Simulations

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

12 August

Graphs of a Progressive Wave – Geogebra App

11 Wave Motion, GeoGebra, Simulations 0 Comments

GeoGebra link: https://www.geogebra.org/m/f7faw3r6

This simple Geogebra app allows students to observe the oscillation of a particle perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer.

07 August

Velocity-Displacement Graph of a Simple Harmonic Oscillator – Animation

Seng Kwang Tan 10 Oscillations, GeoGebra, Simulations 0 Comments

This animation is made using Geogebra. It shows the instantaneous velocity and displacement vectors of a particle undergoing simple harmonic motion while tracing its position on the velocity-displacement graph. It is meant to help student understand why the graph is an ellipse.