Academic Journal
A Low-Cost Programmable Instrumentation Platform for Physics Laboratory Education.
| Title: | A Low-Cost Programmable Instrumentation Platform for Physics Laboratory Education. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Teerachtragoon, Natchayapong |
| Source: | Latin-American Journal of Physics Education; Mar2026, Vol. 20 Issue 1, p1-9, 9p |
| Subject Terms: | Educational technology, Scientific apparatus & instruments, Physics experiments, Acquisition of data, Hardware, Automatic control systems, Signal processing, Physics education |
| Abstract: | Experimental instrumentation is essential in physics laboratory education; however, access to flexible and affordable systems remains limited, particularly at the secondary and undergraduate levels. This paper presents the development of a low-cost programmable instrumentation platform designed specifically for physics laboratory education. The platform adopts a system-level architecture that integrates data acquisition, control, and communication within a unified hardware framework while maintaining simplicity and low cost. Functional versatility is achieved through software-defined operating modes, allowing the same hardware platform to support multiple physics experiments without hardware modification. The performance of the platform is validated using representative laboratory experiments, including manual time measurement, linear motion analysis using photogate sensors, and DC voltage measurement. Hardware-level signal conditioning is complemented by basic firmware-based data processing to improve measurement stability and usability, while quantitative accuracy is established through calibration against reference instruments. Experimental results demonstrate stable operation and strong agreement with standard laboratory instruments within the intended educational operating ranges. The proposed platform provides a flexible, transparent, and cost-effective alternative to commercial laboratory equipment. Its programmable nature supports hands-on learning, experiment customization, and active student engagement, making it particularly suitable for physics education in resource-limited secondary and undergraduate laboratory environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Latin-American Journal of Physics Education is the property of Latin-American Physics Education Network and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Complementary Index |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: edb DbLabel: Complementary Index An: 194797888 RelevancyScore: 1061 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 1060.7568359375 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: A Low-Cost Programmable Instrumentation Platform for Physics Laboratory Education. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Teerachtragoon%2C+Natchayapong%22">Teerachtragoon, Natchayapong</searchLink> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: Latin-American Journal of Physics Education; Mar2026, Vol. 20 Issue 1, p1-9, 9p – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+technology%22">Educational technology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scientific+apparatus+%26+instruments%22">Scientific apparatus & instruments</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Physics+experiments%22">Physics experiments</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Acquisition+of+data%22">Acquisition of data</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hardware%22">Hardware</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Automatic+control+systems%22">Automatic control systems</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Signal+processing%22">Signal processing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Physics+education%22">Physics education</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Experimental instrumentation is essential in physics laboratory education; however, access to flexible and affordable systems remains limited, particularly at the secondary and undergraduate levels. This paper presents the development of a low-cost programmable instrumentation platform designed specifically for physics laboratory education. The platform adopts a system-level architecture that integrates data acquisition, control, and communication within a unified hardware framework while maintaining simplicity and low cost. Functional versatility is achieved through software-defined operating modes, allowing the same hardware platform to support multiple physics experiments without hardware modification. The performance of the platform is validated using representative laboratory experiments, including manual time measurement, linear motion analysis using photogate sensors, and DC voltage measurement. Hardware-level signal conditioning is complemented by basic firmware-based data processing to improve measurement stability and usability, while quantitative accuracy is established through calibration against reference instruments. Experimental results demonstrate stable operation and strong agreement with standard laboratory instruments within the intended educational operating ranges. The proposed platform provides a flexible, transparent, and cost-effective alternative to commercial laboratory equipment. Its programmable nature supports hands-on learning, experiment customization, and active student engagement, making it particularly suitable for physics education in resource-limited secondary and undergraduate laboratory environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: Abstract Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Latin-American Journal of Physics Education is the property of Latin-American Physics Education Network and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 9 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Educational technology Type: general – SubjectFull: Scientific apparatus & instruments Type: general – SubjectFull: Physics experiments Type: general – SubjectFull: Acquisition of data Type: general – SubjectFull: Hardware Type: general – SubjectFull: Automatic control systems Type: general – SubjectFull: Signal processing Type: general – SubjectFull: Physics education Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: A Low-Cost Programmable Instrumentation Platform for Physics Laboratory Education. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Teerachtragoon, Natchayapong IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 03 Text: Mar2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 18709095 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 20 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Latin-American Journal of Physics Education Type: main |
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