Physics simulations
134 interactive Physics simulations for ages 11–18, grouped by topic.
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Beam balance and weight box
Physics · Measurement & Uncertainty
A laboratory beam (physical) balance with a weight box from 100 g down to 10 mg and a 10 mg rider on the graduated...
Ages 15–16
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Measuring g with a simple pendulum
Physics · Measurement & Uncertainty
Time 1, 10 or 20 oscillations of a simple pendulum with a stopwatch, either by hand or with a simulated experimenter...
Ages 15–16
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SI units and dimensional analysis – base units, prefixes and checking equations
Physics · Measurement & Uncertainty
Build any SI unit from powers of the seven base units and see how derived units such as the newton, joule, watt,...
Ages 15–16
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Combining uncertainties – measuring density
Physics · Measurement & Uncertainty
Find the density of a cylinder or a rectangular block from its mass, measured on a balance, and its dimensions,...
Ages 15–16
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Measurement error in repeated length readings
Physics · Measurement & Uncertainty
A ruler with an adjustable resolution measures a metal rod repeatedly; each reading appears half a second apart with...
Ages 15–16
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Reading a vernier caliper and a micrometer
Physics · Measurement & Uncertainty
Practise reading a vernier caliper (10, 20 or 50 divisions) and a 0.01 mm micrometer screw gauge on random objects,...
Ages 15–16
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Community Compton scattering
Physics · Measurement & Uncertainty
An X-ray photon hits a free electron at rest. The photon scatters at an angle θ and the electron recoils. Students...
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Community Analog vs Digital: Relaying a Signal Through Noise
Physics · Measurement & Uncertainty
Send a sine signal from a source, through noisy relay stations, to a receiver. The analog copy collects new noise on...
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Projectile motion – trajectory and air resistance
Physics · Kinematics
Five screens explore projectile motion: Intro lets you set the launch height, launch angle, initial speed and...
Ages 15–16
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Uniformly Accelerated Motion – Two Cars Meeting
Physics · Kinematics
Two cars, A and B, move along the same straight road with constant acceleration, each with its own initial position...
Ages 15–16
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Special relativity – time dilation, length contraction, muons and GPS
Physics · Kinematics
A light clock and a ruler on a rocket moving at speed v: change v to see the Lorentz factor γ = 1/√(1 − v²/c²), time...
Ages 17–18
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Projectile Motion at an Angle
Physics · Kinematics
Launch an object with initial speed v0 at angle α to the horizontal, under gravitational acceleration g. Watch the...
Ages 15–16
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Free fall and fall with air resistance
Physics · Kinematics
Two objects of different mass and cross-section are dropped together from the same height. With drag off, both hit...
Ages 15–16
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Boat crossing a river – relative velocity
Physics · Kinematics
A boat moves at speed v₁₂ relative to the water on a river flowing at v₂₃. Change the heading angle θ with the...
Ages 15–16
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Motion in a plane – position, velocity and acceleration vectors on a curved path
Physics · Kinematics
An object moves along a curved path that you reshape by dragging points. Position vectors at two instants give the...
Ages 15–16
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Newton's third law – interaction pairs
Physics · Forces & Dynamics
Seven situations: a person pushing a wall, two skaters pushing apart, a book on a table, two spring balances pulling...
Ages 15–16
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Hooke's law and liquid pressure
Physics · Forces & Dynamics
Left: a spring of stiffness k holds a hanging mass m, stretching by Δl = mg/k; pull the mass down and release it to...
Ages 15–16
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Hooke's law – springs
Physics · Forces & Dynamics
Three screens to explore Hooke's law. Intro lets you stretch or compress one or two independent horizontal springs...
Ages 15–16
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Newton's second law – pulling a block on a surface
Physics · Forces & Dynamics
Pull a block of mass m with force F along a horizontal or inclined surface with friction μ. Watch the force vectors...
Ages 15–16
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Falling-ball viscometer – Stokes' law and terminal velocity
Physics · Forces & Dynamics
A virtual practical to measure viscosity: drop steel balls of different radii into glycerol, castor oil or water,...
Ages 15–16
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Measuring the coefficient of kinetic friction on an inclined plane
Physics · Forces & Dynamics
Virtual lab: a block slides from rest down a board inclined at angle α, and a digital timer with two light gates...
Ages 15–16
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Fluid flow – continuity, Bernoulli's principle and Torricelli's law
Physics · Forces & Dynamics
A pipe with three sections whose cross-sections and height you can change: tracer particles show that the flow rate...
Ages 15–16
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Masses and springs – basics
Physics · Forces & Dynamics
Hang masses on a spring one at a time and measure the extension at equilibrium across three screens: Stretch, Bounce...
Ages 15–16
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Forces on a particle and connected bodies – equilibrium, inclines, Atwood
Physics · Forces & Dynamics
Three screens: Equilibrium (a force table with 2–4 forces, components, resultant, polygon of forces and Lami's...
Ages 15–16
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Centripetal force – uniform circular motion on a string
Physics · Forces & Dynamics
A mass m tied to a string of length R moves in uniform circular motion with angular speed ω (viewed from above). The...
Ages 15–16
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Moments – principle of moments and couples
Physics · Forces & Dynamics
A virtual lab with a rod pivoted at its centre and equally spaced holes: drag masses onto holes on either side and...
Ages 15–16
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Rotational inertia and τ = Iα – turntable lab, angular momentum and rolling
Physics · Forces & Dynamics
A virtual lab on rotational dynamics. A falling mass on a string wound round a drum turns a rod with two movable...
Ages 15–16
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Pascal's principle – hydraulic jack, press and brakes
Physics · Forces & Dynamics
A force F₁ on the small piston raises the pressure of the liquid by p = F₁/A₁ everywhere, so the large piston pushes...
Ages 15–16
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Surface tension and capillary rise – travelling microscope lab
Physics · Forces & Dynamics
A virtual practical to measure surface tension γ with capillary tubes and a travelling microscope: read the two...
Ages 15–16
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Centre of mass, centre of gravity and stability – plumb line and toppling
Physics · Forces & Dynamics
Three screens: place point masses on a rod or a plane, choose which ones are inside the system boundary and watch...
Ages 15–16
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Free-body diagrams – inclines, lifts and pulleys
Physics · Forces & Dynamics
Six situations: a block on a rough incline (at rest or sliding down), a block sliding up a slope, a mass pulled up...
Ages 15–16
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Conservation of mechanical energy – object sliding on a curved track
Physics · Energy & Momentum
An object of mass m is released from height h, slides down a curved track, and climbs up the other side. Bars for...
Ages 15–16
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Ballistic Pendulum – Measuring a Bullet's Speed
Physics · Energy & Momentum
A bullet of mass m and speed v embeds in a wooden block of mass M hanging from a light rod of length L. The...
Ages 15–16
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Skate park – conservation of mechanical energy
Physics · Energy & Momentum
A skater rides on a curved track (choose a ramp, a loop or a double well, or draw your own in the Playground)....
Ages 15–16
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Simple machines – pulleys, inclined plane, wheel and axle, screw jack and gears
Physics · Energy & Momentum
A virtual bench for simple machines: fixed and movable pulleys, a block and tackle, an inclined plane, a wheel and...
Ages 15–16
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Lifting Machines on the Job – Work, Power, Efficiency
Physics · Energy & Momentum
A construction-site crane, a farm hoist, or a passenger lift raises a load to height h. Adjust the mass, height,...
Ages 15–16
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Collision lab – momentum and kinetic energy in collisions
Physics · Energy & Momentum
Four screens for exploring collisions. Intro: two balls collide elastically along a line so you can get used to the...
Ages 15–16
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Air track collisions – conservation of momentum
Physics · Energy & Momentum
Two carts of mass m₁ and m₂ move with velocities v₁ and v₂ on an air track, then collide either elastically or...
Ages 15–16
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Kepler's laws – building an orbit from position and velocity
Physics · Gravitation & Astronomy
Four screens: First Law (drag the planet's position and velocity directly, the ellipse is recalculated instantly,...
Ages 16–17
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Galaxy redshift and Hubble's law – measure H₀, the age of the Universe and the evidence for the Big Bang
Physics · Gravitation & Astronomy
Measure the redshift z = Δλ/λ₀ of absorption lines in galaxy spectra, work out the recession speed v = cz and the...
Ages 15–16
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Kepler's Laws – Elliptical Orbits, Equal Areas and T²/a³
Physics · Gravitation & Astronomy
An elliptical orbit around the Sun with an adjustable semi-major axis a and eccentricity e. Coloured sectors swept...
Ages 16–17
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3D
Newton's Cannon 3D – Falling Back, Orbiting or Escaping the Earth
Physics · Gravitation & Astronomy
Fire a cannonball horizontally from the top of a very high mountain on a 3D Earth. Its motion is computed...
Ages 16–17
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Gravitational force between two spheres
Physics · Gravitation & Astronomy
Two spheres sit on an axis, each held back on a rope by a person standing outside so that it is not pulled towards...
Ages 16–17
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Gravity and orbits
Physics · Gravitation & Astronomy
Let the Sun, Earth, Moon or a satellite attract each other with real gravity (SI masses and distances,...
Ages 16–17
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The Sun's energy – nuclear fusion, hydrostatic equilibrium and energy output
Physics · Gravitation & Astronomy
Step through the proton–proton chain (or the CNO cycle) in the Sun's core with protons, neutrons, positrons,...
Ages 17–18
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2D + 3D
Earth and the sky – solar altitude by latitude and season
Physics · Gravitation & Astronomy
Earth's axis is tilted 23.5°, so the Sun's noon altitude and the length of day change with latitude and with the day...
Ages 15–16
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2D + 3D
Gravitational field and satellite orbits
Physics · Gravitation & Astronomy
Change the orbital radius of a satellite around Earth to see how the gravitational field strength g = GM/r², orbital...
Ages 16–17
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Stellar life cycle and the H–R diagram – from nebula to white dwarf, neutron star or black hole
Physics · Gravitation & Astronomy
Choose a star's initial mass (0.1–40 M☉) and follow it across the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram: nebula, protostar,...
Ages 17–18
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3D
Electromagnetic waves from an aerial – E ⊥ B, c = 1/√(μ₀ε₀), c = fλ, polarisation
Physics · Oscillations & Waves
A rotatable 3D model: charges oscillating in a half-wave dipole aerial radiate an electromagnetic wave whose...
Ages 17–18
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Simple pendulum – period, energy and measuring g
Physics · Oscillations & Waves
Five screens: Intro (one or two pendulums; change the string length, mass, acceleration due to gravity and friction;...
Ages 16–17
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Spring pendulum – simple harmonic motion
Physics · Oscillations & Waves
A mass m attached to a spring of stiffness k is pulled out to amplitude A and released. Watch the mass oscillate and...
Ages 16–17
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Air column resonance – measuring the speed of sound
Physics · Oscillations & Waves
A glass tube holds water and a 256–512 Hz tuning fork vibrates over its open end. Drag the water surface to change...
Ages 16–17
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Forced oscillations and resonance – driven spring–mass system
Physics · Oscillations & Waves
A horizontal spring–mass system is driven by a vibrator that applies a periodic force F = F₀cos(2πft). Students see...
Ages 16–17
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Radio wave modulation – AM and FM
Physics · Oscillations & Waves
An audio-frequency signal cannot travel far on its own, so it must be carried by a high-frequency carrier wave....
Ages 16–17
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Measuring the speed of sound – echo timing, two microphones on an oscilloscope, ultrasound in phase
Physics · Oscillations & Waves
A virtual practical that measures the speed of sound in air in three ways: timing an echo from a wall with a...
Ages 16–17
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Wave interference and diffraction
Physics · Oscillations & Waves
Six screens: a single source where you measure amplitude, frequency and wavelength; two coherent sources producing a...
Ages 16–17
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Beats – two tones with close frequencies
Physics · Oscillations & Waves
Two pure tones with close frequencies f₁ and f₂ add up to produce beats: the loudness of the combined sound rises...
Ages 16–17
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Doppler effect – a moving sound source
Physics · Oscillations & Waves
A sound source (a vehicle with a siren) drives at constant speed past a listener standing a distance d from the...
Ages 16–17
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Masses and springs lab – oscillation and energy
Physics · Oscillations & Waves
Hang objects on a vertical spring and watch them oscillate across four screens: Intro, Vectors, Energy and Lab....
Ages 16–17
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Standing waves on a string
Physics · Oscillations & Waves
A string of length l has either both ends fixed or one end free. Change the vibrator frequency and wave speed to...
Ages 16–17
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Transverse and longitudinal waves – how the particles move
Physics · Oscillations & Waves
A row of particles in a medium is set oscillating by a source at the left end; switch between a transverse wave...
Ages 16–17
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Waves on a string – travelling waves, reflection and standing waves
Physics · Oscillations & Waves
A string made of 81 beads, with the wave equation solved by finite differences. Choose how to drive the left end...
Ages 16–17
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Electromagnetic spectrum explorer – wavelength, frequency, photon energy, sources, uses and dangers
Physics · Oscillations & Waves
Drag a cursor along the electromagnetic spectrum on a log scale, from radio waves to gamma rays, and read the...
Ages 16–17
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Analog and digital signals – sending through a noisy channel
Physics · Oscillations & Waves
Send a waveform or a short text message through a noisy channel with several relays. The analog copy is amplified...
Ages 16–17
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Community Doppler Effect for Sound
Physics · Oscillations & Waves
Visualize the Doppler effect with a moving source and observer. Watch the circular wavefronts bunch up ahead and...
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Light meter bench – transparent, translucent and opaque materials, reflection and the inverse square law
Physics · Optics
A virtual practical with a lamp, a sample holder and a light meter (lux meter). On the Materials screen, shine a...
Ages 16–17
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Refractive index from real and apparent depth – travelling microscope lab
Physics · Optics
A virtual practical to measure refractive index with a travelling microscope: focus on a mark with nothing on it,...
Ages 14–15
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Lens combinations on an optical bench
Physics · Optics
Combine two thin lenses in contact or a gap apart and find the focal length of the combination on a screen: 1/F =...
Ages 14–15
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Michelson interferometer – measure a wavelength, test the ether
Physics · Optics
Move a mirror and count the circular fringes that pass the centre of the screen: Δd = Nλ/2 gives the wavelength of a...
Ages 16–17
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Thin-film interference – soap films, oil slicks and anti-reflection coatings
Physics · Optics
Light reflected from the top and bottom surfaces of a thin film interferes: the path difference is 2nt, plus half a...
Ages 16–17
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Optical instruments: magnifier, microscope and telescope
Physics · Optics
Ray diagrams of the magnifying glass (M = D/f relaxed, 1 + D/f at the near point), the compound microscope (real...
Ages 14–15
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Polarisation and Malus's law – I = I₀cos²θ, transverse waves through slits, reflection and sunglasses
Physics · Optics
A virtual practical on polarisation: light from a lamp passes through a polariser and an analyser; turn the analyser...
Ages 16–17
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Thermal equilibrium – dropping a hot object into water
Physics · Thermal Physics & Gases
Object 1 (metal, water, or ice at 0 °C) with mass m₁ at temperature T₁ is dropped into water of mass m₂ at T₂ inside...
Ages 17–18
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Conduction and convection lab – metal rods, layered walls, convection currents
Physics · Thermal Physics & Gases
Three virtual experiments on heat transfer. A: heat one end of a rod (copper, aluminium, brass, iron, steel or...
Ages 17–18
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Boyle's law – isothermal gas compression
Physics · Thermal Physics & Gases
Pull or push a piston in a sealed cylinder at constant temperature. The measured pressure always satisfies p·V =...
Ages 17–18
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Charles's law – constant-pressure gas experiment
Physics · Thermal Physics & Gases
A column of air is trapped in a narrow glass tube by a mercury pellet, and the tube stands in a beaker of water that...
Ages 17–18
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Heat engines, heat pumps and Carnot efficiency
Physics · Thermal Physics & Gases
An ideal gas runs a Carnot, Otto or Diesel cycle between a hot reservoir at T_h and a cold reservoir at T_c on a p–V...
Ages 17–18
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Cooling curves – thermal insulation, Newton's law of cooling and freezing
Physics · Thermal Physics & Gases
A virtual practical that records temperature against time. A: a beaker of hot water wrapped in cotton wool, bubble...
Ages 17–18
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Entropy and microstates – counting Ω, S = k ln Ω and the direction of change
Physics · Thermal Physics & Gases
Two Einstein solids A and B swap energy quanta at random: the simulation counts the microstates Ω of every...
Ages 17–18
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Ideal gas – pV = nRT in a cylinder
Physics · Thermal Physics & Gases
Gas molecules move randomly inside a cylinder fitted with a piston. Drag the piston to change the volume, slide the...
Ages 17–18
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Specific heat capacity – heating different materials
Physics · Thermal Physics & Gases
The same heat source of power P heats two different materials. Since the heat transferred is Q = m·c·Δt, a material...
Ages 17–18
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Specific latent heat – measuring fusion and vaporization of water
Physics · Thermal Physics & Gases
An electric heater of power P heats m kg of ice from −10 °C until it has all melted, boiled and vaporized. A...
Ages 17–18
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Gas properties – pressure, temperature, volume and diffusion
Physics · Thermal Physics & Gases
Pump light helium or heavy argon particles into a box and watch them collide elastically with each other and with...
Ages 17–18
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States of matter – solids, liquids, gases and phase changes
Physics · Thermal Physics & Gases
Heat, cool, compress and add particles of neon, argon, oxygen or water to watch them rearrange between solid, liquid...
Ages 17–18
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States of matter basics – solids, liquids and gases
Physics · Thermal Physics & Gases
Heat or cool a substance to see its particles rearrange between solid, liquid and gas — every particle really moves...
Ages 13–14
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Semiconductors – energy bands, doping and the p–n junction
Physics · Electricity & Circuits
Compare the energy band diagrams of a conductor (copper), a semiconductor (silicon, band gap 1.12 eV) and an...
Ages 17–18
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AC circuit construction kit – build RLC circuits
Physics · Electricity & Circuits
Build any circuit by drag and drop from an AC source, batteries, wires, resistors, light bulbs, switches,...
Ages 17–18
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Wheatstone bridge and metre bridge – resistance and resistivity
Physics · Electricity & Circuits
A metre bridge: a uniform 100 cm wire, a resistance box R in one gap and the specimen X in the other. Slide the...
Ages 16–17
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Fields and signals – gravitational field, radio waves, electronics
Physics · Electricity & Circuits
Three physics topics in one template, switched with the topic parameter. Gravitational field: drag to change a...
Ages 16–17
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I–V characteristics – resistor, filament lamp, diode and LED
Physics · Electricity & Circuits
A virtual version of the I–V characteristics practical: a variable d.c. supply, an ammeter in series and a voltmeter...
Ages 16–17
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Moving-coil galvanometer – conversion to ammeter, voltmeter and ohmmeter
Physics · Electricity & Circuits
A moving-coil galvanometer in a radial magnetic field: the torque NBIA on the coil is balanced by the spring torque...
Ages 16–17
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Ohm's law for a complete circuit – internal resistance
Physics · Electricity & Circuits
A closed circuit made of a source (EMF E, internal resistance r) and a rheostat R. Drag the slider directly on the...
Ages 16–17
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Using a multimeter – voltage, current, resistance, continuity and diode test
Physics · Electricity & Circuits
A virtual 3½-digit digital multimeter with a range dial and four sockets (10A, mA, COM, VΩ). On five test boards,...
Ages 16–17
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Diode Rectifier Circuit
Physics · Electricity & Circuits
A diode conducts in only one direction, turning an alternating voltage into a bumpy direct voltage. Compare...
Ages 16–17
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Series RLC Circuit and Resonance
Physics · Electricity & Circuits
A series R, L, C circuit driven by an AC voltage: graphs of u and i show their phase difference, alongside a phasor...
Ages 17–18
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Charging and discharging a capacitor – measuring the RC time constant
Physics · Electricity & Circuits
A virtual lab circuit with a source of EMF E, a resistor R, a capacitor C and a two-way switch K: move K to 1 to...
Ages 16–17
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Ohm's Law – Two Resistors in Series
Physics · Electricity & Circuits
A source U with two resistors R1 and R2 connected in series. The ammeter reads I = U/(R1+R2); the electrons move...
Ages 14–15
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Heating effect of current – the H = I²Rt experiment
Physics · Electricity & Circuits
A heater coil in a calorimeter of water: set the current and time, read the thermometer and check H = I²Rt = mcΔT by...
Ages 16–17
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Electron drift in a metal – drift speed, mobility and resistivity
Physics · Electricity & Circuits
Free electrons in a metal wire move randomly at about 10⁵ m/s and collide with the vibrating lattice ions; a current...
Ages 16–17
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Capacitors – capacitance and capacitors in circuits
Physics · Electricity & Circuits
Change the plate area, the plate separation and the battery voltage to see the capacitance C, charge Q and stored...
Ages 16–17
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Electromagnetic Induction – Magnet, Coil and Galvanometer
Physics · Electric & Magnetic Fields
Drag a bar magnet into or out of an N-turn coil connected to a galvanometer, or let the magnet move by itself. The...
Ages 17–18
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Charges and electric fields – field vectors, potential and equipotentials
Physics · Electric & Magnetic Fields
Tap a button to take a +1 nC or −1 nC charge from the supply and drag it anywhere in the play area (up to 20...
Ages 16–17
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Electric field – two point charges
Physics · Electric & Magnetic Fields
Two point charges q₁ and q₂ sit a distance d apart. Watch the electric field lines, the Coulomb force F = k|q₁q₂|/r²...
Ages 16–17
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Coulomb's law – force between two charges
Physics · Electric & Magnetic Fields
Two charges sit on an axis: drag them directly or use the sliders to change the magnitude (including the sign) of q₁...
Ages 16–17
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DC motor – split-ring commutator, F = BIL, torque and back EMF
Physics · Electric & Magnetic Fields
A coil of N turns spins between two magnet poles, fed through a split-ring commutator and brushes. Change the...
Ages 17–18
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Charged particles in a uniform electric field – electron gun and deflection tube
Physics · Electric & Magnetic Fields
An electron gun accelerates electrons, protons or alpha particles through a potential difference Vₐ (|q|Vₐ = ½mv²);...
Ages 16–17
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2D + 3D
Magnetic force on a current and on charged particles
Physics · Electric & Magnetic Fields
Wire mode: a wire segment of length l carrying current I sits in a uniform magnetic field B at angle α; the magnetic...
Ages 17–18
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Electromagnetism lab – induction, transformer, generator
Physics · Electric & Magnetic Fields
Six experiment screens on electromagnetic induction: a bar magnet with a compass and a field meter; moving a magnet...
Ages 17–18
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3D
Electric Flux and Gauss's Law 3D – Sphere, Cylinder and Box
Physics · Electric & Magnetic Fields
A rotatable 3D model: place point charges, a line charge, a charged plane or a charged spherical shell, then choose...
Ages 16–17
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Self-inductance – RL circuit and time constant τ = L/R
Physics · Electric & Magnetic Fields
Build a solenoid (turns, length, radius, iron core) to get L = μ₀μᵣN²A/l, then switch an RL circuit on and off: the...
Ages 17–18
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3D
3D Magnetic Field of a Current – Straight Wire, Circular Loop and Solenoid
Physics · Electric & Magnetic Fields
A rotatable 3D model of the magnetic field lines around a long straight wire (concentric circles, right-hand grip...
Ages 17–18
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Conductors in electrostatic equilibrium – sharp points, Faraday cage, connected spheres and dielectrics
Physics · Electric & Magnetic Fields
Put a conductor (round, pear-shaped with a sharp tip, a bar or a hollow box) in a uniform electric field and let its...
Ages 16–17
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Community DC Electric Motor
Physics · Electric & Magnetic Fields
Interactive model of a direct current electric motor with a split-ring commutator. Observe Fleming's left-hand rule,...
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Community Ohm's Law Circuit and V-I Graph
Physics · Electric & Magnetic Fields
Investigate the relationship between voltage, resistance, and electric current in a simple DC circuit. Plot...
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Blackbody radiation – Planck curve, Wien's law and colour
Physics · Quantum & Nuclear Physics
Drag the temperature slider or pick a preset object (Earth, an oven, an incandescent light bulb, the Sun, Sirius A)...
Ages 17–18
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Advanced physics – AC circuits, medical imaging, quantum physics
Physics · Quantum & Nuclear Physics
Three physics topics in one simulation, chosen with the topic parameter. Alternating current: a series R, L, C...
Ages 17–18
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Geiger counter lab – absorption of α, β and γ radiation and the inverse-square law
Physics · Quantum & Nuclear Physics
A virtual practical with a Geiger–Müller tube: measure and subtract the background count, then count α, β and γ...
Ages 17–18
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Particle physics – quarks, hadrons and conservation laws
Physics · Quantum & Nuclear Physics
Combine quarks and antiquarks into baryons and mesons, read the charge Q, baryon number B and strangeness S, and see...
Ages 17–18
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Photoelectric effect and light quanta
Physics · Quantum & Nuclear Physics
Shine light of adjustable wavelength on different metals. Electrons are ejected only when the photon energy hf...
Ages 17–18
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Lasers – population inversion and stimulated emission
Physics · Quantum & Nuclear Physics
Model a helium–neon laser (four levels, pumped by an electric discharge) and a ruby laser (three levels, pumped by a...
Ages 17–18
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Radiation dose and safety – irradiation, contamination, grays and sieverts
Physics · Quantum & Nuclear Physics
Choose a source (α, β, γ or neutron), its activity, the distance, a shield (paper, aluminium, lead or concrete) and...
Ages 17–18
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Binding energy per nucleon – the curve, fission and fusion
Physics · Quantum & Nuclear Physics
A graph of binding energy per nucleon Eb/A against mass number A, built from real masses of about 30 nuclei from ²H...
Ages 17–18
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Electron diffraction and the de Broglie wavelength – diffraction tube, double slit, electron microscope
Physics · Quantum & Nuclear Physics
An electron diffraction tube with a graphite target: change the accelerating voltage V and watch the rings on the...
Ages 17–18
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Fission chain reaction and nuclear reactors
Physics · Quantum & Nuclear Physics
Slow neutrons split uranium-235 nuclei, and each fission releases 2–3 neutrons. Choose the U-235 enrichment,...
Ages 17–18
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Radioactive decay – decay law and half-life
Physics · Quantum & Nuclear Physics
N₀ parent nuclei (red) decay randomly into daughter nuclei (grey), each with the same decay probability per unit...
Ages 17–18
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Compton scattering – the momentum of a photon
Physics · Quantum & Nuclear Physics
An X-ray photon hits an electron at rest and leaves at angle θ with a longer wavelength: λ′ − λ = (h/mₑc)(1 − cos...
Ages 17–18
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Build a nucleus – protons, neutrons, stability and decay
Physics · Quantum & Nuclear Physics
Add and remove protons and neutrons with buttons to build a nucleus, then read its element symbol, mass number A = Z...
Ages 17–18
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Franck–Hertz experiment – excitation, emission and ionisation
Physics · Quantum & Nuclear Physics
Sweep the voltage across a mercury or neon tube and plot collector current: it falls each time electrons have gained...
Ages 17–18
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X-rays in Medical Diagnosis – Absorption, X-ray Spectrum and CT
Physics · Quantum & Nuclear Physics
An X-ray beam passes through different tissue layers: soft tissue absorbs little, bone absorbs much more, giving the...
Ages 17–18
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Community Nuclear Fission Chain Reaction
Physics · Quantum & Nuclear Physics
Simulate a nuclear chain reaction in a grid of Uranium nuclei. Adjust enrichment, critical mass, control rods, and...
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The greenhouse effect and Earth's energy balance
Physics · Physics & the Environment
Whether Earth warms or cools depends on the balance between the solar energy it absorbs and the infrared radiation...
Ages 15–16
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Applied physics – physics at work, Earth and sky, physics and the environment
Physics · Physics & the Environment
Three applied-physics topics in one simulation, switchable with the topic parameter. Physics at work: a lifting...
Ages 15–16
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Wind Turbine Power – Betz Limit and a Day of Wind
Physics · Physics & the Environment
A wind turbine captures P = ½ρAv³·Cp through its swept area A = πR². Adjust the blade length, the day's mean wind...
Ages 15–16
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3D
3D Solar Panel Tilt – Sun Path and Daily Energy
Physics · Physics & the Environment
A 3D house with a solar panel on the roof: choose the latitude, the date and the time, and the Sun moves along its...
Ages 15–16
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Teaching guides for Physics
All guides- Electron Diffraction Virtual Lab: de Broglie WavelengthAn electron diffraction virtual lab: change the tube voltage, measure the graphite rings, plot D against 1/√V and find the atomic spacing from λ = h/√(2meV).
- Free Fall Virtual Lab: Measuring g with Light GatesA free fall virtual lab: time a steel ball from an electromagnet to a light gate, plot 2h against t², find g from the gradient and judge the errors.
- Impulse Virtual Lab: Force–Time Graphs and Crash SafetyAn impulse virtual lab: crash a cart into a force sensor with four bumpers, read peak force and contact time, and see why crumple zones and airbags work.
- Malus's Law Virtual Lab: Polarization and I = I₀cos²θA Malus's law virtual lab: turn an analyser, read a light meter, plot I against cos²θ to find I₀, and see why a third filter unblocks crossed polarizers.
- Projectile Motion Virtual Lab: Video Tracking to Measure gA projectile motion virtual lab: mark a chronophotograph, find vₓ from x–t and g from y–t and vy–t, test ΣF = ma with Δv, then measure g on a mystery planet.
- Speed of Sound Virtual Lab: Echoes and Two MicrophonesA speed of sound virtual lab: time an echo, then read the delay between two microphones on an oscilloscope and find v from the gradient of Δt against d.