Learning Science with Open hardware and Python

Kushal Das

Audience level:
Novice
Category:
Embedded Systems

Description

ExpEYES is from the PHOENIX (Physics with Home-made Equipment and Innovative Experiments) project of Inter-University Accelerator Centre,New Delhi. It is a hardware & software framework for developing science experiments, demonstrations and projects without getting in to the details of electronics or computer programming. It converts your PC into a science laboratory.

Abstract

Performance of a student is often measured by the ability to memorize than the real understanding. As a result, most of them fail to apply what they learn in the classroom to things they encounter in their daily life. To some extent this can b e corrected by learning based on exploration and experimenting. Experiments generally involve measuring and controlling physical parameters like temperature, pressure, velocity, acceleration, force, voltage, current etc. If the measured physical property is changing rapidly, the measurements need to b e automated and a computer becomes a useful tool. For example, understanding the variation of AC mains voltage with time requires measuring it after every millisecond. The ability to perform experiments with reasonable accuracy, opens up an entirely new path for learning science. Students can compare the experimental data with mathematical models and examine the fundamental laws governing various phenomena. Research scientists formulate hypotheses, design and perform experiments, analyze the data to check whether they agree with the theory. The objective of PHOENIX (Physics with Home-made Equipment and Innovative Experiments) project is to provide the same facilities on a smaller scale to the students. It also enables the users to develop new experiments without getting into the details of electronics or computer programming. There are several equipment and experiments developed so far. This poster will demo a few of those. The application and all projects are written in Python and can be executed as standalone scripts.