Abstract The use of smartphones and some applications for educational purposes are valuable tools in the laboratory since they are motivating for students and the teacher can take advantage of this advantage for the teaching of physics. The experience is based on the anthropological theory of didactics and the teaching approach in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It is proposed to investigate a trigger question in physics. To respond, an application is used that uses the smartphone’s sensors to record the simulation data. The experience is described, and results of its implementation are presented. Methodologically, a qualitative descriptive approach was used in a group of tenth grade students taking the physics course. Finally, it is concluded that the students felt motivated since they felt they participated in the construction of their own learning, supported using technologies that facilitate the integration of knowledge in physics.