We present a fast, simple method for automated data acquisition and visualization of sound directivity, made convenient and accessible via a smartphone app, "Polar Pattern Plotter." The app synchronizes measurements of sound volume with the phone's angular orientation obtained from either compass, gyroscope or accelerometer sensors and produces a graph and exportable data file. It is generalizable to various sound sources and receivers via the use of an input-jack-adaptor to supplant the smartphone's (omnidirectional) microphone. Results provide both a visual and quantitative representation of sound fields and device responses, adequate for introductory physics experiments.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1702.06072,
title = {Visualizing Sound Directivity via Smartphone Sensors},
author = {Scott H. Hawley and Robert E. McClain},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1702.06072},
year = {2018}
}
Comments
8 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in The Physics Teacher (revision 1: fixed typo)