Explorations in Arduino Physics: Ideas and Experiments that Integrate this Low-cost 8-bit Microcontroller into your Classroom

Using the simplicity and power of the Arduino microcontroller and the open-source community, we have developed a series of tools that can be used in experiments, activities, and labs to investigate, measure, and analyze physics phenomena. For many years, data collection devices from Pasco and Vernier have helped classrooms gain a better insight. With the ease of use of the Arduino environment, instructors, lecturers, and lab managers can take this to the next level.

In this workshop, we will present a series of experiments where students are shown how to build their own data acquisition devices to model and build an understanding around data measurement, uncertainty, and calibration. These works are gaining in popularity among many institutions across the country and are enabling students to design and build their own measurement equipment outside of the traditional lab environments.

• Recommended Software
• pdf notes of slide deck

Links to Google Drive Activities:

• Activity 0 - Getting Started
• Activity 1 - Light Sensor
• Activity 2 - Photogate Timer
• Activity 3 - Linear Temperature Sensor
• Activity 4 - Thermistor Temp Sensor

• Activity 5 - DIY Reaction Timer

• zip file of workshop matl

• Author: Brian Huang
• Date Posted: July 28, 2015
• Last Updated: June 13, 2016

• Tags
• • Arduino
  • Educators

• License
• Creative Commons resources are open sourced under CC BY-SA 3.0