Measuring permeability in a high school physics course has long been a hard task. However, with the advent of using smartphones in the classroom, it is not only possible but even easily done. This paper offers detailed instructions on how to measure permeability using a smartphone’s magnetometer, starting with experimentally discovering the equation for measuring the magnetic field of a coil with a negligible length. All discussed activities and experiments can be implemented with a focus on inquiry.
References
1.
Luh
Sukariasih
, Erniwati
, La
Sahara
, Luluk
Hariroh
, and Suritno
Fayanto
, “Studies the use of smartphone sensor for physics learning
” Int. J. Sci. Technol. Res.
8
, 862
–870
(2019
).2.
David
Parsons
and Janak
Adhikari
, “Bring your own device to secondary school: The perceptions of teachers, students and parents,
” Electron. J. e-Learn.
14
, 66
–80
(2016
).3.
Enrique
Arribas
, Isabel
Escobar
, Carmen P.
Suarez
, Alberto
Najera
, and Augusto
Beléndez
, “Measurement of the magnetic field of small magnets with a smartphone: a very economical laboratory practice for introductory physics courses
” Eur. J. Phys.
36
, 1
–11
(2015
).4.
Enrique
Arribas
et al., “Linear quadrupole magnetic field measured with a smartphone,
” Phys. Teach.
58
, 182
–185
(2020
).5.
Nicolas
Silva
, “Magnetic field sensor,
” Phys. Teach.
50
, 372
–373
(2012
).6.
Martín
Monteiro
, Cecilia
Stari
, Cecilia
Cabeza
, and Arturo C.
Marti
, “Magnetic field ‘flyby’ measurements using a smartphone’s magnetometer and accelerometer simultaneously,
” Phys. Teach.
55
, 580
–581
(2017
).7.
David
Halliday
, Robert
Resnick
, and Jearl
Walker
, Fundamentals of Physics
(Wiley
, Hoboken, NJ
, 2011
).8.
Ryan
Carrol
and James
Lincoln
, “Phyphox app in the physics classroom,
” Phys. Teach.
58
, 606
–607
(2020
).9.
Farhang
Amiri
and Rondo N.
Jeffery
, “Simple experiments to study the Earth’s magnetic field,
” Phys. Teach.
42
, 458
–461
(2004
).10.
Gay B.
Stewart
, “Measuring Earth’s magnetic field simply,
” Phys. Teach.
38
, 113
–114
(2000
).11.
Jonathan E.
Williams
, “Measuring Earth’s local magnetic field using a Helmholtz coil,
” Phys. Teach.
52
, 236
–238
(2014
).12.
Brandon
Lunk
and Robert
Beichner
, “Exploring magnetic fields with a compass,
” Phys. Teach.
49
, 45
–48
(2010
).13.
Salvatore
Ganci
, “A simple measurement of the Earth’s magnetic field,
” Eur. J. Phys.
25
, 475
–477
(2004
).© 2023 Author(s). Published under an exclusive license by American Association of Physics Teachers.
2023
Author(s)
AAPT members receive access to The Physics Teacher and the American Journal of Physics as a member benefit. To learn more about this member benefit and becoming an AAPT member, visit the Joining AAPT page.
