Physics Toolbox Accelerometer vs Shared Waters
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Physics Toolbox Accelerometer
This app uses your device's accelerometer to measure and graph G-Force and acceleration over time. It allows you to record and export data as a CSV file, making it useful for analyzing motion in vehicles, vibrations, and educational physics experiments.
- Measures G-Force and acceleration
- Graphs G-Force vs. Time
- Graphs Acceleration vs. Time
- Records and exports data as CSV
- Analyzes motion in vehicles and vibrations
- Useful for classroom physics experiments
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Turn your iPhone into a motion laboratory. Physics Toolbox Accelerometer reads the accelerometer built into your device and shows exactly what it measures — live, in three dimensions, in units you can check. MEASURE • G-Force — the ratio of normal force to gravity, in X, Y, Z and total magnitude • Linear Acceleration — the same motion with gravity removed, in m/s² • Spectrum — a live FFT that finds the dominant frequency in a vibration RECORD AND ANALYSE • Record any run to CSV, then replay it with duration, maximum and average • Import CSV files recorded elsewhere and analyse them the same way • Share a recording straight from the app BUILT FOR TEACHING Each mode explains the physics behind it: how a piezoresistive cantilever bends under acceleration, how a capacitive accelerometer varies the electric potential across its plates, and why an object in free fall reads zero g. PRO A single lifetime purchase unlocks the signal filters — moving average, Kalman and low-pass — and analysis of saved and imported recordings. Works on iPhone and iPad, in light and dark, with VoiceOver throughout.
Shared Waters
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Dive into watershed science with Shared Waters, an immersive learning experience that connects environmental science with technology. Designed for educators and classroom use. This app connects learners to their local environment and blends augmented reality (AR), interactive simulations, and real-world science to help users explore how water moves across the earth, how ecosystems function, and how people can make a difference. The Shared Waters Mobile App can be used by itself or with watershed and stream study curricula, including the Shared Waters curriculum. This mobile app enhances the Shared Waters curriculum with AI environmental career avatars embedded into lessons and resources, including an interactive runoff simulation and a classroom watershed poster. The AR macroinvertebrates also enhance user experience and ability to identify stream bugs. Built on the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience framework, this app facilitates inquiry, exploration, and action, empowering learners to move from observation to understanding to stewardship. Key Features to Explore: Augmented Reality Aquatic Biology Bring stream life into your class and explore detailed 3D AR models and videos of aquatic macroinvertebrates, the small insects, crustaceans, and worms in the streambed. Rotate and zoom to examine physical features and movement, and discover how organisms act as bioindicators of water quality. This interactive experience goes beyond static images, helping users see what scientists see under microscopes. Tools help users identify macroinvertebrates in a completely new way. AI-Powered Career Avatars Explore STEM career pathways through interactive avatars - from ecosystem scientists to water treatment specialists, these digital guides share their work, answer questions, and help users envision their future careers. Grounded in authentic careers and local contexts, avatars were created using research-based watershed content and recorded interviews with professionals in the field. The AI used for the avatars is limited to watershed content and career sources. The avatars are programmed to NOT ask users any question. They will redirect users to inquire about scientific and STEM career content if a user asks about other topics. Blending Real and Virtual Exploration Shared Waters is an invitation to explore, question, and act. By combining cutting-edge technology with real-world science and local relevance, it empowers learners to understand their environment and take steps to protect it. Use the app and curriculum with field experiences, classroom lessons, or stream studies to connect real observations with interactive models, strengthening conceptual understanding and scientific thinking. Designed with learning in mind, this app and curriculum increase classroom engagement, making high-quality environmental science accessible. Collection of Your Information This app is initially intended for use by students and teachers in a current National Science Foundation-funded education research project, and Stroud Water Research Center does collect some information from use. The only student discussions with AI STEM career avatars that will be analyzed for research purposes are from those who have already consented to be involved in the research. Non-identifying user analytics will be collected only from users who have already consented to be part of the research project. This data includes typical web-based user analytics like user clicks (# of times each item is selected) to view augmented reality macroinvertebrates. User information will not be transmitted outside the education research team. The team follows strict procedures approved by Millersville University’s Institutional Review Board to conduct research with human subjects. Users who are not in the research project may use the app. Their data will be deleted and not analyzed. No login is required and the app does not collect identifying information.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Shared Waters at every 3 weeks against Physics Toolbox Accelerometer's every 8 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Physics Toolbox Accelerometer ships an update every 8 months, Shared Waters every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Physics Toolbox Accelerometer | Shared Waters |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.0 (5 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 38.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 15 MB | 459 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Chrystian Vieyra | Stroud Water Research Center |
In-app purchases
Physics Toolbox Accelerometer
No in-app purchases
Shared Waters
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Physics Toolbox Accelerometer free?
Is Shared Waters free?
Do Physics Toolbox Accelerometer or Shared Waters have ads?
Which is updated more often, Physics Toolbox Accelerometer or Shared Waters?
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