Introducing PhET Interactive Simulations
Posted by jglassman on
Science and math come to life with eight interactive simulations from our newest partner, Phet Interactive Simulations at the University of Colorado Boulder. Backed by extensive education research, PhET simulations engage students through an intuitive, game-like environment where learning happens through exploration and discovery.
Following are the first eight simulations with more to come soon!
- Area Builder: Build shapes and explore the relationship between area and perimeter.
- Balancing Act: Experiment with how objects of different masses can balance a plank, and how changing the positions of the masses will affect the motion of the plank.
- Color Vision: Make a rainbow by mixing red, green, and blue light. Investigate how light passes through colored filters, and see light as a beam or photons.
- Concentration: Watch solution change color as you mix chemicals with water. Find out how concentrated you can go before you hit saturation.
- Energy Skate Park: Basics: Investigate the conservation of mechanical energy by building and experimenting with tracks, ramps, and jumps for a skateboarder.
- Graphing Lines: Investigate the relationships between linear equations, slope, and graphs.
- Molecules and Light: Explore how light interacts with molecules in the atmosphere, discover the properties of greenhouse gases and the role of the ozone layer.
- Wave on a String: Produce waves by wiggling a string, creating a pulse, or using an oscillator. Explore how frequency, amplitude, tension, and damping affect the motion of the wave.
PhET simulations comes with the SnapThought® tool, which enables students to write about their thinking while they play. The stellar team that created PhET has put together a fantastic collection of educator resources. For lesson plans, tips and more for using PhET simulations in your classroom explore the Lesson Ideas page for each topic and our Educator’s Guide to Teaching with Digital Simulations.
