Mechanics | E+M | Life Sciences | Waves | Astro | Optics | Games | Basics

Welcome to the first shocked science lab on the WWW (growing since December 1995). This site will let both students and teachers interact with material on the web, rather than just reading text. In order to use this site you must have the Macromedia Shockwave Plug-in (used with Netscape 2.0+ or greater).

For the full shockwave version, select "Interact" at the left to begin exploring my world of interactive science, or choose any interesting module below.

---

For best viewing of the interactive material, you should have your browser window set so that you see the yellow bar at the right, but not the grey bar beyond that (of course - feel free to look at the grey :-). The logo at the top of the page will always bring you back to this page.

---

Inclined Plane
This lets you alter the initial velocity, mass, and angle of a frictionless inclined plane.

golf RANGE!
Lets you study the range equation in a "golf" like setting. A bit more of a challenge when you use the "air" option.

Air Track
The basic air track with two blocks. You can change the coefficient of restitution, initial masses, and velocities.

See-Saw Torque
Put several masses on a see-saw in an effort to balance the system.

Simple Harmonic Motion
Have you ever wanted a pendulum and a mass on a spring next to each other on planets with a g different than Earth's?

2D Collisions
This one is not quite finished yet, but this "sneak preview" is quite functional. Lets you deal with 2D elastic/inelastic collisions on a flat (or tilted) table, and even use magnetic pucks!

Driven Harmonic Motion (1 mass)
Apply a small driving force to a mass between two spring. Helps you understand natural and resonant frequencies.

Driven Harmonic Motion (2 masses)
Similar to above, but with an additional mass and spring. You can observe different modes of resonance.

Harmonic Motion (2-D)
Another module with a vibrating mass.

Freefall Lab - Terminal Velocity
Did you ever think of all the physics involved when you drop a ball (or an expensive plate)?

Moment of Inertia
A lab where you can learn about rotational inertia.

Density Lab
Why do some things float and others don't? Learn about mass, volume, and density.

A Floating Log
If a log is 2 m in radius and 10 m long, how much weight can I put on it? Find out here.

Force on A Wing
A very simple illustration of the force on an airplane wing. Created for COSI Toledo (they have a nice wind tunnel!).

Shoot the Monkey
The classic example firing directly towards a falling target. Due to the laws of physics it is rather hard to miss. Fling a few balloons at a strange looking monkey.

Center of Mass
"Build it and they will come," or at least "they" will show you where the center of mass is located as you add small blocks of mass to a large field.

---

Intro to Plasma (Some updated material - HERE.)
Learn a bit about plasma physics.

Coulomb Forces
Like charges repel. See it for yourself with this simulation.

RGB Additive Colors
As you look at this monitor all the colors you see are produced with just red, green, and blue light!

Subtractive Colors
The colors you see around you on cars, plants, etc., are due to color subtraction.

Sight vs. Sound Reflex
Test your response time to different inputs.

Mouse Genetics
Learn a bit about the genetics of a mouse, and some of the statistics behind the red eyes and black fur.

"Reverse The Field"
Can you deal with point and click when the mouse does not behave in typical fashion? I did this one for COSI and it is on their web site.

Time Estimation
A watched pot never boils! Is this true, or does it just involve making accurate time estimates. Try to estimate when 1 minute has passed.

X-ray Imaging
This simulation (very basic!) lets you see how imaging techniques can let you see inside an object (such as the human body). Move several foreign objects around inside a "body," cover things with "skin," and look at the images to determine the arrangement of the foreign objects. This is one sample of many web-based simulations that may get developed for an introductory medical physics course in the future.

Ultrasound: How does it work?
This simulation explores ultrasound imaging as a technique used to see inside an object (such as the human body). This is a sample of a web-based simulation designed for an introductory medical physics course.

Sound 'Pulses'
When two sounds are very similar in frequency, you'll hear pulses due to the nature of waves. Try to determine several mystery frequencies.

Sonic Doppler Effect
Watch sound waves from a moving source. Learn why a train whistle sounds differently as it passes by you.

Doppler Effect, 2 Sources
Similar to above, but with two sources so you can see interference patterns.

Interference Patterns
Another view of interference patterns from a "standing" wave.

Lissajous Figures
Can you really make a figure 8 with electrical signals? Find out here.

Phased Array
This simulates a phased array, where you can change the frequency between the four wave sources. Ultrasound and radar are two real world applications of this technique. For this module, the faster your computer, the better - I haven't yet looked at it on multiple platforms.

Longitudinal Wave (New)
Why do we hear echos? How does a sound wave travel through the atmosphere? "Scream" in this simulation and see what happens.

Simple Prism
The prism can be used to make miniature rainbows in the classroom. This virtual prism lets you see why Snell's Law can make that pretty spectrum of colors we see in the sky.

Ray Tracing
Explore simple ray tracing with a thin converging lens.

Fermat's Principle
Is the shortest path from one point to another always the quickest? Find out for yourself with this "fun" experiment.

Black Hole
Try getting ore buckets from your ore cannon to the stations that have black holes all around.

Snow Flake Designer
Folding a piece of paper and pulling out the scissors is always fun near the holidays. If you want to 'design' your snowflake before slicing the paper, start here!

Snow Flake '6-Sides' Designer
Folding a piece of paper and pulling out the scissors is always fun near the holidays. If you want to 'design' your snowflake before slicing the paper, start here! This version lets you make a six sided flake which is how snow flakes form in the actual world.

Snow Flake '6-Sides' Designer - w/ Copy Feature!
A new and improved version of the previous 6-Sided Snowflake. Has square scissors and a copy feature. Requires Shockwave Plug-in 7 or greater (rest of the site only requires version 6).

Vector Addition
Basic graphical look at vector addition. Lets you see the "head" to "tail" addition.

Min/Max Thermometer
In an effort to record daily temperatures, a min/max thermometer is commonly used. This module will let you see if you can determine the current, minimum, and maximum daily temperature.

Real-time Histogram
This module lets you gather data while clicking your mouse, and creates a histogram while you are clicking. You can then change the bin size, maximum y-value, and you can even edit the data.

Orbit Simulator
Is it really that difficult to get planets orbiting around a sun?