Utilising Handphones as Light Detectors in Experimenting the Inverse Square Law

This research paper explores the feasibility of employing handphones as light detectors in experiments related to the inverse square law. The inverse square law describes the relationship between the intensity of light and the distance from its source, which has significant implications in various fields including physics, astronomy, and photography. Leveraging the built-in capabilities of handphones, such as the camera sensor and computational power, offers a cost-effective and accessible approach to conduct experiments on light intensity measurements. This paper discusses the theoretical background of the inverse square law, outlines the experimental setup utilizing handphones as light detectors, presents experimental results, and discusses the implications and limitations of this approach.

Handphone, Light Detection, Inverse Square Law

1. Voudoukis, N. & Oikonomidis, S. Inverse square law for light and radiation: A unifying educational approach. European Journal of Engineering Research and Science 2, 23 (2017). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Vieira, L. P., Lara, V. de O. M. & Amaral, D. F. Demonstration of the Inverse Square Law with the aid of a Tablet/smartphone. (2014). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Marinho, F., Carvalho, C. M., Apolinário, F. R. & Paulucci, L. Measuring light with light dependent resistors: an easy approach for optics experiments. (2019) doi:10.1088/1361-6404/ab11f1. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Kutzner, M., Wright, R. & Kutzner, E. An Inexpensive LED Light Sensor. http://www.vernier.com. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. González, M. et al. Doing physics experiments and learning with smartphones. in ACM International Conference Proceeding Series 303–310 (Association for Computing Machinery, 2015). doi:10.1145/2808580.2808626. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Colţ, M., Radu, C., Toma, O., Miron, C. & Antohe, V.-A. INTEGRATING SMARTPHONE AND HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES TO REAL EXPERIMENTS IN PHYSICS. Romanian Reports in Physics vol. 72 http://www.rrp.nipne.ro. (2020). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Stari, C., Abreu, M., Monteiro, M. & Marti, A. C. Light intensity does not always decay with the inverse of the square of the distance: an open-inquiry laboratory. (2024). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Díaz-Melián, V. L. et al. Optics Undergraduate Experiments Using Smart (and Not so Smart) Phones. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Babič, M. The Problem of Inverse Square Law and Inverse Square Root. ELEKTROTEHNIŠKI VESTNIK vol. 90 (2023). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Fongsuwan, C. & Tipparach, U. A study of the inverse square law using LCD display projectors. in Journal of Physics: Conference Series vol. 1719 (IOP Publishing Ltd, 2021). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Combined and Isolated Effect of SAQ Training and Resistance Training on Agility and Flexibility among Badminton Players
• Importance of Ashtanga Yoga in Physical Education and Mental Health
• Navigating the Path of Exceptional Parenting: An Exploration of Experiences among Parents of Para-Athletes
• Effects of a 12-Week Football Intervention on Mental Health and Psychological Resilience in Secondary School Students
• Academic Achievement, Enthusiasm and Attitude of High School Students Regarding Quizizz as an Educational Gamification Tool for Physics