Motion Tracking in Undergraduate Physics Laboratories with the Wii Remote

Abstract

We report the incorporation of the Wiimote, a light-tracking remote control device, into two undergraduate-level experiments. We provide an overview of the Wiimote's basic functions and a systematic analysis of its motion tracking capabilities. We describe the Wiimote's use in measuring conservation of linear and angular momentum on an air table, and measuring the gravitational constant with the classic Cavendish torsion pendulum. Our results show that Wiimote is a simple and affordable way to streamline the data acquisition process and produce results that are generally superior to those obtained with conventional techniques.