PhotoLaser — Affordable Photogate
A low-cost Arduino photogate built with phototransistors and lasers, so schools can run real physics experiments.
Commercial photogates are often too expensive for schools, so I designed a cost-effective alternative using phototransistors and 5V red lasers. For the track where the object moves, we used photoblock material because it is easy to cut and assemble.
I programmed an Arduino to measure the time between the triggering of two phototransistors. Using the fixed distance between the sensors, the Arduino calculates the average speed of the object.
Next, I plan to enhance the design with a railway system and small, specialized trains — with these additions, the setup will be able to demonstrate collisions as well.