In River , a swimmer crosses a river with a uniform current. This simulation provides an intuitive application of vectors and vector addition and illustrates how quantitative reasoning can be used to make real-life decisions. Circle shows a three-dimensional simulation of the physics of a particle undergoing circular motion. Collider simulates the elastic collision of two disks in two dimensions, and the physics can be visualized in terms of a game of pool. Students are introduced to conservation laws and the concepts of invariance and reference frames.
Planet explores the motion of a single planet around a star.
Because the level of interaction is high, students can vary initial conditions and watch the orbit change. Objects In Motion is intuitive, interactive, and easy to use. All the simulations have the same look and feel, so students can move easily from one to another. Meters and sliders make data input simple. Graphs and displays update themselves automatically.