experimentally and to verify that these values correspond to the calculated theoretical values.
Light Intensity versus Distance
The relative light intensity versus distance from a point light source is plotted. As the Light Sensor is moved by hand, the string attached to the Light Sensor that passes over the Rotary Motion Sensor pulley to a hanging mass...
Electric Field Mapping
The purpose of this qualitative activity is to introduce the students to the concept of a field and to make the idea of the electric field more concrete by examining a number of examples. A number of rules about the electric field...
Variation of Light Intensity
The purpose of this activity is to compare the variation in intensity of light from different light sources. Students will use a light sensor to record and compare incandescent versus fluorescent light sources, as well as light...
Support Documents
| Manuals | ||
|---|---|---|
| 550 Universal Interface Reference Guide | English - 934.44 KB | |
| Knowledge Base | ||
| Connection between Bluetooth 2.0 devices and Mac OS Monterey or Ventura | Aug 29th, 2023 | |
| How do I connect a PASCO Bluetooth 2.0 wireless interface to a Windows computer? | Apr 14th, 2022 | |
| Square Wave & Positive Square Wave not working on 850 or 550 interface in Capstone 2.0 | Apr 14th, 2022 | |
