Smartphone Magnetometer Field Mapping for Electromagnetism Mastery
Study guide
Q: What does Smartphone Magnetometer Field Mapping for Electromagnetism Mastery cover?
A: Map magnetic fields from solenoids and Helmholtz coils with smartphone magnetometers, build Biot - Savart comparison charts.
TL;DR
Clamp a smartphone in a 3D-printed jig, sweep it through the axis of a solenoid, and log magnetic field strength with PhyPhox.
PlotBvs distance, overlay Biot - Savart predictions, and discuss discrepancies from edge effects and sensor drift.
You walk away with publishable graphs, rigorous uncertainty commentary, and compelling material for Paper 4 planning answers about electromagnetism experiments.
Why Bring Smartphones into the Magnetism Lab
- It’s a practical way to turn “field mapping” into a data-rich experiment with repeatable measurements.
- Students get an authentic application of vector data logging and analysis (CSV export, regression, uncertainty commentary).
- The activity dovetails with AC generator and induction experiments already on your blog, letting learners compare multiple electromagnetism contexts.
Apparatus Checklist
| Item | Notes |
| Smartphone with magnetometer (Android or iPhone) | Install PhyPhox for live XYZ readings. |
| 3D-printed or laser-cut alignment jig | Keeps the phone centred on the solenoid axis to reduce positional uncertainty. |
| Helmholtz coil pair or long solenoid | Known geometry allows analytic Biot - Savart predictions. |
| Bench DC supply with ammeter | Provides stable current from 0 - 3 A. |
| Ruler or linear rail | Marks measurement points at 0.5 cm spacing. |
Reviewed by
Chee Wei Jie·Academic Advisor (Physics)
Practical course completion-record note
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