A Remote Moment of Inertia Lab Using the iOLab Device

Abstract

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in the spring of 2020 many physics programs were forced to quickly transition all of their classes and laboratories to a completely online learning environment. The need for simple and engaging remote physics laboratories became apparent. One relatively low-cost remote lab system is Macmillan’s iOLab device. This wireless device comes with free software and a lab manual with many mechanics and electricity and magnetism experiments appropriate for lower-division physics labs. Extensive reviews of the iOLab device, including descriptions of all its sensors and capabilities as well as comparisons with other remote learning devices, can be found in recent publications. In addition, findings from these publications indicate improvements in attitudes toward physics labs and significant conceptual learning gains for students in remote lab courses that use the iOLab device. Here, we present a novel moment-of-inertia lab using the iOLab device and a few household items. In this lab, students will be able to measure the moment of inertia of the iOLab device about an axis parallel to the longer side of the iOLab device (the y-axis in Fig. 1) and through its geometrical center.