PhET Logo
Physics Education Technology - University of Colorado, Boulder
PhET Blog

Archive for the ‘New Sims ’ Category

New Graphing Lines Simulation


Graphing Lines

We’re excited to add another simulation to our growing mathematics collection. With the new Graphing Lines simulation, explore the world of lines. Investigate the relationships between linear equations, slope, and graphs of lines. Challenge yourself in the line game!

Thursday

Feb 14

2013

Update on Java: Oracle Releases New Java Update 13 for Version 7

If you’re running Java 7, we strongly encourage you update to Java Update 13 (build 1.7.0_13-b20). This latest Java release includes critical security patches and makes running Java in the browser more safe.

Get the upgrade here:

http://www.java.com

And if you’d like to learn more about the update, read about it here:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57567412-83/oracle-pushes-out-new-java-update-to-patch-security-holes/

Note to Mac Users: to run our 3D simulations, Molecule Shapes or Plate Tectonics, you will still have to downgrade to Java 6 as described in our previous blog.

Thursday

Feb 7

2013

New, Improved Plate Tectonics and Molecule Shapes


Plate Tectonics

Have you tried Plate Tectonics or Molecule Shapes, but couldn’t get these sims to run on your computer?

Well, try again! We’ve upgraded both to work on as many platforms as possible. Please note that the simulations use LWJGL for the 3D graphics. Unfortunately, at this time LWJGL does not support Java 7 on Mac OSX. For to run these simulations, it is necessary to downgrade your Java to version 6. To learn how to do this, see

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5559?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

If you’re still having troubles, please let us know so we can ensure that it works for everyone.

Help bring PhET to tablets: Donate to PhET today.

Tuesday

Feb 5

2013

Thank you for your support!

Energy Skate Park HTML5 Prototype

Happy New Year!

And thank you to all those who pledged their support to PhET in 2012. We are looking forward to an exciting 2013 with new simulations as well as making our more popular sims tablet compatible.

Don’t forget to try the HTML5 prototypes at:

Tuesday

Jan 8

2013

December Newsletter: Be One of the First to Experience our Sims on Tablets


Screenshot of the December 2012 PhET newsletter

Have you received our December 2012 newsletter?

Find links to prototypes of Masses & Springs, Energy Skate Park, Build an Atom, Concentration and Faraday’s Electromagnetic Lab in HTML 5. We’re excited to be offering a sneak peek at our progress. Have fun!

If you didn’t receive the newsletter in your e-mail and want future newsletters, sign up at our website.

Don’t forget PhET this holiday season. Donate to PhET’s Annual Campaign today.
Now through the secure Network for Good.

Saturday

Dec 15

2012

Shout Out to Teachers Noah and Laura

Forces and Motion: Basics

Thanks Noah and Laura for catching an issue with the new Forces and Motion.

Just a day after we released an update, they quickly e-mailed us regarding the number of significant digits in some of the numerical readouts. PhET Developers Sam Reid, John Blanco and Chris Malley worked together to isolate and solve the problem, posting a fixed version the next day. And, we found that the “bug” also affected three other simulations, all of which have been fixed.

Thanks for reporting problems to [email protected] so we can get things fixed quickly!

Help support PhET developers. Donate to PhET’s Annual Campaign today.

Friday

Dec 7

2012

Problems Running PhET Sims with Mac OS X 10.7 or 10.8?

If you’ve recently updated to Mac OS X 10.7 or 10.8, you may have received the message:

“To open this Web Start application, you need to download
the Java Runtime Environment.”

That’s because Apple Java was removed during the latest update. So when you receive this message, click “More Info“, and you will be taken to the java.com website for Version 7 at http://www.java.com/en/download/help/mac_install.xml.
Note: Once you’ve installed Java, you may need to reload or quit your browser in order to enable Java in your browser.

If you’re running Mountain Lion OS X 10.8, Gatekeeper (the new program introduced in OS X 10.8 designed to prevent potentially malicious apps from launching) may block the launch of the PhET sim. To override this, either modify Gatekeeper’s default settings or explicitly right/control-click the application and choose Open.

If you have additional questions, please e-mail [email protected].

Help support PhET Donate to PhET’s Annual Campaign today.

Friday

Nov 16

2012

New Forces and Motion: Basics Simulation


Forces and Motion: Basics

We’re excited to add another simulation to our Basics series, designed specifically with middle-school students in mind.

With the new Forces and Motion: Basics simulation, explore the forces at work in a tug of war or by 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.

Help keep new sims coming: Donate to PhET’s Annual Campaign today.

Friday

Nov 2

2012

Build a Fraction: the Latest Addition to our Math Collection


Build a Fraction

Build fractions from shapes and numbers to earn stars in this fractions game or explore in the Fractions Lab. Challenge yourself on any level you like. Try to collect lots of stars!

Help keep new sims coming: Donate to PhET’s Annual Campaign today.

Tuesday

Oct 23

2012

Improved Molecule Shapes and Molecule Shapes: Basics Sims Now Available


Molecule Shapes

Did you try Molecule Shapes or Molecule Shapes: Basics, but couldn’t get it to run on your computer?

Well, try again! We’ve reprogrammed it to work with many older graphics cards. So if you’re still having troubles, please let us know so we can ensure that it works for everyone.

Help bring PhET to tablets: Donate to PhET’s Annual Campaign today.

Wednesday

Oct 17

2012