The advent of new sensor technologies can provide new ways of exploring fundamental physics. In this paper, we show how a Wiimote, which is a handheld remote controller for the Nintendo Wii video game system with an accelerometer, can be used to study the dynamics of circular motion with a very simple setup such as an old record player or a bicycle wheel.
REFERENCES
1.
Information on the accelerometer chip (Analog Device ADXL330) inside a Wiimote can be found at www.analog.com/en/mems-sensors/mems-inertial-sensors/adxl330/products/product.html.
2.
See www.wiibrew.org for a list of compatible Bluetooth adaptors. GlovePIE is a free software created by Carl Kenner and can be downloaded at www.glovepie.org.
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2013
American Association of Physics Teachers
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