Construction of a Current-Voltage Characteristic Tracer Using Microcontroller-Based Experimental Equipment for Educational Purposes

Abstract

Experimentation plays a fundamental role in learning physics and chemistry, enabling students to understand theoretical concepts through concrete observations. However, laboratory equipment is not always available in schools, limiting the scope for experimentation. An effective solution is to use the Arduino board. This board offers several advantages, including low-cost, open source, and multi-functionality. Moreover, its use arouses students' curiosity about embedded electronics and programming. In this article, we propose an educational experimental equipment based on the Arduino Uno which can be used to plot the current-voltage characteristics of a variety of component. We illustrate the equipment's efficiency by studying the diode and the ohmic conductor current-voltage characteristics. The obtained results show a perfect match with those provided by a traditional experimental set-up, confirming the reliability and relevance of the proposed equipment.