University of Texas at Brownsville

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Java Applets for Physics Education
Awards and Citations.

Animations

Velocity and Acceleration: Animation comparing the motion of 3 toy cars, one each with constant v, +a, and -a. Now includes a "scriptable" quiz.
Circular Motion: Animation showing the Moon in orbit around the Earth.
AstroPitch - Newton's 3rd Law: Animation illustrating Newton's 3rd Law, now includes a "scriptable" quiz that the instructor can easily change.
AstroPitch - Conservation of Momentum: Same applet as above with a different quiz for conservation of momentum.
Transverse and Longitudinal Waves: Animation of transverse and longitudinal wave motion.
Molecular Model of a Gas: Animation of molecular model of a mixed gas.
Brownian Motion: Animation depicting Brownian motion of a large particle in a sea of smaller particles.
Convection currents and the Oceanic Ridge: An animation for physical science/geology depicting convection currents and the oceanic ridge.
Radioactivity and Half-Life: A demonstration of radioactive decay and half-life. With sound effects. Includes scriptable quiz.

Presentations

Unit Conversion: Computes the conversion of units the user selects from a vast menu.
Dispersion and Prisms: Demonstrates the continuous spectrum produced by a prism, includes a "scriptable" quiz on light and color.
Atomic Spectra: Demonstrates the discreet spectra of atoms, includes a "scriptable" quiz.
Colors and Light: Color addition and subtraction.
Distance vs. Displacement: Demonstrates the difference between distance and displacement.
Vector Addition: Vector addition and vector components.
Projectile Motion: Depicts V, V_x, V_y, and A for an object in projectile motion.
Force Diagrams and Newton's 2^nd Law: Exercise in constructing a force diagram.
Newton's 3^rd Law: An interactive quiz on Newton's 3^rd Law.
Newton's Laws of Motion: An interactive quiz on Newton's Laws of Motion.
A Simple Pendulum: A simple model of a simple pendulum, illustrates period vs. length.
A Mass on a Spring: A simple model of a mass on a spring, illustrates displacement vs. velocity vs. acceleration.
Damped Oscillator: A mass on a spring with damping.
The Continuity Equation: An animated presentation illustrating the continuity equation.
Ideal Gas Law, Pressure vs. Volume: Model of an ideal gas with constant temperature.
Ideal Gas Law, Pressure vs. Temperature: Model of an ideal gas with constant volume.
Electric Field between 2 Charges: Models the Electric Field between two charges, one charge is variable.
Series Approximation: Series approximations using Fourier and Lengendre series.
Series Approximation: Series approximations using Fourier and Lengendre series.
Series Approximation: Series approximations using Fourier and Lengendre series.
Length and Scale: Define the length scale on a graphic.

Simulations

Elastic and Inelastic Collisions: Simulation of elastic and inelastic collisions between two masses.
Refraction of Light: Simulation of refraction and change of wavelength and wavespeed.
Thin Lens: Simulation of convergent and divergent lens.
Thin Lens and Mirrors: Simulation of convergent and divergent lens and mirror.
Buoyancy Forces: Demonstrates buoyant forces for two user selected masses in a user selected fluid.
The Photoelectric Effect: Illustrates how photoelectrons are emitted from user selected metals.