Exoplanet Hunting in the Classroom: An Easy-to-Implement Experiment Based on Video-Aided Light Curve Analysis with Smartphones

About This Paper

This article presents a refined version of the transit method experiment in which students record the transiting ball with a smartphone camera. Frame-by-frame brightness analysis of the video serves as the light source for the light curve, removing the need for a separate light sensor entirely. The approach makes the experiment viable for any smartphone and improves the visual connection between the physical setup and the resulting data.

The paper documents the experiment design, classroom evaluation results, and implementation guidance for teachers at the lower secondary level.

Published In

The Physics Teacher 62(3), 226–229 (2024). DOI: 10.1119/5.0125305

Experiment Connection

→ Transit Method, Starspots and Exoplanets