Try our new Molecule Polarity sim. When is a molecule polar? Change the electronegativity of atoms in a molecule to see how it affects polarity. See how the molecule behaves in an electric field. Change the bond angle to see how shape affects polarity. See how it works for real molecules in 3D.
As part of our effort to develop sims specifically for our middle-school audience, we are adapting many of our existing sims by refining the content and controls to better align with the middle-school learning goals. We’ll release the sims (and announce them here) as we complete each one. The first that will be released in the coming months will be States of Matter: Basics. Let us know which other ones you’d like to see.
Try the new Resonance Sim for advanced undergraduate students. Observe resonance in a collection of driven, damped harmonic oscillators. Vary the driving frequency and amplitude, the damping constant, and the mass and spring constant of each resonator. Notice the long-lived transients when damping is small, and observe the phase change for resonators above and below resonance.
We’ve improved the Capacitor Lab sim with a new “Multiple Capacitors” tab, where you can explore series and parallel relationships.
Try the new Build-a-Molecule sim. Starting from atoms, see how many molecules you can build. Collect your molecules and see them in 3D! You’ll learn the differences between atoms and molecules, and how to construct them.
Are all atoms of a given element the same? How can you tell one isotope from another? Learn about isotopes, and about how to calculate the average atomic mass of an element.
Explore bending of light between two mediums with different indices of refraction. See how changing from air to water to glass changes the bending angle. Play with prisms of different shapes and make rainbows.
After more student testing, we’ve improved the Gravity and Orbits sim as well as fixed some bugs. (If you find more, please let us know!) Grab the planet and change the planet-star distance or the planet’s velocity, and explore how that impacts the orbit.
Try our new Balancing Chemical Equations sim.
How do you know if a chemical equation is balanced? What can you change to balance an equation? Play a game to test your ideas!
After more student testing, we’ve improved the Buoyancy sim. And, don’t forget that you can lift the blocks out of the water by using the underwater scale.
