Free Instrument for Movement Measure

TL;DR

This paper validates a computer vision-based software for precise measurement of moving objects, demonstrating its accuracy and potential applications in physics research and education.

Contribution

It introduces a computational tool that accurately tracks and measures movement using computer vision, validated through a simple pendulum experiment.

Findings

Deviations less than a millimeter in trajectory measurement

Sensitive and accurate movement tracking

Applicable for physics research and teaching

Abstract

This paper presents the validation of a computational tool that serves to obtain continuous measurements of moving objects. The software uses techniques of computer vision, pattern recognition and optical flow, to enable tracking of objects in videos, generating data trajectory, velocity, acceleration and angular movement. The program was applied to track a ball around a simple pendulum. The methodology used to validate it, taking as a basis to compare the values measured by the program, as well as the theoretical values expected according to the model of a simple pendulum. The experiment is appropriate to the method because it was built within the limits of the linear harmonic oscillator and energy losses due to friction had been minimized, making it the most ideal possible. The results indicate that the tool is sensitive and accurate. Deviations of less than a millimeter to the extent of the trajectory, ensures the applicability of the software on physics, whether in research or in teaching topics.