Abstract
The boundaries between science, engineering and computer sciences seem to have been blurred in the 21st century. Microcontroller programming plays a role in informatics education, while modern physics teaching integrates the potential of computer simulations and computer-controlled measurement experiments. In order to demonstrate the latter, we present an experiment to precisely identify the dynamic causes of a kinematic phenomenon solved by means of technical computer science. To investigate the role of air resistance, we developed a vacuum chamber in which the signals of sensors were detected by the NI myDAQ multifunctional device and the popular Arduino UNO. A wide range of ways are presented to control data acquisition and numerical analysis of a quadrangle signal produced by a photogate, as well as graphical representation and evaluation of derived time-dependent signals. Controlling the two devices due to their characteristics and hosting of measured data by a computer require different programming techniques from the user (LabVIEW, C/C++). The results and methods of the study can be applied in physics and computer science education at a secondary school level.
Highlights
In the 21st century computer sciences, engineering and science in general seem to have blurred boundaries.Microcontroller programming plays a role in IT education
Modern physics teaching integrates the potential of computer simulations and computer-controlled measurement experiments
To our knowledge, myDAQ is available in a growing number of Hungarian secondary schools through various competitions and grants, we present a modified version of our measurement using an Arduino as well
Summary
In the 21st century computer sciences, engineering and science in general seem to have blurred boundaries. Microcontroller programming plays a role in IT education. Modern physics teaching integrates the potential of computer simulations and computer-controlled measurement experiments. The NI myDAQ multifunctional device - programmable in LabVIEW and developed for school measurement - is gaining popularity. Members of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences' Research Group of Technical Informatics Methodology (among them, some authors of this article) are working on the renewal of computer and natural sciences education, which is the basis of technical education in Hungarian secondary schools [5], [6]. Researchers see opportunities in software-controlled measurements to increase the popularity of fields of sciences mentioned above, as well as filling skill shortages connected to technical sciences by youth education [7]
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