See–Think–Wonder with Phyphox: Turning Observations into Science

An activity to get you started with research using your smartphone.

Introduction

Science often begins with curiosity — noticing something, wondering why it happens, and finding a way to test it.
In this post, we’ll take the See–Think–Wonder framework and pair it with the Phyphox smartphone app to turn everyday observations into real, measurable experiments.

Step 1 – See

Pick something around you that can be measured by your phone’s sensors.
Some ideas:

• Motion: Elevator rides, swings, escalators (Accelerometer).
• Sound: Classroom noise, hallway echoes (Sound amplitude).
• Magnetic fields: Near chargers, laptops, or whiteboards (Magnetometer).
• Light: Brightness near windows at different times of day (Light sensor).

Write down exactly what you see — no guesses yet.

Step 2 – Think

Now, make a prediction (your hypothesis) about what’s happening and why.
Example:

I think the light intensity will be lower near the window in the morning than in the afternoon.

Step 3 – Wonder

Turn your observation into a measurable question.
Example:

I wonder how much the magnetic field changes when I move my phone from the classroom table to near a laptop charger.

Step 4 – Collect Data with Phyphox

1. Install Phyphox on your phone.
2. Open the app and choose the relevant experiment:
   • Accelerometer for motion/tilt.
   • Sound amplitude for noise levels.
   • Magnetometer for magnetic fields.
   • Light for brightness changes.
3. Record your data during the activity.
4. Export it as CSV for deeper analysis in Excel, Python, or Google Sheets.

Step 5 – Analyse and Conclude

• Check for patterns or spikes in your recorded graphs.
• Compare your findings to your “Think” prediction.
• Ask yourself: Did the data confirm your idea or reveal something new?

Example Classroom Activity – Sound

Observation (See): It’s noisy during lunch breaks.
Prediction (Think): Noise will peak right when the bell rings.
Question (Wonder): How quickly does the sound level drop after lunch break begins?
Method:

• In Phyphox, select Sound amplitude.
• Start recording 30 seconds before the bell.
• Stop recording after 2 minutes.

Example Result Graph:

This graph shows a stable noise baseline before the bell, a sharp peak at the bell, and a gradual decay afterward.

Additional Example – Light Sensor

Observation (See): The brightness changes throughout the school day.
Prediction (Think): Light intensity will peak at noon when the sun is highest.
Question (Wonder): What is the pattern of light intensity from morning to evening?

Example Result Graph:

The graph shows a clear midday peak in brightness, matching the prediction.

Additional Example – Magnetometer

Observation (See): Electronic devices seem to affect my phone’s compass.
Prediction (Think): Magnetic field readings will be highest near power adapters.
Question (Wonder): How much does the magnetic field strength vary at different spots in the classroom?

Example Result Graph:

The bar chart shows strong magnetic fields near laptops and chargers.

Worksheet

Final Thoughts

By pairing See–Think–Wonder with Phyphox, you can move from curiosity to evidence-based conclusions. It’s a simple way to make science hands-on, data-driven, and fun — right from your smartphone. A stepping stone to research methodology.

For more experiment ideas, visit the official Phyphox Experiments Library.