Science Simulations
There are many science simulations available on the web. These are very useful for displaying things that you can not see such as molecules, or for simulating physical situations that you can not bring into the lab. Sometimes the actual simulation can be an experiment. Simulations do not promote better learning by themselves, but when used with properly designed exploration labs, they can be very effective. Students generally like simulations, which is certainly a plus when using them.
Other simulations can be found at many sites on the web. Unfortunately the most comprehensive listing of simulations has been removed from the web.
Warning: Some simulations work well with various combinations
of browsers and JAVA, and some do not.
Click here
to download John Clement’s simulations.
Minds•On Physics - Exploration to accompany the MOP textbooks. These are animated simulations of some of the questions and the readings in the book. (physlet)
Tools for Scientific Thinking Motion Simulations - Plot graphs of position, velocity, acceleration vs time as various objects move. These are designed to be explorations and can simulate an apparatus in Tools for Scientific Thinking and Real Time Physics Labs. (physlet)
10/2006 New simulations have
been added here for force and acceleration labs.
Also simulations have more adjustments to mimic real labs.
It is possible for you to make your own simulations. Physlets by W. Christian and M. Belloni is a do it yourself manual for designing physical science Java applets. The possible simulations cover most of physics, and some can be used for chemistry. In addition it gives references and good advice on how to use simulations in the classroom. It is published by Prentice Hall.
The following list is a set of simulations that I consider to be very useful.
Many simulations for physics, math, and chemistry designed by the PER group at U. Colorado
Atomic Models
Electrostatics
Electrostatic Explorations (physlet)
Gravitational Forces
Gravitational Forces – Force on a known mass near and inside planets (physlet)
Mechanics
Ramp n’ Roll - similar to Graphs n’ Tracks, but slower with no matches.
Billiards and Physics
Free-Body force Diagram
Newtonian Cannon - Orbits around earth from a mountain
One-dimensional collision
Projectile Motion – Exploration - Vx, Vy, Mass, Wind resistance may be varied (physlet)
Reaction time and Car accident
Reaction time measurements
Two-dimensional collision
What Direction will it roll?
Molecular Models
Atmospheric Pressure
Brownian Motion exploration (physlet)
Chemical Kinetics
Ideal Gas I exploration (physlet)
Ideal Gas II exploration (physlet)
Nonideal gas exploration (physlet)
Solid exploration (physlet)
Osmosis exploration (physlet)
Specific Heat
Happy Molecules - Boltzmann statistics
One Atom Gas
Sound
Fourier Synthesis - Sound synthesis
Location of Supersonic Airplane
Moving Point source Doppler effect
Vectors
Boat and River
Frictional Force
Vector Sum
Vector Calculator
Waves
Wave Superposition
Longitudinal
Spring and Wave
Superposition of Pulses
Optics
Mirror Game
Multiple Reflection from two plane mirrors
Mirror and images
Mixing Colors - Primary colors of light modified version supplied by author
Colored light or paint mixing – Any colors. (physlet)Reflected Colors – How colored objects look in various lighting. (Physlet)
Reflection-Refraction Water-Air
Shadow-Image and Color
Thin lens/mirror
Thick lens
Thin Lens Combinations
Miscellaneous
Quantum - Particle in a Box
Thermodynamics Second Law
Concept of Space and Time in Special Relativity
Gravitational Orbits
Utilities