Smartphone sensor physics

Having just bought a good android tablet my appreciation of the value of the sensors for physics practical work has greatly increased. Just a discussion of how the sensors work can be the basis for several lessons. Of course smartphones and tablets vary in terms of the sensors included and even of how a given sensor works so the teacher needs to do some research first.
Common sensors may include:
Microphone (audio sensor)
Camera
Ambient light sensor
Screen (touch sensor)
Proximity sensor
Wifi (wifi sensor)
Accelerometer
Magnetic field sensor
Location sensor (GPS/wifi)

Here are two articles which give a short introduction to the subject. I have not yet found anything comprehensive. I expect to post more about this later.

Sensors used in Smartphone - a brief overview

Mobile devices gather piles of data that you may actually find helpful - describes how the accelerometer can be used

For apps look for terms such as lightmeter, sound meter, metal detector, accelerometer.

Mapping mass on the moon

Here is a good physics-rich item from NASA. Satellites orbiting the moon have been used to map the variations in mass around the surface of the moon. This shows up craters and volcanic activity.

Physics misconceptions

Here is a useful little video...

Diffraction at home

At home one evening I noticed a nice diffraction pattern caused by light from a neighbours light passing through a thin gauzy curtain which had a grid-like weave. A good topic for students - let them explain the effect.
Here is a photo at the right. You can see the coloured fringes speading out from the light in the vertical and horizontal directions, four sets in all. The bottom one is clearest. They are clearer in reality than they are in the photo.

Physics discoveries video

From Youtube a Discovery video (45 min) about major physics discoveries. Good for discussion.

Vortex engine

Here is an interesting and intriguing topic which involves a lot of physics some of which is fairly basic. Perhaps good for an assignment? Cannot say how practical it is but looks impressive.

"AVEtec is the brainchild of Canadian engineer, Louis Michaud. His Atmospheric Vortex Engine (AVE) harnesses the physics of tornados to produce extremely cheap and clean energy. In his design, warm or humid air is introduced into a circular station, where it takes the form of a rising vortex, i.e. a controlled tornado. The temperature difference between this heated air and the atmosphere above it supports the vortex and drives multiple turbines. The vortex can be shut down at any time by turning off the source of warm air."

Using X-rays to identify minerals on Mars

The Mars rover (Curiosity) is using X-rays to identify the elements in rocks on Mars according to a report in Universe Today.
"...uses X-ray diffraction, the standard practice for geologists on Earth using much larger laboratory instruments, and this is the first time this method has been used on another planet. It provides more accurate identifications of minerals than any method previously used on Mars. X-ray diffraction reads minerals’ internal structure by recording how their crystals distinctively interact with X-rays."

"We now know it is mineralogically similar to basaltic material, with significant amounts of feldspar, pyroxene and olivine, which was not unexpected. Roughly half the soil is non-crystalline material, such as volcanic glass or products from weathering of the glass."

Looks like a good item to use in class as an example of diffraction or use of X-rays.