Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite

This app uses internal smartphone sensors to collect, display, record, and export .csv data files. See www.vieyrasoftware.net to (1) read about case usage in research and development, and (2) get lesson plans for educators of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, including physics. Sensor availability, precision, and accuracy are dependent upon smartphone hardware.

Sensors, generators, and data analysis tools include the following:

KINEMATICS

G-Force Meter - ratio of Fn/Fg (x, y, z and/or total)

Linear Accelerometer – acceleration (x, y, and/or z)

Gyroscope - radial velocity (x, y, and/or z)

Inclinometer - azimuth, roll, pitch

Protractor - angle from vertical or horizontal

ACOUSTICS

Sound Meter - sound intensity

Tone Detector - frequency and musical tone

Tone Generator – sound frequency producer

Oscilloscope - wave shape and relative amplitude

Spectrum Analyzer - graphical FFT

Spectrogram - waterfall FFT

LIGHT

Light Meter - light intensity

Color Detector - detects HEX colors within a small rectangle area on the screen via the camera.

Color Generator – R/G/B/Y/C/M, white, and custom color screen

Proximeter - periodic motion and timer (timer and pendulum modes)

Stroboscope (beta) - camera flash

Wi-Fi - Wi-Fi signal strength

MAGNETISM

Compass - magnetic field direction and bubble level

Magnetometer - magnetic field intensity (x, y, z and/or total)

Magna-AR - augmented reality visualization of magnetic field vectors

OTHER

Barometer - atmospheric pressure

Ruler - distance between two points

GPS - latitude, longitude, altitude, speed, direction, number of satellites

System Temperature - battery temperature

COMBINATION

Multi Record - choose one or more of the above sensors to collect data at the same time.

Dual Sensor - display data from two sensors on a graph in real time.

Roller Coaster - G-Force Meter, Linear Accelerometer, Gyroscope, and Barometer

PLOTTING

Manual Data Plot - enter data manually to generate a graph.

GAME

Play - challenges

FEATURES

(a) Record: Record by pressing the red floating action button. Find saved data stored in the folder icon.

(b) Export: Export data by selecting an option to send via e-mail or shared in Google Drive or Dropbox. Locally saved files can also be transferred from the folder icon.

(c) Sensor Information: Clicking on the (i) icon to identify sensor name, vendor, and current data collection rate, and to learn what kind of data is collected by the sensor, its physical operating principle, and links to additional resources.

SETTINGS

* Note that not all settings are available for all sensors.

(a) Data Display: View data in graphical, digital, or vector form.

(b) Graph Display: View multi-dimensional data sets on a single shared graph or in multiple individual graphs.

(c) Displayed Axis: For multi-dimensional data on a single shared graph, select total, x, y, and/or z-axis data.

(d) CSV Timestamp Format: Record clock time or elapsed time with sensor data.

(e) Line Width: Modify visual presentation of data with a Thin, Medium, or Thick line.

(f) Sensor Collection Rate: Set collection rate as Fastest, Game, UI, or Normal. The sensor collection rate is displayed for each option when selected.

(g) Keep the Screen On: Prevent the app from turning the screen off automatically.

(h) Calibrate: Calibrate selected sensors.