Sensors with Eclipse 2017!
Sensors with Eclipse 2017!
Preparing for Eclipse 2017
An opportunity for crowdsourced sensor data
If you are in North America on August 21st, don't miss the opportunity to take part in 2017's biggest astronomical event! In DC, where we will get 81% coverage of the sun, we plan to collect data using the Light Meter mode of Physics Toolbox Suite to capture changes in light intensity. We'll share our data in our next newsletter via a Google Sheet. Care to contribute your own data? Simply drop us a note at support@vieyrasoftware.net
Perimeter Institute Lesson w/Physics Toolbox
"How to Find an Exoplanet"
While at the summer meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers in Cincinnati, OH this past month, we were notified by the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics that they had recently published a lesson using Physics Toolbox's Light Meter. The lesson, found in "Activity 2" of the "Figuring Outer Space" curricular resource unit for 9th grade students, helps students to understand how light curves can be used to identify and learn about exoplanets. To check out the lesson, visit the link below. Perimeter Institute requires the creation of an account, but the lessons can be downloaded completely for free (just select what you want, and "add to cart.")
Follow Us on Twitter
Start a conversation and get quick responses
While we deeply appreciate the many e-mails we get from our users, Twitter is also a great place to publicly let us and others know about the ways you are using the app and the requests and suggestions you have. Consider following us today!
Physics Toolbox at Serious Games Conference
Beta Test of "Physics Toolbox Play"
On July 20th, we were lucky enough to be asked to give an invited workshop at the Serious Play Conference on the campus of George Mason University, home of the Serious Games Institute in Virginia. We had about a dozen participants who were willing to try out a beta version of the Physics Toolbox Play app (with funding for the app development supported by the American Physical Society's NSF-sponsored Mini Grant program).
Currently, this app has five functional data-validated challenges in which students must use sensors to learn about their world, demonstrate a basic understanding of physics content, and make connections to real-world careers. A public release of this app is expected later this fall.
Call for Papers on Smartphone Science
Focus series on low-cost experiments in physics...
Prolific smartphone physics publishers Arturo Marti and Martin Monteiro of Uruguay are calling for the submission of papers for a special focus series on smartphone physics. Please consider making a contribution!
Quick Lab Idea
Analyzing Sound Waves
Gone are the days in which students would need to circle around the tiny screen of a 30-pound oscilloscope just to see the waveforms produced by sound. In a recent workshop, K-8 educators learning about sound waves used Physics Toolbox to observe the differences in waves representing high and low pitch and high and low volume. Participants also could easily observe the simple sine wave nature of tuning forks, comparing them to the more robust, complex waves produced by the human voice.
Have Physics Toolbox Apps been useful to you? We'd love to get your feedback on this quick 5-minute survey.
Have a great story to share about how you are using Physics Toolbox Apps? We'd love to feature you and your ideas in our newsletter or on our website! Drop us a message at any time to share your story.
Previous Newsletter Editions
