---
key: mechanic/phone-magnetometer--family-02
type: mechanic
id: phone-magnetometer--family-02
lang: en
title: Rotation over time
summary: >-
Changes in heading or field components over time can define a turn, sequence
or rhythmic gesture in a game scenario.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/phone-magnetometer--family-02/'
jsonUrl: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/phone-magnetometer--family-02.json
markdownUrl: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/phone-magnetometer--family-02.md
aliases:
- Turns over time
tags:
- Phone magnetometer interactions
- Mechanics catalog
sourceIds:
- source-603978442e60360e
sources:
- id: source-603978442e60360e
title: Physics Toolbox Magnetometer
url: >-
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/physics-toolbox-magnetometer/id1003749103?uo=4
verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
- catalogId: phone-magnetometer
id: family-02
title: Phone magnetometer interactions
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/phone-magnetometer/#family-02'
categoryIds:
- section-1
supersededBy: []
attributes:
preview:
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
title: Turns over time
description: >-
Changes in heading or field components over time can define a turn,
sequence or rhythmic gesture in a game scenario.
image:
src: images/mechanics/sensor-physics-magnet-0.webp
width: 665
height: 1440
crop:
x: 51
'y': 323
width: 563
height: 1034
game: Physics Toolbox Magnetometer
sourceUrl: >-
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/physics-toolbox-magnetometer/id1003749103?uo=4
originalUrl: >-
https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/PurpleSource221/v4/0f/3d/af/0f3daf9c-4f2c-17c7-83d3-c4ae62057601/01-magnetometer.png/720x1560bb.jpg
credit: Chrystian Vieyra
rights: >-
© Chrystian Vieyra. Developer-distributed App Store screenshot. All
rights reserved; excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
caption: 'Physics Toolbox: three field components and total magnitude over time'
alt: 'Physics Toolbox: three field components and total magnitude over time'
markers:
- x: 50
'y': 67
label: Curves show measurements changing over time
tips:
- >-
Compare changes with a baseline and account for external magnetic
fields.
examples:
- title: Physics Toolbox Magnetometer
url: >-
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/physics-toolbox-magnetometer/id1003749103?uo=4
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on
2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are
preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire
classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and
editorial review.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/phone-magnetometer
---
# Rotation over time
id: phone-magnetometer--family-02
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/phone-magnetometer--family-02
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/phone-magnetometer--family-02/
Changes in heading or field components over time can define a turn, sequence or rhythmic gesture in a game scenario.
## At a glance
[Physics Toolbox Magnetometer](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/physics-toolbox-magnetometer/id1003749103?uo=4) · © Chrystian Vieyra. Developer-distributed App Store screenshot. All rights reserved; excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
1. Curves show measurements changing over time
- Compare changes with a baseline and account for external magnetic fields.
- [Physics Toolbox Magnetometer](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/physics-toolbox-magnetometer/id1003749103?uo=4)
## How it works
A change in direction over time sets the turn, sequence, or rhythm of an action; For sustainability, the environment is taken into account.
## Variants
### Variants and applications
- Sequence of directions. Action: Turn to several azimuths in a given order. Application: Combination lock, ritual route, command repetition. Limitations: Separate the achieved sector from a random intersection along the way. Equipment: Telephone without an external magnet. Preparation: Easy start. Type: Game rule.
- Code with direction of rotation. Action: Distinguish between approaching a corner clockwise and counterclockwise. Application: Safe, rotating mechanism, navigation riddle. Limitations: You need to turn the corner through the transition 359→0 degrees. Equipment: Phone without an external magnet. Preparation: Needs setup. Type: Game rule.
- A few turns. Action: Count complete turns and their direction. Application: Start a mechanism, wind a rope, load an artifact. Limitations: Count angle increments; turning too fast requires a gyroscope. Equipment: Phone without external magnet. Preparation: Needs setup. Type: Game rule.
- Staying on course. Action: Maintain the direction inside the window for several seconds. Application: Antenna stabilization, concentration, channel protection. Limitations: Use the tolerance window and pause when the compass is unreliable. Equipment: Phone without an external magnet. Preparation: Easy start. Type: Game rule.
- Rhythm of turns. Action: Reach corner sectors on the beat. Application: Dance game, musical battle, light conductor. Limitations: The event of entering a sector is better assessed with a time window. Equipment: Phone without an external magnet. Preparation: Needs setup. Type: Game rule.
- Swinging between boundaries. Action: Alternately achieve two given directions. Application: File, pendulum, rocking a boat, bellows. Limitations: Determine a complete cycle between boundaries, and not count noise. Equipment: Telephone without an external magnet. Preparation: Easy start. Type: Game rule.
- Turning speed. Action: Link the rate of change of world azimuth with the power of the action. Application: Acceleration of a vortex, panorama control, dosing of rotation. Limitations: The compass derivative is noisy; combination with a gyroscope is practically useful. Equipment: Phone without an external magnet. Preparation: Needs setup. Type: Input method.
- Tracking moving azimuth. Action: Keep the phone on the target's direction, changing over time. Application: Satellite tracking, radar alignment, duel of attention. Limitations: Target speed and tolerance must take into account the delay of the sensors. Equipment: Phone without an external magnet. Preparation: Easy start. Type: Game rule.
## Context and limits
Author's working classification for designing games and interactions. Options can overlap and combine; the list is not a generally accepted standard or proven exhaustive list. Application examples are conditional unless a specific verifiable observation is indicated nearby. Sources support individual techniques and technical limitations.
## Connected materials
## Sources and provenance
Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.
- [Physics Toolbox Magnetometer](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/physics-toolbox-magnetometer/id1003749103?uo=4) (id: source-603978442e60360e)
CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors