ERIC Number: EJ1152067
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Sep
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0031-9120
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Available Date: N/A
Finding the Acceleration and Speed of a Light-Emitting Object on an Inclined Plane with a Smartphone Light Sensor
Physics Education, v52 n5 Article 055003 Sep 2017
This study investigates how the acceleration and speed of a light-emitting object on an inclined plane may be determined using a smartphone's light sensor. A light-emitting object was released from the top of an inclined plane and its illuminance values were detected by a smartphone's light sensor during its subsequent motion down the plane. Using the illuminance and time values recorded by the smartphone, the distances between the sensor and the light-emitting object can be calculated. From these known distance and time values, the uniform acceleration and speed of the light-emitting object at any time could also be determined. A second method was also used to determine these values, i.e. the analysis of video-recordings of the light-emitting object during its motion. The values found by these two different methods were in good agreement. Thus, this experiment demonstrates that a smartphone's light sensor can be used as a reliable instrument to determine the constant acceleration and speed of light-emitting objects.
Descriptors: Scientific Concepts, Physics, Science Instruction, Light, Telecommunications, Handheld Devices, Motion, Time, Computation, Video Technology, Measurement Equipment, Science Experiments
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
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