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Measurement of breathing rate with a smartphone magnetometer: an

engaging classroom activity in physics and biology
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 Frontline
Phys. Educ. 54 (2019) 063001 (3pp) iopscience.org/ped

Measurement of breathing
rate with a smartphone
magnetometer: an engaging
classroom activity in physics
and biology
Unofre Pili
University of San Carlos, Cebu City 6000, The Philippines

E-mail: ubpili@usc.edu.ph

Abstract
This article presents a simple and handy technique to measure respiration
rate that employs the magnetic field sensor of a smartphone device. On the
abdomen of the subject a tiny and very light permanent magnet is placed
and the apparently periodic field—caused by what appears to be periodic
breathing of the subject—of the magnet is recorded by the smartphone with
the help of its magnetic field sensor. The acquired magnetic field signals
allows for the measurement of the period, thus the breathing rate; the value
obtained is well within range of normal values. The activity is seen to afford
instructional significance in a physics or biology class or, to an extent, in a
clinical setting.

1. Introduction method is seen as a handy alternative for mea-

The use of the smartphone gadget in elementary
experimental physics is well-explored and is
found to be effective and reliable. For instance,
its magnetic field sensor has emerged to be reli-
able in studying uniform motion kinematics [1]
and in measuring gravitational acceleration [2].
In this article, the same sensor is used to mea-
sure respiration rate. The current work appears
to be pedagogically significant as an engaging
and creative way in demonstrating the depend­
ence of magnetic field on distance separating the
source and the field point; in biology or in any life
sciences-related courses, the activity presented
would suit well for a classroom-based measure-
ment of breathing rates. In a clinical setting, the
suring breathing frequencies. For its being non-
invasive and unobtrusive, the method is likely on
par, if not relatively advantageous in comparison
to other methods [3, 4].
2.  Theoretical background
The dependence on distance from the source to
field point of the strength of magnetic field is a
common place physical phenomenon, from a
theoretical angle in particular. Experimental data
of magnetic field has also been found to match
well with theory [5] that expresses the strength
of a certain permanent magnet as a function of
distance.

1361-6552/19/063001+3$33.00 1 © 2019 IOP Publishing Ltd

U Pili
Hence, predictably, the strength of the magn­
etic field of a permanent magnet placed on the
abdomen of a subject will vary—because of the
little changes in distance as the subject breaths—
relative to an observation point located slightly
above the subject’s abdomen. In what would
appear as periodic variations of the magnetic field
is due to the breathing activity of the subject. This
observation suggests the possibility of measuring
respiration rates from a magnetic field time series.
3.  Experimental procedure
The experimental setup, shown in figure 1, con-
sists of a smartphone with built-in magnetic
field sensor and running Physics Toolbox Sensor
Suites [6], an Android application. Further
needed is a computer running MS Excel for data
processing, a tiny permanent magnet, and the sub-
ject. Performing the measurements of breathing
rate, we have allowed the subject to lie flat and
instructed to breath as normal as possible. With
the small, cylindrical, permanent magnet now
placed on her abdomen we brought the smart-
phone device—its magnetic field sensor already
running via the Android application—directly
above the small magnet. The smartphone hand-
held about 4.0 cm from the magnet was oriented
in a vertical position allowing measurements of
the x-component of the magnetic field as a func-
tion of time. The data file was then transferred,
via bluetooth, to the computer for re-plotting and
simple data analysis.
4.  Experimental results
Figure 2 shows the magnetic field signal as a
time series indicating peaks and valleys. The
peaks are when the magnet is farthest from the
smartphone (subject breathing in) while the val-
leys occur when the gadget and the magnet are
closest to each other (subject breathing out). Any
two successive peaks (or valleys) in the graph
are associated to one complete breathing cycle;
therefore by counting the number of pairs of two
successive peaks in each graph (or section of the
graph) and subsequently dividing it by the time
interval (obtained using the data cursor) between
those selected peaks (or valleys) would yield the
period and frequency. For a 37-year-old female
subject, the breathing rate obtained is 16 breaths
November 2019
Figure 1. Computer-aided hand-drawn image of the
experimental setup (image credit: Michael Jay H.
Roque). This image, which implies an athletic subject,
is however not as accurate since the actual subject is
not an athlete nor an athletic one.
80.0
60.0
Magnetic field (µT)
40.0
20.0
0.0
–20.0
–40.0
–60.0
–80.0
–100.0
1.8 6.8 11.8 16.8 21.8 26.8
Time (s)
Figure 2.  Magnetic field time series associated to the
breathing activity of the subject.
per minute which is well within the normal range
of 12–18 breaths per minute [7].
5.  Conclusions and recommendations
The smartphone-based magnetic field sensor has
emerged to be a useful alternative tool for measur-
ing respiration rate. The measurement obtained
falls well within the range of normal values.
Furthermore, the apparent non-invasive nature
of the method makes it, on par, if not relatively
advantageous, in comparison to other methods.
Thus aside from pure classroom use, the technique
presented in the current work is also likely useful
in clinical settings. But then again, the magnetic
field signal appears to be instructionally helpful
among introductory physics teachers in empha-
sizing the distance-dependence of magnetic field
2 Phys. Educ. 54 (2019) 063001
Measurement of breathing rate with a smartphone magnetometer: an engaging classroom activity
to students. Indeed, this well-known phenomenon
can be easily demonstrated by simply moving
the magnet at different distances while monitor-
ing the magnetic field strength with the same
smartphone-based magnetometer. But by dem-
onstrating the phenomenon via measurements
of respiration rates is likely to make the activity
even more exciting, engaging, and insightful. In a
biological or physiological science class, involv-
ing toddlers, older people, and subjects involved
in athletics is a nice consideration. Matter of fact,
for its apparent accuracy and accessibility the
technique can be utilized in athletic events as well
where information of breathing rates of athletes
may arise randomly.
Acknowledgment
The author wishes to thank the University of San
Carlos for its continued support. And, for allow-
ing herself to pose as subject, the author is thank-
ful to Ms Maricel Clar.
Received 2 July 2019
Accepted for publication 7 August 2019
https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6552/ab393f
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[6] Vieyra Softward Physics Toolbox Sensor
Suites (https://play.google.com/store/
apps/details?id=com.chrystianvieyra.
physicstoolboxsuite&hl=en_US)
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Unofre Pili is currently working
towards his PhD in physics on a
dissertation research topic in
high-temperature superconductivity.
Teaching introductory physics at the
University of San Carlos, he is also
into designing accessible and
cost-effective introductory physics
experiments.
3 Phys. Educ. 54 (2019) 063001