Main Content

This project has no practical use at all, but was initiated as an exercise in implementing physics formulas related to gravity in C-code on an Arduino. To make things visible, a neopixel LED-strip with 74 LEDs was used. The effect of the gravitational acceleration on an object is demonstrated by using a MPU-6050 accelerometer and gyroscope chip. This chip is physically attached to the LED-strip, so when the LED-strip is held at a certain angle, the chip measures the angle of the LED strip and the Arduino uses this information to update the position of a virtual object as if it was a ball that is balanced on a beam and rolls from one side to the other if the beam is held at an angle. The position of the virtual object is indicated on the LED strip as a single LED that is illuminated.

To update the position of a virtual object that is falling to the earth under the influence of gravity, we use the formula :

y = y0 + (V0 * t) + (0.5 * a * t^2)

With :

y = travelled distance in meters
y0 = start distance in meters
v0 = start velocity in meters/second
a = acceleration (gravity) in meters/second^2
t = time in seconds”

Link to article