FizziQ FAQ – Usage and Features

FizziQ allows you to transform a smartphone or tablet into a mobile scientific laboratory. The application uses the device's integrated sensors to allow the measurement of physical phenomena (acceleration, light, sound, color, etc.), the analysis of data (graphs, tables, curves), and the recording of observations in a digital experiment notebook. It also offers modules dedicated to kinematics, colorimetry, acoustics, etc. Learn mores

We recommend using FizziQ in middle and high school and FizziQ Junior for cycle 3.  There are activities adapted to all levels: specific resources have been developed with La main à la pâte for primary and middle school, and more complex activities are offered by FizziQ for high school (kinematics, energy, Doppler, etc.).

FizziQ uses sensors from mobile phones or tablets to carry out scientific measurements in the real world. The types of sensors found in a smartphone vary between devices, but virtually all include an accelerometer, camera, microphone, GPS, magnetometer, and gyroscope. From these sensors, fizziQ is able to calculate more than 50 types of data to study sound waves, light, color, movement, magnetic field, position, and even study the kinematics of moving objects. The information produced by these sensors can be recorded by the application, and analyzed in the form of graphs or data tables.

Yes — smartphone sensors are accurate and reliable enough for a wide range of classroom experiments, particularly in middle and high school settings. They offer real-time, quantitative data that supports meaningful, hands-on learning.

Here’s a summary of the typical performance of the main sensors found in smartphones:

📦 Accelerometer

• Function: Measures linear acceleration in three axes (X, Y, Z).

• Typical precision: ±0.01 to ±0.1 m/s².

• Classroom use: Measuring gravity (g), studying oscillations, circular motion, or acceleration during vehicle movement.

🌀 Gyroscope

• Function: Measures angular velocity (rotational movement).

• Typical resolution: ~0.01 rad/s.

• Classroom use: Analyzing spins, rotations, or verifying the relationship between angular speed and acceleration.

🧭 Magnetometer

• Function: Measures magnetic field strength.

• Typical resolution: 0.3 to 1 µT (microtesla).

• Classroom use: Exploring Earth's magnetic field, compass activity, detecting magnetic materials.

💡 Ambient Light Sensor

• Function: Measures light intensity (illuminance).

• Typical range: From less than 10 lux to over 10,000 lux.

• Classroom use: Investigating light absorption, environmental light conditions, plant growth experiments.

🔊 Microphone

• Function: Measures sound level and analyzes sound waves.

• Typical range: ~30 dB (quiet) to 120 dB (loud).

• Classroom use: Measuring sound levels, frequency analysis, echo, Doppler effect.

• Claibration : microphones may have different sensitivity so they need to be calibrated to compare results

🎥 Video Analysis (Camera-Based Measurements)

• Function: Measures position, speed, and acceleration using frame-by-frame video analysis.

• Resolution: Depends on camera quality, typically 30 to 60 frames per second at HD or higher resolution.

• Classroom use: Analyzing motion (e.g., pendulum, projectile, sports), calculating energy, studying parabolic trajectories.

✳️ Thanks to high-resolution cameras, video analysis with smartphones offers excellent spatial and temporal precision, making it highly effective for kinematics experiments.

While these sensors are not laboratory-grade, they strike an ideal balance between accessibility, accuracy, and versatility. They allow students to engage in real experiments with their own devices — making science both tangible and engaging.

FizziQ was specifically designed in partnership with the la main à la pâte foundation to facilitate the investigation process. It encourages a structured approach on the part of the student: hypothesis, experimentation with sensors, data analysis and final report. The digital experience notebook structures this approach and allows students to keep a usable trace of their reasoning.

Yes, FizziQ is completely free.
The FizziQ and FizziQ Junior applications are available at no cost, without advertising, without creating an account, and without collecting personal data .

They can be used:

• In class, at home or in the field, on smartphone, tablet or Chromebook.

• Without internet connection once installed, which facilitates their use in varied conditions.

Teachers and students can:

• Access more than 70 free scientific activities, covering various fields (physics, SVT, mathematics, arts, etc.).

• Share their results or protocols by QR code or PDF export.

• Benefit from free educational resources created with the La main à la pâte foundation.

FizziQ was developed for education with the support of the Ministry of National Education, and remains accessible to all at no hidden cost.

FizziQ uses the internal sensors of the phone or tablet: accelerometer (movement), gyroscope (rotation), microphone (sound level, spectrum), camera (color and luminance analysis), brightness sensor (illuminance), magnetometer (magnetic field), and on some devices, a barometer (atmospheric pressure). Thanks to these sensors, many experiments can be carried out without additional hardware. See the list of instruments.

Yes. The ergonomics of FizziQ are designed for young users: the interface is intuitive, close to the digital tools they already use. A brief discovery phase (10-15 minutes during the first session) is enough for them to be independent in using the instruments and creating the notebook.

Video analysis is a highly effective method for studying motion in physics, as it allows students to observe, measure, and interpret physical quantities such as position, speed, and acceleration based on real-life recordings.

With an app like FizziQ, video analysis becomes easy and accessible in the classroom. All you need is a simple video to turn any motion into a subject of scientific inquiry.

By analyzing a video frame by frame, students can:

• Track the position of a moving object over time.

• Visualize its trajectory and study how it evolves.

• Calculate average and instantaneous speed.

• Observe acceleration changes, and make connections to force and energy.

• Compare different types of motion, such as linear vs circular, uniform vs accelerated.

This approach makes key physics concepts in kinematics more tangible and engaging by anchoring them in real-world contexts — like a ball toss, a pendulum swing, or a ski descent. It also opens the door to cross-disciplinary learning, connecting physics to sports, biology, and technology.

Yes, FizziQ is fully usable without an internet connection. There is no need for an account, password or registration. Data can be exchanged locally by QR code or exported by files. This design allows for simple and secure use in the classroom, particularly in establishments with little network coverage.

Yes. No registration, no password, no sharing of personal data. The application is 100% GDPR compliant and designed for secure school use.

No, no license is required to use FizziQ activities in class.
The FizziQ and FizziQ Junior applications are completely free, with no need for registration, connection or password. They have been designed for educational use and are without sharing of personal data, which makes them perfectly suited to use in schools.

Teachers can:

• Create their own protocols or choose from dozens of activities available for free.

• Share these activities easily with their students via QR codes, without the need for internet access.

• Use FizziQ on smartphone, tablet or Chromebook, whether in class, at home or in the field.

These resources were developed with educational partners such as La main à la pâte, and are accessible to everyone without a paid license.

Allow 10 to 15 minutes during the first session to let students explore the interface. This appropriation phase is quick, especially since the ergonomics are familiar (close to the apps they use on a daily basis).

Yes, thanks to FizziQ Connect, it is possible to connect external sensors via Bluetooth, in particular using ESP32, Arduino or Micro:bit cards. This allows the experimental possibilities to be extended by adding sensors for temperature, pressure, CO₂, etc. This functionality opens FizziQ to robotics, IoT and engineering sciences. Full tutorial here.

Students can export their experiment notebook to PDF, Excel or even Python format. These files can be sent by email, QR code or other means. This makes correction easier and allows students to enhance their scientific work.

Simply ask your students to put their device in airplane mode. FizziQ does not require access to mobile data, which prevents distractions and notifications.

The experiment notebook allows the student to structure their scientific work. He can add text, measurements (from sensors), photos, tables and comments. Each experiment can be exported to PDF to be shared, corrected or kept. It is a powerful educational tool to promote autonomy and scientific rigor. Presentation here: https://www.fizziq.org/faq

Yes, absolutely. FizziQ was designed to be used in the classroom, at home or in the field, without requiring an internet connection once installed. Students can carry out experiments at home, document their approach in the experiment notebook, then export their work to PDF format or send it to their teacher. It is a particularly suitable tool for educational continuity.

FizziQ Junior is designed for cycle 2 and cycle 3 students. It offers a very simple, intuitive interface, without long text, suitable for independent use. The experiences are more oriented towards sensory observation (sounds, light, colors) and the discovery of phenomena. FizziQ "classic" is designed for middle and high school, with more advanced functionalities: graphs, tables, specialized modules, kinematic analysis, etc.

No, Fizziq is extremely easy to use. Moreover, your students will certainly discover features that you have not yet imagined! A one-hour tutorial is available on the l@map platform, as well as explanatory videos (like that of David Louapre on sound). Many videos are also available on YouTube to use FizziQ to measure the speed of sound, the color of market fruits, or study kinematics. For FizziQ Junior there are also getting started videos.

Yes. Use in group work is recommended. Students can share a device and explore features together, promoting mutual support and collaboration. We recommend groups of three students.

FizziQ Connect is an extension of FizziQ that allows you to connect external sensors (such as those connected to ESP32, Arduino or Micro:bit boards) via Bluetooth BLE. This opens the application to the fields of robotics, IoT, programming and more advanced environmental measurements (temperature, pressure, gas, etc.).

Yes, and it is even encouraged. The application works offline, and the experiments can be carried out in the field: on a nature outing, in the yard, in PE, etc. This makes it possible to fully exploit the smartphone sensors (accelerometer, GPS, microphone, etc.) in real contexts, reinforcing student engagement.

Yes, the FizziQ Connect functionality is integrated directly into FizziQ (not in FizziQ Junior). It is accessible via the Instruments > Bluetooth tab. It does not require any additional module or subscription, everything is free.

You will find numerous protocols in the “Activities” tab of the application or on the FizziQ and La main à la pâte websites. To start, it is recommended to choose a simple activity with a single sensor.

A Chromebook version is available and optimized, particularly for the study of kinematics. A progressive web version (PWA) is in development to make the application even more accessible on PC or via browser, but to date, FizziQ is mainly intended for smartphones and tablets (Android/iOS).

There is no official forum yet, but several spaces allow discussion:

Yes, FizziQ allows you to analyze videos and chronophotographs to study a movement.

Thanks to its kinematics module, the FizziQ application allows students:

• Import a video or chronophotograph.

• To point the positions of an object frame by frame.

• To automatically calculate position, speed, acceleration and energy.

• Export the results in the form of graphs or tables in their experiment notebook.

To make it easier to get started, FizziQ offers:

• A free library of videos and chronophotographs, ready to be used in class.

• Integrated tools for scaling, frame rate selection (frames/s), and motion tracking.

This module is particularly useful for physics sessions in middle and high school, particularly for studying:

• Rectilinear or circular movement,

• Free fall,

• Collisions,

• The movement of a pendulum or a sportsman.

FizziQ is available on smartphones, tablets and Chromebooks, under iOS or Android. Once installed, the application works without an internet connection, which is ideal for outings or in poorly connected establishments.

FizziQ Junior activities are generally shorter, illustrated and do not require in-depth theoretical knowledge. They are grouped in a specific section of the application. Classic FizziQ activities often include measurement, graphical analysis and modeling phases. Each activity is indicated with the recommended level (primary, middle, high school).

Yes, both applications can be installed on the same device (smartphone or tablet) without conflict. This allows a cycle 3 teacher to gradually move their students towards standard FizziQ depending on their autonomy and the level of the activities offered.

Yes, FizziQ includes a simple and educational spreadsheet module.

Users can:

• Create data tables directly in the experiment notebook.

• Add up to three columns, with numeric values, text or formulas.

• Automatically produce graphs (curves, histograms, etc.).

• Use classic mathematical and statistical functions on data.

This spreadsheet allows students to:

• Process measured data with internal or external sensors,

• Integrate the results into their digital experience notebook,

• And above all, export the data in formats: Excel (CSV) for further exploitation,
  PDF for a rendering ready to be shared or printed,
  Python for teachers or students wishing to reuse data in a programming environment.
  

Yes, teachers can create their own protocols in FizziQ, save them in the application, share them via QR code or integrate them into the experiment notebooks. They can also adapt the activities offered by the FizziQ community. Guide to creating a protocol: https://www.fizziq.org/faq

FizziQ is available on Android, iOS (iPhone, iPad) smartphones and tablets and on Chromebook. The application is free, without advertising or collection of personal data. A progressive web version is being developed to further facilitate classroom integration. Download FizziQ: https://www.fizziq.org

The Kinematics module of the FizziQ application allows you to analyze movement videos or chronophotographs with your laptop or tablet, then export the data to the experiment notebook. In the notebook, the data can be analyzed and shared in PDF or Excel file format. The analysis steps are described in a specific video by following this link, or by following the steps described below: 1. Upload a video or photo to analyze - open the Kinematics module from the Tools tab in FizziQ, - select Video mode if you wish to analyze a video, or Chronophotography if you wish to analyze a photo, - choose a video from those proposed. You can also use your own video, or use a video downloaded from the internet or use a video from the FizziQ Cinematic Videos space 2. Scaling Scaling which allows you to give the ratio between the size of the image and the actual size, and to define the axes. Scaling is done in three steps: - position the Origin of the rule, - position the end of the rule, - give the length of the rule in meters, We will check the direction of the axes which is determined automatically from the positions of the Origin and the End. 3. Pointing Once the Calibration has been carried out, you can proceed to Pointing the movement: - check or modify the time interval between successive punches, - successively bring the target to the points to be studied, then press on the screen. The position is then saved and the sequence advances to the next image, - you can move forward or return in the sequence of images by pressing the arrows at the bottom of the screen - options allow you to delete a point, make the data transparent to facilitate pointing and add an image of the screen to the experiment notebook. 4. Results After having noted the entire movement, we can then move on to the analysis which is carried out in the experiment notebook using the graphic possibilities of the application: - select the data you want to transfer to the notebook. A maximum of 3 data can be selected, - transfer the data by pressing Notebook, - analyze the data in the Notebook or transfer the data in Excel or PDF format Other resources: We can consult the excellent video by Jean-Michel Courty for Billes de Sciences on the use of the FizziQ application for kinematic analysis.

Here are different movement activities that use the accelerometer of smartphones or tablets: - calculating gravity - the relationship between rotation speed and centripetal acceleration - rectilinear and uniform movement - the creation of a pedometer - conservation of energy for a pendulum To learn more about how an accelerometer works: - “Why does a stationary accelerometer display 9.8 m/s²?” which explains how an accelerometer works - “What is the difference between linear acceleration and absolute acceleration?” which details the difference between linear acceleration (also called acceleration without g) and absolute acceleration (also called acceleration with g)

The smartphone camera makes it possible to calculate the luminance of the light flux which is emitted or reflected by the objects which are in its field. Luminance is proportional to light intensity but, unlike the illuminance measurement, does not take into account the surface area of the light source. It is the visual sensation of light intensity. Local luminance calculates the luminance of the central pixels of the image captured by the camera. Global luminance calculates the average luminance across all pixels in the camera image. In FizziQ, luminance is calculated as the average of the red, green and blue components detected by the smartphone camera over the entire image and related to the calibration value. The measurement is updated at a rate of approximately 10 Hz. WARNING: the smartphone constantly adjusts its brightness sensors so that the image is the best possible, it is therefore necessary to calibrate the instrument, which allows you to set the image acquisition parameters and therefore to be able to compare the luminance that you observe in relation to the initial luminance.

The colorimeter is a tool that analyzes colored samples. FizziQ uses the photographic detector present in your cell phone to calculate different parameters which characterize the color reflected or transmitted by the objects you analyze. Color is a physical phenomenon that is difficult to study. Everyone perceives colors differently. Cellphone photographic sensors have different sensitivities at certain wavelengths and the results are not always comparable for different cellphones. The Color screen gives a lot of information about the color of the center of the image: - a sample of the color perceived by the sensor and its common name, - the spectrum as a % of the maximum value of the red, green and blue components which constitute this color, - the shade on the HSV scale, and the intensity of this shade.

The kinematics module of the FizziQ application allows you to calculate several essential data for the study of movement, such as position, speed, acceleration, angle and associated energies. 1. Stance The position is calculated using the points recorded in the pointing module. Each position point is defined from the reference frame and the scale defined during Scaling. When scaling, we can separate the origin from the mark by pressing the + button at the top right. The directions of the X and Y axes are oriented according to the origin relative to these axes. 2. Speed Speed is calculated in two different ways: - Centered finite difference: for a given point, the speed is calculated using the positions before and after this point: v(i) = x(i+1) - x(i-1) / [t(i+1)- t(i-1)] - Derivative of the smoothed curve: a portion of a curve smoothed over 5 points (or 3 at the ends) is generated, and the speed is calculated from the derivative of this curve at the point considered. This method helps minimize measurement errors and makes the calculation smoother. By default, the module uses the smoothed curve for calculating the speed. It is possible to change this option in Settings > Modeling. In both cases, the first and last points are excluded since they do not have neighboring points to perform the calculation. 3. Acceleration Acceleration is calculated in two ways: - Centered finite difference: for a given point, the acceleration is calculated using the speeds before and after this point: a(t) = [v(i+1) - v(i-1)] /[t(i+1) - t(i-1)] - Second derivative of the smoothed curve: a portion of a curve smoothed over 5 points (or 3 at the ends) is generated, and the acceleration is calculated from the second derivative of this curve at the point considered. By default, the module uses the smoothed curve for calculating the acceleration. It is possible to change this option in Settings > Modeling. In both cases, the first two and last two points are excluded. 4. Corner FizziQ allows the angle to be measured at every instant, thus offering the possibility of analyzing rotational movements or describing the position of the mobile in polar coordinates. The angle calculated by FizziQ is obtained from the successive positions of the mobile during the movement. It corresponds to the angle formed between the horizontal axis XX and the line connecting the origin to the position of the mobile at time tt. This angle is measured in the trigonometric direction, that is to say counterclockwise from the XX axis. 5. Kinetic, Potential and Mechanical Energies The energies linked to the movement are calculated from the positions, speeds and weight of the object (see the calculation of these different parameters). The weight is entered at the first analysis, and can then be modified by tapping on the displayed value.

The banner at the bottom of the application allows you to navigate between the 5 independent screens at any time: - the Activities tab which gives access to all activity protocols as well as the creation, editing and sharing of activities, - the Notebook tab in which the student adds the results of his experiments but can also add text, photos or tables, - the Measurements tab which gives access to the measuring instruments by pressing on the Central Circle, - the Tools tab which offers many features for carrying out scientific experiments such as the synthesizer, the sound library, or the kinematics tool, - the Settings tab where the user will find the different options to adapt FizziQ to their needs, perform tool calibration, or change sampling.

Linear acceleration measures the variation in speed of the mobile phone in the terrestrial reference frame along the three axes X, Y and Z. It is measured in m/s². The value is therefore zero (along all axes) when the phone is stationary. This measurement is actually the combined result of two measurements: absolute absolute acceleration, also called acceleration with g, and weightlessness which is given by the magnetometer. The latter allows the gravity component to be subtracted from the measurement. Linear acceleration is thus a measurement that only reflects the acceleration created by the user without gravity, as if you were in weightlessness! This measurement is very useful for games where only the user's movement matters. You will find more details on the difference between linear and absolute acceleration in our article on the subject: What is the difference between linear acceleration and absolute acceleration?

A theodolite is an optical instrument, measuring angles in both horizontal and vertical planes. It is used to measure a triangulation, that is to say the angles of a triangle. It is an essential instrument in geodesy, cartography, topography, engineering and archaeology. The FizziQ theodolite uses a smartphone camera to take sights and precisely measure: - azimuth, that is to say the angle in the horizontal plane between the direction of an object and magnetic north - the elevation, that is to say the angle in the vertical plane between the direction of an object and the horizontal The theodolite can be used in class to measure the height of a building, or to make triangulation measurements.

A large number of protocols are available on the website www.fizziq.orgin the Activities tab. All of these activities were created by science educators. In partnership with Trapèze.digital, the La main à la pâte foundation regularly develops new educational resources for primary and secondary school teachers allowing them to use FizziQ in the classroom. These resources detail the activities that can be carried out in class by promoting an active and experimental approach to science in accordance with the educational principles of La main à la pâte. Many publishers such as Belin, Magnard, Hatier also offer activities in school books using FizziQ to conduct experimentation sessions. Finally, on social networks, we find FizziQ protocols with the hashtag #fizziqlab. The community is encouraged to share its protocols so that other teachers, in France but also abroad and in developing countries, can use smartphones as educational tools.

A gyroscope is an instrument that measures the orientation of an object in space. Gyroscopes are essential for aircraft or satellite navigation and allow them to detect whether they are pointing up, down or sideways. Usually, a gyroscope consists of a wheel or disk that rotates around another disk or axis. The rotation of the disks measures both the orientation of the gyroscope itself and the speed at which it rotates in one direction or the other. In a smartphone, the gyroscope is a small electronic component based on MEMS (micro-electromechanical system) technology. Most smartphones have gyroscopes which allow you to determine the speed of rotation of the mobile on itself in all directions. This use is important for video games but also for determining the exact position of the phone in coordination with the accelerometer and the magnetometer. In the school setting, the gyroscope allows experiments on force and centripetal acceleration or on rectilinear movement. Facial rotation is the rotation of the mobile relative to the z axis, which is perpendicular to the face of the smartphone. Longitudinal rotation is the rotation around the y axis which is the length of your laptop. Rotation speed is usually measured in rpm, which means rotation per minute.

There are other applications, some of which have been pioneers in the field. There are also other ways to teach students about experimentation such as using virtual experimentation environments. FizziQ is the only application that integrates, in a modern and intuitive interface, information capture, experiment notebook, experiment protocols and experimentation tools such as simultaneous recording, sound library, intervalometer, triggers and many other features. FizziQ allows collaboration between students and promotes the development of the educational community.

The Cinematic Videos area present in the Resources contains a large number of videos on sport and on the movement of objects to conduct investigation sessions on movement in class or at home. To download a video from the Cinematic Video space in FizziQ: - open the Kinematics module in the fizziQ application from the Tools tab, - select on FizziQ Resources which redirects you to an internet browser and the Cinematic Videos page, - copy the video link to the clipboard, - return to FizziQ then select the Internet icon, - press the Copy icon.

The FizziQ application allows you to create activities for students and generate a QR code to be able to share them: 1. Create a new protocol from the application: Activities > “+” icon > Create a new protocol 2. Copy and edit an existing protocol: Activities > Select a protocol > Edit icon at the top right 3. Create a new protocol using an Internet QR code generator

The FizziQ app is free. It can be used freely for educational purposes and for non-commercial uses. If screenshots or parts of screens are distributed on media with a circulation of more than 250 copies, mention of the name of the application and the application's internet link, www.fizziq.org, must be indicated on the media. You can also use the app logo in connection with the app.

Absorbance measures the ability of a medium to absorb light passing through it. This measurement is used in spectrometry to measure concentrations of chemicals. Absorbance is the decimal logarithm of the ratio between the reference light intensity and the transmitted light intensity. Absorbance is a dimensionless relative data. The measuring device must be calibrated using the CAL button, which will set the reference light intensity. The RESET button allows you to cancel the calibration. Your smartphone cannot be compared to a laboratory spectrometer which allows high precision measurements, but it nevertheless allows you to carry out some exciting experiments on light.

Here are different methods to calculate the speed of sound using a smartphone or tablet: - calculation of the speed of sound

By adding the data to the experiment notebook, simple analyzes can be conducted on the data. It is also possible to export this data to Excel or Python for further analysis. Adding data to the experiment notebook At the end of the kinematic analysis, a screen allows you to select the data you wish to export into the experiment notebook. You can export up to three pieces of data. Analysis in tabular form Once the data has been added to the experiment notebook, it can be analyzed in tabular form. The table can consist of a maximum of 100 rows and 3 columns. Several features make it easier to organize and personalize data: Editing cells: It is possible to add text, numbers, or formulas to each cell. By double clicking on a cell you can copy the contents of this cell throughout the column. Line management: You can add additional lines for annotations or delete lines that are no longer needed. Data accuracy: The display of digits after the decimal point can be adjusted to obtain a more precise or simplified presentation of values. Formulas: Very simple calculations can be performed on the board by entering a formula. Formulas can only be entered in the last column. They start with the sign = followed by a formula which will involve the column titles. For example = T * x /5. Parentheses or square brackets can be used interchangeably. Note that you can reference the previous or next line with the prefix prev (column title) or next (column title). Statistics: The last line allows you to calculate statistics on the data in a column (Sum, Average, Standard Deviation, Product Sum). Analysis in graph form FizziQ allows you to represent data in graph form: Choice of axes: You can select one data for the abscissa axis (X) and another for the ordinate axis (Y). Scale and Centering: The scale of the chart can be adjusted using the magnifying glass buttons, allowing you to zoom in or out to the desired precision. You can also center the graph to obtain a different view of the curve. Modeling: By pressing the modeling button, you have access to different options: Linear interpolation: This option connects data points using line segments. The formula appears at the top right. Quadratic smoothing: This type of modeling applies quadratic smoothing to the data. The formula for the curve appears at the top right. No modeling: You can also choose to display the data without any modeling if you prefer to look at raw points. Data export: once in the experiment notebook, the data can be exported in CSV form (dot or comma separators) or in the form of a Python file (the data is presented in the form of line data that can easily be integrated into a Python program).

Here are different scientific activities on the frequency and period of a sound that can be carried out with a smartphone or tablet: - tuning forks - vowels - notes and scale - harmonic and non-harmonic sounds - what is the timbre of an instrument - what is white noise?

Here are different movement activities that use the gyroscope of smartphones or tablets: - the relationship between rotation speed and centripetal acceleration - rectilinear and uniform movement - conservation of energy for a pendulum

The sound library provides the student and the teacher with more than 15 different sounds which can be used to carry out investigation procedures. You access the sound library from the Tools tab. By pressing the drop-down menu, you select one of the sounds from the library which includes the following sounds: - 3 tuning fork sounds from different eras - 6 musical notes from different instruments - 2 noises (electronic white noise and a busy street) - 1 Doppler effect - 1 constant pure sound at 680 Hertz - 1 intermittent beep - 1 bell sound - 3 sequences of musical notes (scale, octal, mystery sounds) Warning: on Android these sounds can be "played" at the same time as an analysis of the sound is carried out in the Measurement tab. We can therefore play and measure. On iOS this is not possible due to Apple's desire not to infringe copyright and you must either play a sound or measure but you cannot do both at the same time.

As mobile phones and tablets are equipped with speakers, it seemed obvious to us to create a tool to generate sounds and thus provide the researcher with a sound source that can be adapted to their needs. The sound synthesizer, present in the Tools tab, allows you to generate a sound with a frequency between 200 and 10,000 hertz on 3 independently programmable channels. In addition, the second channel can be phase shifted relative to the first and each channel has its own volume. Having multiple channels allows the user to generate complex sounds. Warning: on Android these sounds can be "played" at the same time as an analysis of the sound is carried out in the Measurement tab. We can therefore play and measure. On iOS this is not possible due to Apple's desire not to infringe copyright and you must either play a sound or measure but you cannot do both at the same time.

The analysis of user-created videos is one of the most interesting features of the kinematics module. This video can be filmed with a mobile phone or tablet camera and imported into FizziQ for analysis. To make a usable video of a movement we recommend paying attention to the following elements: - the camera plane must be fixed, - the object or person must be visible and sufficiently contrasted, - if the object is large, a mark must indicate the place which must be pointed. Ideally located at the center of gravity, - any parallax must be avoided, in other words the mobile must be at the same distance from the objective during its movement, - a scale must be visible on the video, located in the same plane as the mobile and at the same distance from the lens - the scale must have visible markings to indicate the scale - the number of images per second must be known and sufficient to prevent successive images from being blurred Once the video is made, the video can be easily uploaded to FizziQ for analysis: - open the Kinematics module in the fizziQ application from the Tools tab, - select “My Videos”, - select video - check the time interval (expressed in milliseconds) when pointing To find out more, you can consult our blog - Our 7 tips for making a good cinematic video - and you can consult the video from La main à la pâte - Billes de Sciences on the subject

You can create an activity from the FizziQ application, but it is also possible to create an activity and generate its QR code without using the application. We will use a QR code generator that is freely available on the internet (type QR code generator in the search bar of your browser to find the one that suits you). We will then enter a text whose format follows the specifications described below. What is the format of FizziQ protocols? The FizziQ format is a text format file defined by specific fields which are separated by the character combination "//". The fields are as follows and the information must be placed in the correct order: 1. The sequence begins with the code: “Fizziq”. Please note the final q is in lowercase. 2. The title in text format 3. The objective of the protocol in text format 4. The different steps of the protocol classified and separated by the separator “//” An example For example, consider the following protocol: The title of the experiment is "Sound", the subtitle "Working on amplitude and frequency", and two steps "Choose a musical instrument for which you want to analyze the sound" then "Which FizziQ instrument can you use to measure the fundamental frequency of a note of your instrument?". You can create a QR code by typing, in the text field of the “QR Code” generator available on the internet, the following text: "Fizziq//Sound//Working on amplitude and frequency//Choose a musical instrument for which you want to analyze the sound//Which FizziQ instrument can you use to measure the fundamental frequency of a note on your instrument?" To find a QR code generator, type “QR Code Generator” into the browser search bar. QR Code Limitations Commonly used QR codes can contain up to 4296 alphanumeric characters. However for use in FizziQ we recommend that the protocol size, including separators, does not exceed 2000 characters.

GPS, or Global Positioning System, allows you to calculate the position of an object on the earth. The system works by receiving information from satellites that orbit the earth. By measuring the reception values of a signal emitted by different satellites, the GPS chip present in a smartphone can calculate by triangulation the location of the smartphone and its altitude. FizziQ allows you to make numerous measurements using GPS: - the latitude and longitude which allows you to give the location of the smartphone on the globe. These measurements are expressed in FizziQ in millidegrees - the speed which is deduced from variations in latitude and longitude over time and expressed in m/s - the altitude of the mobile which is expressed in meters - the precision of the location measurement, expressed in meters. Accuracy gives a measure of the margin of error of GPS. An Accuracy of 10 meters indicates that the position is accurate to within 10 meters. The GPS system works by receiving information from satellites that orbit the earth. For optimal accuracy, the GPS must receive information from at least four satellites. The signal has difficulty passing through obstacles such as walls or trees. To improve the accuracy of measurements, you must be in open terrain, without obstacles between the cell phone and the sky.

The microphone is used to capture data characterizing a sound wave. The amount of information that is recorded by FizziQ on the sound signal is extremely important since Fizziq captures more than 44,000 data per second (sampling at 44,000 Hertz). From this information, FizziQ will deduce synthetic data which characterizes the sound wave: - The sound volume which describes the loudness of a sound. It is expressed in decibels, or dB. This measurement is useful for analyzing variations in simple or complex sounds or making measurements of sound speed or echolocation. - The noise level which gives an average measurement of sound volume and is also expressed in decibels. This indicator allows you to analyze the intensity of ambient noise such as a busy road or the sound volume of a classroom. - The frequency of a signal which corresponds to the number of repetitions per second of the elementary pattern which composes it. It is expressed in hertz, denoted Hz. In FizziQ, the frequency meter gives the fundamental frequency of the periodic signal, that is to say its first harmonic. The harmonics of a musical sound are integer multiple frequencies of this first harmonic. The frequency meter is used to analyze the harmonic sounds of musical instruments and do scale analysis. - The frequency spectrum which details all the frequencies that make it up. This tool allows you to precisely describe the characteristics of a sound. Frequencies are expressed in hertz, noted Hz. The spectrum is used to understand the different frequencies that make up a sound. Finally, we can also analyze the shape of a sound wave using the oscillogram. An oscillogram gives a temporal representation of a signal by measuring variations in its intensity (or amplitude) over time. Periodic and non-periodic signals can be represented by an oscillogram, but only those that exhibit periodicity will have a stable representation over time. The oscillogram gives a view equivalent to that which one could have with an oscilloscope connected to a microphone.

The compass uses the cell phone or smartphone's magnetometer to determine the device's angle to magnetic north. The magnetometer measures the direction of the Earth's magnetic field but is very sensitive to interference from ferromagnetic metals present in certain electronic devices or metal objects such as iron or steel. In this case, the magnetometer has difficulty separating the component of the magnetic field due to the earth from that of the object which creates a disturbance. The magnetometer can then go out of adjustment. To calibrate the compass, you can do a very simple manipulation of the cell phone which is detected by the magnetometer. It then goes into calibration mode and recalibrates itself using the manipulation of the laptop to precisely determine the direction of the Earth's magnetic field. The manipulation consists of making an entire rotation, successively in the three axes, of the smartphone. Following these rotations, the magnetometer recalibrates and the compass is then ready for use again. This manipulation can be carried out for all applications that use a magnetometer. In FizziQ, you can do this calibration from the Settings > Calibration and calibration > Orientation menu.

FizziQ is an application in constant evolution. We add new features almost every month. If you think certain features are missing in the application, send us an email to info@fizziqlab.org.

FizziQ allows the export of data present in the experiment notebook to an Excel compatible CSV file. To export data from the kinematics module: - once the scoring has been completed, select Results to calculate the trajectory, speed, acceleration or energy data - in the menu, select a maximum of three data to export to the notebook - press Notebook to export the data to the experiment notebook - the data is then added to the notebook where it can be analyzed Once the data is in the experiment notebook, it can be exported to a file in CSV format: - in the notebook, press the Share icon at the top right of the screen - select "Create a CSV file" - decide on a point or comma decimal separator depending on the configuration of your spreadsheet - export the document