You are here
Many smartphones have an inbuilt accelerometer that can detect very small accelerations. Install an app, such as Phyphox (phyphox.org) and open ‘Accelerometer (without g)’. Note the readings when (i) the phone is on an outstretched palm, and (ii) the phone is kept on the floor. What differences do you observe? What does this tell you about motion and acceleration in real situations? (Such tiny, involuntary movements are also studied in medical research, for example, in movement disorders.) This activity is recommended to be performed as a classroom group activity facilitated by a teacher.
View Sample Response
On the palm, the reading flickers around small non-zero values because your hand makes tiny, involuntary movements (accelerations). On the floor it reads close to zero and steady. This shows that real objects are rarely perfectly still — small accelerations are present even when something looks at rest.
