Software and tools For experiments, data and maths
Software and tools for doing physics: logging and measuring, analysing video, images and sound, plotting graphs, and modelling. Most are free. All resources
phyphox experiments open inside the free phyphox app. Logger Pro downloads from the school Google Drive, so sign in with your school Google account first. MATLAB and Mathematica are paid, but have student licences.
Measuring and data logging
- Logger Pro 3.16.2 for Windows ↗ Vernier · school Google DriveThe data-logging and graph software we use with the lab sensors. Installer (.exe, 480 MB).
- Logger Pro 3.16.2 for Mac ↗ Vernier · school Google DriveThe same software for Mac. Installer (.dmg, 189 MB).
- Vernier ↗ VernierMakers of our lab sensors and Logger Pro: user guides and experiment ideas.
- phyphox ↗ RWTH Aachen UniversityTurns your phone into a lab: its accelerometer, microphone, light sensor and more become measuring instruments. Free for Android and iPhone.
Analysing video, images and sound
- Tracker ↗ Open Source PhysicsFree video analysis: film a motion, then track it frame by frame to get position–time data.
- ImageJ / Fiji ↗ ImageJFree image analysis: measure lengths, angles and brightness in photos, e.g. the spacing of an interference pattern. Fiji is ImageJ with useful extras already installed.
- Audacity ↗ AudacityFree audio recorder and editor: see the waveform of a sound, and its spectrum of frequencies.
Graphs and maths
- plot45 ↗ plot45Free in the browser: plot data with error bars, add a best-fit line, and read off the gradient and intercept. Made for IB and A-level science.
- Desmos Graphing Calculator ↗ DesmosPlot data and functions, add a best-fit line and test a relationship.
- GeoGebra ↗ GeoGebraFree graphing, geometry and 3D tools, useful for vectors and graphs.
- MATLAB ↗ MathWorks · paidProfessional software for calculations, data analysis and modelling, used widely at university.
- Mathematica ↗ Wolfram · paidProfessional software for symbolic maths, calculations and visualisation.
Modelling and simulation
Theme A: Space, time and motion
A.1 Kinematics Notes →
- Free Fall ↗ phyphoxTime a fall with the acoustic stopwatch and find g.
- Tracker: projectile motion ↗ Open Source PhysicsFilm a thrown ball and analyse its horizontal and vertical motion.
A.2 Forces and momentum Notes →
- Inelastic Collision ↗ phyphoxFind the energy lost each time a ball bounces.
- Centrifugal Acceleration ↗ phyphoxSpin your phone (e.g. in a salad spinner) to test a = ω2r for circular motion. (The app says “centrifugal”; in the course this is the centripetal acceleration.)
Theme B: The particulate nature of matter
B.1 Thermal energy transfers Notes →
- Light ↗ phyphoxMeasure light intensity at different distances from a lamp to test the inverse-square law.
B.3 Gas laws Notes →
- Pressure ↗ phyphoxUse your phone's barometer, if it has one, to measure air pressure.
Theme C: Wave behaviour
C.1 Simple harmonic motion Notes →
- Pendulum ↗ phyphoxMeasure the frequency of a pendulum and find g.
- Spring ↗ phyphoxMeasure the frequency of a mass on a spring.
C.2 Wave model Notes →
- Speed of Sound ↗ phyphoxTwo phones, a tape measure and the acoustic stopwatch.
- Audio Scope ↗ phyphoxSee the waveform of a sound and measure its period.
C.4 Standing waves and resonance Notes →
- Audio Spectrum ↗ phyphoxFind the frequencies of a note: the fundamental and the harmonics.
- Tone Generator ↗ phyphoxPlay a chosen frequency to find the resonant frequency of a tube or bottle.
C.5 Doppler effect Notes →
- Doppler Effect ↗ phyphoxMeasure the Doppler shift of a moving sound source.
Theme D: Fields
D.1 Gravitational fields Notes →
- NASA Eyes on the Solar System ↗ NASAFollow real spacecraft and planets in 3D.
D.2 Electric and magnetic fields Notes →
- Magnetic Field ↗ phyphoxUse your phone's magnetometer to map the field around a magnet or a current-carrying wire.
Theme E: Nuclear and quantum physics
E.5 Fusion and stars Notes →
- Stellarium ↗ StellariumA free planetarium: identify stars and constellations in the sky tonight.