Teaching Resources

Physics teaching resources

22 September

Geogebra Simulation of a Potentiometer

15 DC Circuits, GeoGebra, Simulations 0 Comments

Some of the more challenging problems in the topic of electricity in the A-level syllabus are those involving a potentiometer. The solution involves the concept of potential divider and the setup can be used to measure emf or potential difference across a variety of circuits components. Basically, students need to understand the rule – that the potential difference across a device is simply a fraction of the circuit’s emf, and that fraction is equal to the resistance of the device over the total resistance of the circuit.

[latex]V_{device}=\frac{R_{device}}{R_{total}}*emf[/latex]

The intention of this Geogebra app is for students to practise working on their calculations, as well as to reinforce their understanding of the principle by which the potentiometer works.

GeoGebra link: https://www.geogebra.org/m/pzy3qua8

18 September

Geogebra Apps for Singapore Physics

GeoGebra, Simulations, Teaching Resources 0 Comments

I’ve curated a series of Geogebra apps that are relevant and useful for the instructional objectives under the Singapore-Cambridge GCE ‘O’ and ‘A’ level syllabi. Some of these apps were created by myself. If you have any ideas for new Geogebra apps, do let me know in the comments section below and I’ll see if it’s possible to create. Alternatively, if you have come across other Geogebra apps that can be relevant to the local physics syllabus, I would gladly include them into my lists!

O level Physics Geogebra Apps
O level Physics Geogebra Apps

Geogebra Apps for A level Physics
A level Physics Geogebra Apps
24 August

Box on a Vertical Oscillating Spring – Geogebra App

10 Oscillations, GeoGebra, Simulations 0 Comments

GeoGebra link: https://www.geogebra.org/m/ev62ku7w

Students can explore how varying frequency and amplitude of the vertical oscillation of a platform could cause an object resting on it to temporarily leave the platform (i.e. when normal contact force is zero).

21 August

Geogebra App for Kinematics

02 Kinematics, GeoGebra, Simulations 0 Comments

As one of the first topics in A-level physics, kinematics introduces JC students to the variation of velocity and displacement with acceleration. Very often, they struggle with the graphical representations of the 3 variables.

This Geogebra app allows students to vary acceleration (keeping it to a linear function for simplicity) while observing changes to velocity and displacement. Students can also change the initial conditions of velocity and displacement.

The default setting shows an object being thrown upwards with downward gravitational acceleration of 10 m s-2.

The movement of the particle with time is shown on the left with a reference line showing the position on the displacement graph.

GeoGebra link: https://www.geogebra.org/m/qpxcs6vb

20 August

Wavefront

11 Wave Motion, GeoGebra, Simulations 0 Comments

In order to help students visualise a wavefront, a 3-D image is usually used to show the imaginary line joining particles in phase. I created the Geogebra apps below to allow students to change the wavefront and observe it move with time at a constant wave speed. There represent simplified versions of waves on a ripple tank with a linear and circular wavefront.

GeoGebra link: https://www.geogebra.org/m/rbjcszuc

Rotating the first waveform, you can get the displacement-distance profile of a wave, which is basically the cross-section of a 3-D wave.

GeoGebra link: https://www.geogebra.org/m/axdhtccg