An Arduino and Machine Learning Framework for Experimental Physics Education: A Proof-of-Concept Study

Abstract

Experimental laboratory activities are essential for developing scientific reasoning and practical skills in physics education. However, in many higher education institutions, particularly in developing countries, laboratory instruction remains constrained by limited financial resources and the widespread use of expensive proprietary equipment that conceals the underlying data acquisition process. This paper proposes an interdisciplinary framework that combines low-cost Arduino-based instrumentation with Python-based Machine Learning techniques to redesign experimental physics laboratories. As a proof-of-concept, a kinematics experiment is developed in which students assemble a measurement system using an Arduino microcontroller and an ultrasonic sensor, acquire real-time experimental data, and apply polynomial regression to analyze noisy measurements and estimate the underlying physical relationships. The proposed framework integrates hardware implementation, computational modeling, and data analysis within a unified pedagogical workflow while maintaining a significantly lower implementation cost than conventional commercial laboratory systems. Beyond providing an affordable experimental platform, the approach aims to promote active learning by engaging students simultaneously in physics experimentation, programming, electronics, and data science. This interdisciplinary framework offers a scalable strategy for modernizing undergraduate experimental physics laboratories and supports the integration of computational thinking and Artificial Intelligence into science education.

Keywords: Physics Education; Experimental Physics; Arduino; Machine Learning; Data Acquisition; Open-Source Hardware; STEM Education; Inquiry-Based Learning.

Received Date: November 05, 2024

Accepted Date: November 26, 2024

Published Date: December 01, 2024

Available Online at: https://www.ijsrisjournal.com/index.php/ojsfiles/article/view/765