Comparison between the use of acceleration sensor and video tracker on smartphone for spring oscillation experiment

Abstract

Abstract Nowadays, mechanical experiments such as spring oscillations for high schools and colleges have been developed using smartphones. This study aims to compare the use of acceleration sensors and video tracker available on smartphones for free and damped spring oscillation experiments. This experiment used varying load masses. In experiments using acceleration sensors, acceleration versus time data were obtained, while experiments using a video tracker got position versus time data. The data were then calculated to obtain the spring constant value and the damping coefficient are obtained. The experimental results showed that for experiments using the acceleration sensor, the spring constant values k = (11.8 ± 0.2) N m−1. For experiments using a video tracker the spring constant values k = (12.1 ± 0.4) N m−1. Experiments using the acceleration sensor can explain the acceleration trends that change periodically whereas when we use a video tracker it explains the trends in positions that change periodically. But, based on the standard deviation, showing that experiments using acceleration sensors obtain more precise results. We hope that mechanical experiment using smartphone acceleration sensors can be applied in physics laboratories on high schools and colleges, because that is easy, inexpensive, and also the results are more precise.