Science Activities using FizziQ

How much centrifugal force can an astronaut withstand? Could it survive a trip through a salad spinner? In this activity, the student uses the accelerometer of their smartphone to measure the centripetal acceleration in a salad spinner and verify the relationship between the acceleration and the rotational speed of a centrifuge.

The purpose of this experiment is to experimentally verify the relationship between acceleration and speed for uniform circular motion. The student turns around while holding his vertical laptop at arm's length. It records the centripetal acceleration, then verifies that the formula which links the acceleration and the rotation speed for uniform circular motion is satisfied. He documents the steps of his reasoning in the experiment notebook by adding text and photos.

In this activity for cycle 4, the student studies the notion of linear acceleration and the different components of this acceleration. He discovers that speeding up and slowing down are the same concepts.

Enrich classroom science teaching with this FizziQ experiment to study the addition of sounds and interference phenomena. A hands-on, immersive approach to deepening students' understanding of acoustic physics, harmonizing technology and education through the use of smartphones in the classroom or at home.

In this activity, the student will study the relationship between sound intensity and the distance between the transmitter and the receiver. To verify this relationship it is essential to use white noise because otherwise interference may occur due to the reflection of sound waves on the parts around the device. In this protocol, the student uses white noise sound from the sound library which allows to obtain very stable and precise results. The activity opens discussions on the health risks of noise and the irremediable consequences for the body of noise trauma.

By blowing into a test tube we create a sound whose frequency is directly linked to the speed of sound. By measuring the resonant frequency and from the dimensions of the tube, we accurately calculate the speed of sound.

This activity allows the student to measure the speed of sound using two cell phones. During this activity, the student discovers how to create a sound stopwatch with the triggers, then the concept of synchronizing the clocks of two smartphones. This activity allows you to obtain results accurate to 5% of the speed of sound in air.

When you uncork a bottle of wine, you hear a characteristic sound whose frequency depends on the volume of air in the neck and the speed of sound. By measuring this frequency with fizziQ and estimating the volume of air, we can estimate the speed of sound.

In this scientific activity, white noise is emitted into a tube and the frequencies that are amplified are measured. Using the resonant frequency we calculate the speed of sound.

Scientific activity to understand the concept of center of gravity by studying the center of gravity of a diver during a jump.

By studying how the pedometer works, the student studies the movement of their body using the accelerometer, works on the concept of pattern, and uses the concept of threshold to create their own pedometer.

Explore the relationship between electric current and magnetic field with this FizziQ experiment. Students use the smartphone's magnetometer to verify the Biot-Savart law and understand the fundamentals of electromagnetism.

Find out how to use a magnetometer to detect hidden metal objects! This scientific activity explores the interactions between the Earth's magnetic field and ferromagnetic materials, simulating techniques used in underwater archeology and geophysical prospecting. A fun and educational experience to do with a smartphone!

Transform your smartphone into a compass with the FizziQ app. This experience introduces students to terrestrial magnetism and teaches them how to orient themselves using the magnetometer like modern explorers.

Analyze energy conservation during collisions with FizziQ. This experiment uses video analysis to quantify velocities and energies before and after impact, developing critical thinking and mechanical physics skills.

The physicist Huygens in the 17th century was the first to characterize the movement of a simple pendulum. In the proposed activity, from a video recording of the movement of a pendulum available on the FizziQ.org website, we propose the kinematic study of a pendulum which makes it possible to show in a concrete way the link between potential energy and kinetic energy. It is possible for the teacher or students to create their own video to study.

In this activity, the student uses a smartphone as a pendulum to experimentally confirm the law of conservation of mechanical energy. The analysis includes a theoretical phase which consists of identifying the formula for centripetal acceleration as a function of the height of the release. During the practical phase, the student measures the centripetal acceleration of the smartphone after being released at different heights, and verifies that the relationship is linear. This experiment uses the cell phone's accelerometer.

Discover the foundation of general relativity with FizziQ. This experiment provides an intuitive understanding of why gravity and acceleration are locally indistinguishable, recreating Einstein's elevator thought experiment.

Find out how to measure the acceleration of gravity by analyzing the parabolic trajectory of a ball. This FizziQ experience allows students to concretely apply the equations of motion and use advanced digital tools.

Galileo was the first to document that the distance an object travels during a fall is proportional to the square of the elapsed time. It thus determines the value of the earth's gravity. The student reproduces this experience with his cell phone. He or she measures the time it takes for an object to fall by recording the linear acceleration values ​​measured by his or her smartphone. He or she deduces a value for weightlessness from the time equation for free fall.

Transform your smartphone into a compass with the FizziQ app. This experience introduces students to terrestrial magnetism and teaches them how to orient themselves using the magnetometer like modern explorers.

Scientific experiment to do with a smartphone to measure the acceleration or intensity of gravity, g, as a function of altitude.

Experience microgravity without leaving Earth! This FizziQ activity allows students to understand the phenomenon of weightlessness by launching their smartphone and analyzing acceleration data during free fall.

In this activity, the student studies the trajectory of a ball by kinematic analysis of a video of a shot. It will find a suitable scale and then point to the different positions. By adding the calculated positions to his notebook, he will determine the type of trajectory of the ball, then using the smoothing tool, he will calculate the equation of the curve and confirm his intuition about the shape of the curve.

The kinematic analysis of the movement of a pole vaulter makes it possible to study many aspects of the laws of mechanics: conservation of energy, elastic energy, parabolic trajectory, etc. This analysis makes it possible to measure the complexity of this sport, and to consider suggestions for the athlete to improve their performance.

The aim of this activity is to calculate, through kinematic analysis, the speed of skier John Clarey during the 2022 Winter Olympics. The student will learn how to use the kinematics module and how to carry out the analysis. He will calculate the athlete's horizontal and vertical speeds, then the standard of this speed, which he can compare to the official calculated speed.

The student carries out the kinematic study of a shot on goal using a video from the kinematic video library. It analyzes the trajectory to determine if it is straight, and the speed to verify that the movement of the ball is uniform. Getting started with kinematic analysis is fully described in the protocol.

What is the landing schedule for a Space X rocket? Using the Kinematics module, the student analyzes the descent movement of a Falcon 9 rocket on a barge in the open sea. He notes that the descent speed of the rocket is linear. Why such a descent objective? Is it more effective?

Analyze how aerodynamic forces influence the trajectory of a badminton shuttlecock with FizziQ. This experiment allows students to compare a theoretical model with real measurements and to visualize the influence of air resistance.

In this activity, the student uses the kinematics tool to study a cycloid. This curve represents the trajectory of a point fixed to a circle which rolls without slipping and at constant speed on a road. From a video of a bicycle, a car or a truck for example, or from the video of a cycloid, the student will be able, via the FizziQ kinematics tool, to visualize the trajectory and measure its main characteristics. We can also see how this curve is deformed by varying the height of the point taken on the circle.

Explore the physics of hammer throwing in this educational activity that studies the transformation of circular motion into linear motion. Analyze speed, angle and strategy to optimize distance and understand the dynamics of this Olympic sport. The activity uses a smartphone and the FizziQ application to analyze a video of the movement.

Through the study of the Perseverance robot, the student studies the notion of rectilinear movement. It will use the accelerometer, the gyroscope, or the light meter to reflect on the autonomous operation of a robot. The protocol allows the student to ask multiple questions about autonomous movement, a very current subject.

Scientific experiment to be carried out with a smartphone to estimate the climbing speed of a plane and compare it to that of an elevator.

Scientific experiment to be carried out with a smartphone to estimate the take-off speed of a plane.

Introduction to the notion of Galilean reference frame. The student discovers the different ways to prove that a movement is rectilinear and uniform. He discovers the use of recording two data points and the XY graph.

The study of acoustic beats allows students to simply understand the phenomena of interference on sound waves. The resulting volume oscillation effect produces an effect similar to those used by modern artists in electronic music.

Using sounds from the sound library and measuring the fundamental frequency, the student calculates what the frequencies of different musical notes are, how these notes are distributed within an octave, and what the relationship is between notes of different octaves. At the end of this study, the student tries to find the notes of a piece of music by identifying their frequencies.

The sounds of bells are very special because they are inharmonic. This differentiates them from other musical instruments. In this protocol, the student studies the difference between the frequency spectrum of the sound of an oboe and that of a bell. He notes that the frequencies of the sound of the bell are not harmonics, unlike the sound of the oboe. This protocol familiarizes the student with the concept of harmonics and frequency spectrum. A possible extension of this protocol is the beat protocol because the student may note that the sound of a bell incorporates beat phenomena generated by the combination of very close frequencies.

The student studies the sound spectrum emitted by different instruments and tries to analyze what constitutes the particular timbre of a musical instrument.

Historically, tuning forks have not always been tuned to the same frequency. By studying the sounds of tuning forks from different eras and present in the application's sound library, the student becomes familiar with the concept and calculation of frequencies. This activity opens up interesting educational avenues on notes and scale.

Using the practical case of vowel pronunciation, the student analyzes the harmonics that our vocal apparatus creates, and deduces how it works.

In this sequence, students use the colorimeter to highlight the different pigments present in a tree leaf. An opening to plant physiology, the physics of colors, or the use of tables.

Explore the Inverse Square Law with a Smartphone: An educational activity using a smartphone to measure illuminance based on distance from the light source, reinforcing understanding of light physics.

In this activity intended for cycle 3 and 4 students, the student studies the ability of several diffusing objects to diffuse light more or less well. He understands why certain objects reflect light more than others and why yellow vests are important for road safety.

Scientific activity to study the transfer of energy during elastic shocks using a Newton pendulum.

Explore the laws of the simple pendulum with FizziQ and check if its period depends on amplitude. This experiment allows students to test an important theoretical prediction in physics and improve their precision measurement skills.

The student discovers how the accelerometer makes it possible to measure very small variations in movement, such as the beat of one's heart. It deduces his heart rate and creates a graph that looks like an electrocardiogram

Discover how sensory stimuli influence your reaction time with FizziQ. This experiment compares your reflexes to visual and auditory signals, revealing the fascinating mechanisms of the nervous system.

Transform your smartphone into a pulse oximeter with FizziQ. Discover how the color variations detected by the camera allow you to visualize your heart rate and explore cardiovascular physiology.

Discover how sensory stimuli influence your reaction time with FizziQ. This experiment compares your reflexes to visual and auditory signals, revealing the fascinating mechanisms of the nervous system.

Listen and visualize your heart rate with FizziQ. This experience transforms your smartphone into a digital stethoscope and allows you to explore cardiac physiology in an interactive and educational way.

Use the FizziQ pressure sensor to discover how atmospheric pressure varies with altitude. A practical experience to develop mathematical modeling and understand a fundamental natural phenomenon.

This activity allows students to study a depressurization phenomenon by measuring pressure variations during the operation of airplane toilets. It allows the gas laws to be concretely applied during a flight. The student uses the FizziQ barometer to measure variations in atmospheric pressure in an airplane toilet when the toilet is activated. By recording the pressure before during and after using the toilet the student can observe a temporary drop in pressure and then approximately calculate the volume of air drawn in using the Boyle-Mariotte law.

The student discovers the wave nature of sound waves and interference. He deduces how the noise reduction features on modern headphones work.

In this protocol, the student uses a sound recording of a moving vehicle to calculate its speed by measuring the Doppler effect. The recording is present in the application's Sound Library.

Transform your smartphone into a seismograph to study the waves generated by the impact of “meteorites”. This FizziQ experiment allows you to explore the propagation of waves and the factors influencing their intensity.

Immerse yourself in the world of physics with our sound pendulum experiment, and explore the Doppler effect using your smartphone as an interactive laboratory. An innovative educational activity with FizziQ, ideal for understanding sound waves in a fun and technological way.

Explore the precision and uncertainty of scientific measurements with FizziQ. This experience uses statistical analysis to evaluate the reliability of sensors and develop students' critical thinking skills when faced with data.

Explore surprising auditory illusions like Shepard's Ladder with FizziQ. This experiment analyzes the mechanisms that trick our perception and reveals the fascinating science behind sound illusions.

Any measurement, in physics or in other disciplines, contains an element of uncertainty, which comes for example from the intrinsic precision of the measuring instruments used or the experimental protocol. In this activity, the student uses his smartphone to measure different physical quantities (for example the magnetic field or the speed of rotation when he turns around) and he studies the distribution of the results and observes how the mean and standard deviation vary.

This activity allows the student to better understand the concepts of frequency and frequency spectrum by analyzing the white noise present in the sound library or any white noise found on the internet. White noise is a sound composed of a multitude of sounds of random frequencies, volume and duration. White noise is a particular noise whose spectral components have an equivalent energy per cycle (in hertz). This results in a “flat” spectrum when plotting the frequency spectrum. The study of white noise is interesting because it allows us to make an analogy with white light. The very simple protocol shows the student the random characteristic of the frequencies that make up white noise and leads them to ask questions about the notion of noise, and the analogy between sound and light.

Using the theodolite, students use the law of sines to measure the lengths of a triangle on the playground. This practical application allows rapid and experimental acquisition of a concept which is often abstract, and it can be done either with a tablet or a smartphone.

Learn to calculate the height of inaccessible objects using trigonometry and the FizziQ app. This hands-on experience turns your smartphone into a theodolite and makes abstract mathematical concepts concrete.

The aim of this experiment is to measure the distance between 2 distant points using the triangulation method. First, the student carries out the protocol on the law of sines. The method of calculating the lengths of a triangle can be used to measure very long distances: the Struve arc represents the largest triangulation network: it extends from Hammerfest in Norway to the Black Sea over a length of more than 2820 km. The student can implement this method on a smaller scale, for example in the playground by trying to measure the greatest distance. Before putting it into practice and calculating the different angles with the theodolite, it is advisable to start by making a diagram on a sheet of paper, noting the different points that will be used for measurements and to watch the video on triangulation.