Using a mobile phone acceleration sensor in physics experiments on free and damped harmonic oscillations

We have used a mobile phone acceleration sensor, and the Accelerometer Monitor application for Android, to collect data in physics experiments on free and damped oscillations. Results for the period, frequency, spring constant, and damping constant agree very well with measurements obtained by other methods. These widely available sensors are likely to find increased use in instructional laboratories.The authors would like to thank the Institute of Education Sciences, Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (Spain), for the support of the Teaching Innovation Group, MoMa.Castro Palacio, JC.; Velazquez Abad, L.; Gimenez Valentin, MH.; Monsoriu Serra, JA. (2013). Using a mobile phone acceleration sensor in physics experiments on free and damped harmonic oscillations. American Journal of Physics. 81:472-475. doi:10.1119/1.47934384724758