External Circuits Paired with Sensors
External Circuits Paired
with Sensors
In this edition, we include a large handful of teaching research activities that make use of smartphone sensors. Check out the two articles below that share novel ways to explore capacitors!
Measuring the Capacitor Charge and Discharge with a LED and a Smartphone
This arXiv pre-print paper presents the use of a circuit board and light emission from an LED to quantitatively study capacitors.
RLC Series Circuit Made Simple and Portable with Smartphones This arXiv pre-print paper illustrates how one can "measure the voltage at the external resistor as a function of frequency when subjected to a sinusoidal electromotive force," removing the need for expensive equipment.
More Lesson Ideas
Chapter 3: Smartphones as an Educational Intervention for PER. This new book synthesizes what we know about physics education research and smartphone use, featuring Physics Toolbox and other tools in Chapter 3.
Calling Earth and Space Science (and Physics) teachers!
This article presents various sequences for teaching physics from a solar science context. One of the activities makes use of Physics Toolbox Magna AR.
Serious Play with Smartphones in the Park
Using a smartphone and measurements of acceleration while on a swing to reinforce often-misunderstood concepts relating to Newton's laws.
A Review of Magna AR
This German-language article presents a review of Physics Toolbox Magna AR, including a variety of beautiful magnetic field images produced by the app!
Pendulum Studies with the Proximeter
This study illustrates how the proximeter can be used to measure the period of a pendulum and determine acceleration due to gravity.
Organ Pipe Sound Wave Study
Using a closed organ pipe model, measure the speed of sound with high accuracy.
Myth, Mountaineers, and Physics
This article takes Physics Toolbox and other magnetometers to the field to study Mount Penanggungan. Although the magnetic fields produced by the mountain's rocks are much weaker than field strengths that have been documented as affecting the human body, the connections among science, myth, mountaineering in Indonesia is a socioscientific topic to explore!
Three Ways to Detect the Poles of a Magnet
Detect the north and south poles of magnets using a compass, magnetometer, Physics Toolbox Magna AR, or even construct your own Hall detector!
Literature Review on Smartphone Science and Engineering
This review includes ample listings of articles that pertain to smartphone studies of motion, waves, optics, and prospects for distance learning.
Another Way to Measure Acceleration Due to Gravity
A smartphone sonic analysis of a free-falling object connects concepts of both rectilinear mechanics and waves.
Illustrating Pendulum Studies with Smartphones and Tracker
This Chinese-language article provides ample illustrations for carrying out a pendulum study with Physics Toolbox's frequency analyzer paired with free Tracker software.
Applications in Research
Measurements of Driver Aggressiveness in Car-Sharing Activities
Physics Toolbox was used to measure driving aggressiveness as one factor that may influence satisfaction scores given by clients.
Pavement Design and Traveler Comfort
Pavement design is usually considered for pedestrians. However, travelers may get a very different experience when rolling luggage along that same pavement. This study performs vibration analysis passengers' arms and luggage.
Kinematic Analysis of the Forward Head Posture Associated with Smartphone Use
Physics Toolbox was used in a study to determine which parts of the spine undergo the most bending while using a smartphone.
Correction of Leg Dominance in Athletics to Avoid Injury
Physics Toolbox was placed on the spine of various athletes to determine leg dominance for lower-body activities.
Motion Recognition with Smartphones
The authors of this paper present a new analytical approach to identifying human movement from smartphone accelerometer and gyroscopes data.
Gel Electrophoresis with Smartphones
Explore how smartphones can be mounted on setups to observe fluorescence with modern gel electrophoresis that does not require the use of expensive illuminators.
Ship Motion and its Effects
Physics Toolbox was mounted on the floor of a ship during various maneuvers to determine its suitability to prevent seafarer sickness and exhaustion.
Submarine Ground Cables and Fish Migration
This study used Physics Toolbox to measure the magnetic field generated by a submerged coil. The authors found that while there is evidence that the fish noted presence of the magnetic field, its effects are unlikely to affect migration patterns.
Other Notable Uses of Smartphone Sensors
We continue to be amazed at the array of research that is carried out with the help of Physics Toolbox.
Predictors of Students' Intrinsic Motivation During Practical Work in Physics
In-Situ Vibration Tests of Timber Frame Structures with Knee Braces
EuniceScope: Low-Cost Imaging Platform for Studying Microgravity Cell Biology
Clutch Analysis and Design for the Wildcat Pulling Team Quarter Scale Tractor Drivetrain
Influence of Ultrasound Settings on Laboratory Vertical Artifacts
Outreach Events
The Physics Toolbox team has been excited to be present at a variety of venues in late 2023. See a few of our photos below! (And, if you can, join us at our upcoming workshop at the Chesapeake Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers to be held in College Park, MD in October).
About 60 K-12 teachers engaged with LiDAR Motion Visualizer and Magna AR at the International Society for Technology Education (ISTE) conference in Philadelphia in June.
Eight individuals participated in a 3-day experience at the American Association of Physics Teachers / NASA Heliophysics Education Activation Team Summit in Orlando, Florida, to learn about heliophysics education.
As part of the experience, educators used Physics Toolbox's Magna AR app to engage with lessons about planetary magnetism and energy storage in solar flares.
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