Resources by PhET Interactive Simulations University of Colorado Boulder

Concentration

With this simulation, students build an understanding of solution concentration by varying amounts of solute, solvent, and solution. Experimenting with several different chemicals in solid and concentrated solution form, students can develop qualitative and quantitative relationships.

Learning objectives...

Energy Skate Park Basics

This simulation allows students to learn about conservation of energy with a skater dude! Students can explore different tracks and investigate the relationship between the kinetic energy, potential energy, and thermal energy of the skater. They can also build their own tracks, ramps and jumps for the skater.

Forces and Motion Basics

This simulation allows students to explore the forces at work when pulling against a cart, and pushing a refrigerator, crate, or person. Create an applied force and see how it makes objects move. Change friction and see how it affects the motion of objects.

Learning outcomes include:

*Identify whether...

Fraction Matcher

Fraction Matcher gives students the opportunity to explore the concept of fractions. The “Fractions Screen” contains eight levels of matching fractions using fractions less than one up to improper fraction representations for fractions greater than one. The “Mixed Number Screen” concentrates upon fractions greater...

Friction

This simulation can be used to demonstrate how friction causes a material to heat up and melt. It shows how when two objects are rubbed together they heat up. When one reaches the melting temperature, particles break free as the material melts away. Sample learning objectives include: *Describe a model for friction...

Gas Properties

This simulation allows students to pump gas molecules into a box and see what happens as you change the volume, add or remove heat, change gravity, and more. They can measure the temperature and pressure, and discover how the properties of the gas vary in relation to each other.

Sample learning objectives...

Graphing Lines

Graphing Lines gives the opportunity for students to explore the parameters of a linear equation; how modifying the graph affects the equation and how modifying the equation affects the graph. Students can draw reference lines y=x and y=-x to help with their deliberations. Students may change the point of...

Gravity Force Lab

This simulation allows students to visualise the gravitational force that two objects exert on each other. It is possible to change properties of the objects in order to see how that changes the gravitational force between them.

The simulation can be used to:

*Relate gravitational force to the masses...

Least Squares Regression

This interactive simulation gives the opportunity for students to explore Least-Squares Regression. There are a number of different options available from the drop-down menu or students can plot their own points. Students then use the sliders to add their own line of best fit, residual lines and squared residuals...

Masses and Springs

In this simulation students can hang masses from springs, adjust the spring stiffness and damping, and even slow time. The lab can be transported to different planets and there is a chart which shows the kinetic, potential, and thermal energy for each spring.

[b]Sample Learning Objectives[/b]

*Explain...