Physics Apps

A non-exhaustive list of mobile apps that enable smartphones and tablets to become scientific instruments.

Vernier Video Physics

"Video Physics brings automated object tracking and video analysis to iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Capture video of an object in motion, then tap to track the object automatically. Video Physics instantly creates trajectory, position, and velocity graphs for the object."

Physics Toolbox

"Useful for education, academia, and industry, this app uses device sensor inputs to collect, record, and export data. in comma separated value (csv) format through a .txt file sent via an e-mail or through Google Drive. All analog data is plotted against elapsed time (or clock time) on a graph. Users can export the data for further analysis in a spreadsheet or plotting tool. The app also allows for a tone generator output. A menu allows the user to swap out sensor data collection between the following data sensors:

(1) G-Force Meter - ratio of Fn/Fg
(2) Linear Accelerometer - acceleration
(3) Gyroscope - radial velocity

(4) Barometer - atmospheric pressure
(5) Roller Coaster - G-Force Meter, Linear Accelerometer, Gyroscope, and Barometer
(6) Proximeter - periodic motion and timer
(7) Hygrometer - relative humidity
(8) Thermometer - temperature
(9) Magnetometer - magnetic field intensity
(10) Light Meter - light intensity
(11) Sound Meter - sound intensity
(12) Tone Generator - frequency producer
(13) Orientation - azimuth, roll, pitch
(14) Stroboscope"
 

SPARKvue

"-Measure and display sensor data in real time
-Display data in a graph, bar graph, analog meter, digits or table
-Build custom displays--mix display types, images, videos, text and assessments
-Analyze data with built-in statistical tools (min, max, mean, standard deviation, count and area)
-Select from 6 different curve fits including linear and quadratic
-Pinch and zoom manipulation of graphs
-Capture and annotate images
-Add videos, photos and GIFs
-Open and perform any of the 60+ SPARKlab interactive lab activities available free online
-Create and export electronic student lab journals
-Integrated with cloud-based file sharing services such as Dropbox and more
-Add assessments including multiple choice, drop down lists, and free text response
-Live data sharing and session sharing across devices--with each student capturing the shared data on their own device for further analysis"

AccelGraph

"AccelGraph displays you the acceleration applied to your iPhone or iPod Touch with the help of its built in motion sensor graphically. 

FEATURES:
• High-Pass filtering (optional)
• Seperate X,Y and Z-Axis graphs
• 3 different sampling frequencies
• Pause/Resume acceleration measuring
• Turn On/Off acceleration measurment on each axis individually
• Record acceleration on all axes
• Four different recording frequencies
• Acceleration measurement automatically saved
• Email acceleration measurement
• G-Force-Meters menu
• G-Force meters for all axes
• Four different backgrounds to chose from"

Audio Kit

"Audio Kit is a collection of four tools which are essential for those working in audio, sound and music. A real time Spectrum Analyser, a Scope to display waveforms, an SPL (Sound Pressure Level) Meter, and a Signal Generator producing sine waves, white noise and pink noise."

Oscilloscope

"Digital dual-trace storage oscilloscope

Features
- Advanced autocorrelation triggering
- 1 or 2 traces
- Microphone input
- Adjustable gain and frequency"

Audacity

Audacity is a free, open source, cross-platform software for recording and editing sounds.

Acoustic Ruler Pro

"Wouldn't it be amazing to have a ruler in your pocket all the time? Well now you can! Measure distances of up to 25 meters (82 feet) with two devices or up to 1.10 meters with one device and headphones.

The app works by clocking the time delay of the emitted sound waves. There are two different operation modes: a single device operation (with headphones) and a dual device mode for measuring the distance *between* two devices." 

AndroSensor
"AndroSensor is the absolute all-in-one diagnostic tool that lets you know virtually everything about your device's status.
AndroSensor supports all the sensors an android device can have and it will tell you which of them are not supported by your hardware.
View in a single screen the data from all device's sensors in real time. Graphical and text output available for each sensor (graphs are not available for proximity, location and battery info).
- location, location provider, accuracy, altitude, speed and GPS NMEA data.
- Google maps to show the above info. Tapping on your location shows your address, postal code and location accuracy (if available)
- accelerometer readings, (incl. linear acceleration and gravity sensors)
- gyroscope readings,
- light sensor value,
- ambient magnetic field values,
- device orientation
- proximity sensor readings
- pressure sensor (barometer)
- relative humidity sensor
- temperature readings
- battery status, voltage, temperature and health
- sound level meter (decibel)
- If your device supports it, next to the sensor's name, you will see how much power the sensor consumes per hour in mA.
AndroSensor also allows you to record everything from your sensors into a CSV file."

RadioactivityCounter
"This is a real working radioactivity counter. You only need a BLACK TAPE to cover the lense...
The App is using the camera sensor to detect radiation, like a geiger mueller counter, of course with a smaller area. We tested several mobile phones at the Helmholtz research facility in Munich, using a professional radiation device in the range of 2-10 µGy/h till 1-10 Gy/h (CS137 and CO60). The CMOS sensors can detect primary gamma radiation and some higher beta radiation (depends on the shieldings in the mobile phone). Typically not going into saturation as most GM tubes"