abstract

• In this work, we propose an inexpensive laboratory practice for an introductory physics course laboratory for any grade of science and engineering study. This practice was very well received by our students, where a smartphone (iOS, Android, or Windows) is used together with mini magnets (similar to those used on refrigerator doors), a 20 cm long school rule, a paper, and a free application (app) that needs to be downloaded and installed that measures magnetic fields using the smartphone's magnetic field sensor or magnetometer. The apps we have used are: Magnetometer (iOS), Magnetometer Metal Detector, and Physics Toolbox Magnetometer (Android). Nothing else is needed. Cost of this practice: free. The main purpose of the practice is that students determine the dependence of the component x of the magnetic field produced by different magnets (including ring magnets and sphere magnets). We obtained that the dependency of the magnetic field with the distance is of the form x-3, in total agreement with the theoretical analysis. The secondary objective is to apply the technique of least squares fit to obtain this exponent and the magnetic moment of the magnets, with the corresponding absolute error. © 2015 IOP Publishing Ltd.

authors

• Arribas E.
• Beléndez A.
• Escobar I.
• Najera A.
• Suarez Rodríguez Carmen del Pilar

publication date

• 2015-01-01

published in

• European Journal of Physics  Journal

keywords

• active learning; experimental; lab physics; new technologies; university physics iOS (operating system); Laboratories; Magnetic fields; Magnetic moments; Magnetometers; Magnets; Smartphones; Absolute error; Active Learning; experimental; Laboratory practices; Least squares fit; Magnetic field sensors; New technologies; Science and engineering; Android (operating system)

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1088/0143-0807/36/6/065002

start page

end page

volume

• 36

issue

• 6