Measuring the kinematic parameters of a rotating object in circular motion using the magnetometer of a smartphone

Abstract

This paper describes a method to measure the kinematic parameters of a rotating object in circular motion using the magnetometer of a smartphone. A wheel with four legs had magnetic buttons attached to the ends of the legs. The smartphone was placed on the ground to measure the magnetic field when the wheel rotated. The experimental data can be calculated to obtain an angular position, an angular velocity, and an angular acceleration. The results show that the smartphone can be a useful tool to determine kinematic parameters in circular motion. The experiment is easy to set up using simple available objects, and students can conduct this experiment at home. © 2022 IOP Publishing Ltd.