An Arduino board with ultrasonic sensor investigation of simple harmonic motion

Abstract

An Arduino, one of the most popular microcontroller platforms, is widely used in teaching and learning STEM. It is really open source software and hardware, huge community, low cost boards and peripherals, and simple programming language. This research aims to develop an Arduino-based physics investigation of the simple harmonic motion (SHM) of mass on a spring. This rich cross curricular STEM activity integrates electronics, computer programming, physics, and mathematics in a way that is both experimentally exciting and intellectually rewarding. The experimental data are collected with the help of an HC-SR04 ultrasonic distance sensor and an Arduino Uno board. The data are then graphed and analysed using Microsoft Excel in real-time. The experiment data can be used to investigate Hooke's law. The elastic constant of the spring, k = 16.54 N/m, is very close to the value determined from the period of the SHM. This Arduino-based investigation of SHM can be helped the students to improve both their experimental and theoretical skills.