Applets


Physicsh (the language of Physics) is still present in computer animations and animations, students use to like them very much. What about the teachers? Visit some of the links below:
You may also find many other Physics applets at Internet. Go ahead!

Try this (too big!) applet on projectile motion!


Learn also  Physics with Flash animations

There are ver 100 animations listed below. Some are simple; others are more complex. The most recent animations added to the list are identified. Source: Flash Animations for Physics.
Category
Title
Description/Comment

Chaos
Bunimovich Stadium
Illustrating the chaotic Bunimovich Stadium. Requires Flash 6; file size is 17k.
Chaos
Logistic Map
The logistic map, which demonstrates the bifurcations of the population levels preceding the transition to chaos. Requires Flash 6; file size is 15k.
Chaos
Lorenz Attractor
Looking at the Lorenz Attractor in a chaotic regime, allowing the attractor to be rotated. Requires Flash 6; file size is 550k.
Chaos
Three-body Gravitational Interaction
2 fixed suns and 1 planet. Initial conditions are controllable, and up to 4 different independent planets may be displayed. Requires Flash 6 and a computer with reasonable power; file size is 50k.
Classical Mechanics
Displacement and Distance
A simple animation showing the difference between the distance and the displacement. Requires Flash 5; file size is 5k.
Classical Mechanics
Constant Acceleration
1-dimensional kinematics of a body undergoing constant acceleration. Includes visually integrating the acceleration and velocity graphs, and visually differentiating the position and velocity graphs. Requires Flash 6; file size is 30k.
Classical Mechanics
Motion Animation
A car with a non-zero initial speed has a constant acceleration whose value can be controlled by the user. Requires Flash 6; file size is 27k.
Classical Mechanics
Dropping Two Balls Near the Earth's Surface
Two balls falling near the Earth's surface under the influence of gravity. The initial horizontal speed of one of the balls may be varied. Requires Flash 6; file size is 11k.
Classical Mechanics
Galilean Relativity
Illustrating Galilean relativity using his example of dropping a ball from the top of the mast of a sailboat. Requires Flash 6; file size is 22k.
Classical Mechanics
Foucault Pendulum
A simple snimation viewing a Foulcault Pendulum at the North Pole from an inertial frame above the Earth. See also the Foucault Pendulum animation in the Relativity section. Requires Flash 7 and ActionScript 2; file size is 1.3 M .
Classical Mechanics
Projectile Motion
Firing a projectile when air resistance is negligible. The initial height and angle may be adjusted. Requires Flash 6; file size is 36k.
Classical Mechanics
Kinematics of Projectile Motion
A visualisation exploration of the kinematics of projectile motion. Requires Flash 6; file size is 9k.
Classical Mechanics
The Monkey and the Hunter
An animation of the classic lecture demonstration. The actual demonstration is preferable if possible; then this animation can be given to the students for later review. Requires Flash 6; file size is 21k.
Classical Mechanics
Racing Balls
Two balls roll down two different low-friction tracks near the Earth's surface. The user is invited to predict which ball will reach the end of the track first. This problem is difficult for many beginning Physics students. Requires Flash 6 Release 79; file size is 140k.
Classical Mechanics
Racing Skiers
The "Racing Balls" animation which is accessed via the above line sometimes triggers cognitive dissonance and rejection in beginning students. For some of these, changing the balls to skiers helps to clarify the situation, and that is what this animation does. The "Racing Balls" one should be used with students first. Requires Flash 6 Release 79; file size is 145k.
Classical Mechanics
Air Track Collisions
Elastic and inelastic collisions on an air track, with different masses for the target cart. Requires Flash 6; file size is 70k.
Classical Mechanics
Newton's Cradle
A small animation of Newton's Cradle, sometimes known as Newton's Balls. Requires Flash 6; file size is 1k.
Classical Mechanics
Hooke's Law
A simple animation illustrating Hooke's Law. Requires Flash 6; file size is 13k.
Classical Mechanics
Coordinate System for Circular Motion
An unusual coordinate system for describing circular motion. Requires Flash 6; file size is 94k.
Classical Mechanics
Vertical Circular Motion
A mass is in circular motion in the vertical plane. We show the weight and force exerted by the tension in the string. Requires Flash 6; file size is 7k.
Classical Mechanics
Forces on a Pendulum
The weight, force due to tension, and total force exerted on the bob of a pendulum are shown. Requires Flash 6; file size is 8k.
Classical Mechanics
Description: NewMotion in a Noninertial Frame
The motion of a ball in uniform circular motion is viewed by an observer in a rotating reference frame. Requires Flash 6; file size is 12j,
Classical Mechanics
Rolling Disc
A simple animation that traces the motion of a point on a rolling disc. Requires Flash 6; file size is 31k.
Classical Mechanics
Right-Hand Screw Rule
The direction of the angular velocity vector given by a right-hand screw rule. Requires Flash 6; file size is 196k. Also linked to from theVectors section.
Classical Mechanics
Direction of the Angular Velocity Vector
A simple animation of the direction of the angular velocity vector. Requires Flash 6; file size is 125k.
Classical Mechanics
Curling
Curling rocks and tori sliding across surfaces. Requires Flash 6; file size is 601k.
Classical Mechanics
How Does a Cat Land on its Feet?
The saying is that cats always land on their feet. This animation explains how they do this. Requires Flash 6; file size is 81k.
Classical Mechanics
Precession of a Spinning Top
A simple animaiton of a spinning top which precesses. Requires Flash 5; file size is 739k.
Classical Mechanics
Simple Harmonic Motion I
Demonstrating that one component of uniform circular motion is simple harmonic motion. Requires Flash 6; file size is 10k.
Classical Mechanics
Simple Harmonic Motion II
Illustrating and comparing Simple Harmonic Motion for a spring-mass system and for a oscillating hollow cylinder. Requires Flash 5; file size is 20k.
Classical Mechanics
Damped Simple Harmonic Motion
The damping factor may be controlled with a slider. The maximum available damping factor of 100 corresponds to critical damping. Requires Flash 6; file size is 12k.
Classical Mechanics
Driven Simple Harmonic Motion
A harmonic oscillator driven by a harmonic force. The frequency and damping factor of the oscillator may be varied. Requires Flash 6; file size is 199k.
Classical Mechanics
Coupled Harmonic Oscillators
Two simple pendulums connected by a spring. The mass of one of the pendulums may be varied. Within mathematical rounding errors, the resolution on the screen of one pixel, and a frame rate of 12 frames per second the animation is correct, not an approximation. Requires Flash 6; file size is 47k.
Electricity and Magnetism
Coulomb's Law
A simulation of an experiment to determine the dependence of the electrostatic force on distance. Requires Flash 6; file size is 15k.
Electricity and Magnetism
Comparing a DC circuit to the flow of water.
A simple DC circuit has a DC voltage source lighting a light bulb.Also shown is a hydraulic system in which water drives a turbine. The two systems are shown to be similar. Requires Flash 6; file size is 51k.
Electricity and Magnetism
A Light Switch
A simple animation of how a common light Switch works. Requires Flash 6; file size is 4kb.
Electricity and Magnetism
Field Lines
Illustrating representing an electric field with field lines. Requires Flash 5; file size is 22k.
Electricity and Magnetism
A Simple Buzzer
A simple buzzer consisting of a battery, a flexibile metal strip, a piece of iron, and some wire. Requires Flash 6; file size is 20k.
Electricity and Magnetism
Electric Field of an Oscillating Charge
An electric charge is executing simple harmonic motion, and the animation shows the electric field lines around it. Requires Flash 6 and a computer with reasonable power; file size is 40k.
Electricity and Magnetism
Electric and Magnetic Fields of an Oscillating Charge
A 3 dimensional animation of the "far" fields of an oscillating charge. Requires Flash 6; file size is 120k.
Electricity and Magnetism
Circular Polarisation
Circular polarisation generated from a linearly polarised electromagnetic wave by a quarter-wave plate. Requires Flash 6; file size is785k.
Electricity and Magnetism
Spinning Charges and an Inhomogeneous Magnetic Field 1
A spinning charged object passes through an inhomogeneous magnetic field. This animation is also used in a discussion of the Stern-Gerlach experiment. Requires Flash 6; file size is 74k.
Electricity and Magnetism
Spinning Charges and an Inhomogeneous Magnetic Field 2
A spinning charged object passes through an array of 3 magnets each producing an inhomogeneous magnetic field. This animation is also used in a discussion of the Stern-Gerlach experiment. Requires Flash 6; file size is 79k.
Fluid Mechanics
Viscous Motion
Dropping a ball in a viscous liquid. The densities, liquid viscosity, and size of the ball are controllable. Requies Flash 6; file size is 55k.
Fluid Mechanics
Dropping a Ball From the CN Tower
A ball is dropped through the air from 350 m above the ground. The ball may be a billiard ball, a 5-pin bowling ball or a 10-pin bowling ball. The 5-pin bowling ball clearly shows the drag crisis. Requires Flash 7; file size is 133k.
Micrometer Caliper
Measuring with a Micrometer
A simple animation of using a micrometer to measure the width of a pencil. Requires Flash 5; file size is 13k.
Micrometer Caliper
An Exercise in Reading a Micrometer
Provides controls to position the micrometer, and when a button is clicked displays the reading. Requires Flash 5; file size is 30k
Miscellaneous
A Simple Piston and Boyle's Law
A small animation showing a piston compressing a sample of gas. As the volume of the gas goes down, the density and therefore the pressure goes up. Requires Flash 5; file size is 3.9k.
Miscellaneous
Derivative of the Sine Function
An animation illustrating that the derivative of a sine function is a cosine. Requires Flash 6, file size is 20k.
Miscellaneous
Area of a Circle As a Limit
Illustrating that the area of a circle is a limit of the sum of the areas of interior triangles as the number of triangles goes to infinity. Requires Flash 5; file size is 12k.
Miscellaneous
Integration
Illustrating the meaning of the integral sign, including an example. Requires Flash 5; file size is 124k.
Nuclear
Scattering
Simulating nuclear scattering experiments by scattering ball bearings off targets. This is based on an experiment in the First Year Physics Laboratory at the University of Toronto. Requires Flash 6 Release 79; file size is 182k.
Nuclear
Nuclear Decays
The decay of 500 atoms of the fictional element Balonium. Uses a proper Monte Carlo engine to simulate real decays. Requires Flash 6, file size is 27k.
Nuclear
Pair Production
A simple illustration of electron-positron production and annihilation. Requires Flash 5, file size is 21k.
Nuclear
The Interaction of X-rays With Matter
Illustrating the 3 principle modes by which X-rays interact with matter. Requires Flash 6; file size is 47k.
Optics
Rotating a Mirror and the Reflected Ray
Illustrating that when a mirror is rotated by an angle, the reflected ray is rotated by twice that angle. Requires Flash 6; file size is 20k.
Optics
Reflection and Refraction
Illustrating reflection and refraction, including total internal reflection. Requires Flash 6; file size is 33k.
Optics
Object-Image Relationships
Ray tracing for a thin lens showing the formation of a real image of an object. Requires Flash 5; file size is 17k.
Optics
Using an Optical Bench
A simulation of an optical bench with a light source, object, thin lens and an image. The screen that displays the image is moved. Requires Flash 5, file size is 14k.
Oscilloscope
The Time Base Control 1
Shows the effect of changing the time base control on the display of an oscilloscope. There is no input voltage. Requires Flash 5; file size is 10k.
Oscilloscope
The Time Base Control 2
Shows the effect of changing the time base control on the display when there is an input voltage varying in time. Requires Flash 5; file size is 12k.
Oscilloscope
The Time Base Control 3
Shows the effect of changing the time base control on the display when there is an input voltage varying in time when the frequency of the voltage is high. Requires Flash 5; file size is 17k.
Oscilloscope
The Voltage Control
Shows the effect of changing the voltage control on the display. Requires Flash 5; file size is 10k.
Oscilloscope
The Trigger
Shows the effect of changing the trigger level on the display. Requires Flash 5; file size is 5.9k
Quantum Mechanics
The Bohr Model
The photon excitation and photon emission of the electron in a Hydrogen atom as described by the Bohr model. Requires Flash 6: file size is 77k.
Quantum Mechanics
Description: NewCircular Standing Waves
Illustrating how thinking about the electron as a de Broglie wave "explains" the Bohr model.
Quantum Mechanics
Complementarity
Here we visualise a hydrogen atom, which consists of an electron in orbit around a proton. In one view the electron is a particle and in the other view it is a probability distribution. The reality is neither view by itself, but a composite of the two. Requires Flash 5; file size is 15k.
Quantum Mechanics
The Double Slit Experiment 1
The famous "Feynman Double Slit Experiment" for electrons. Here we fire one electron at a time from the electron gun, and observe the build-up of electron positions on the screen. Requires Flash 5; file size is 15k.
Quantum Mechanics
The Double Slit Experiment 2
Here we illustrate Complementarity using the double slit experiment. We view the path of the electron from the gun to the observing screen as a particle and as a wave. Requires Flash 5; file size is 33k.
Quantum Mechanics
Stern-Gelach Filters
Up to three Stern-Gerlach filters with user-controlled orientations are placed in an electron beam. Requires Flash 7; file size is 130k.
Quantum Mechanics
Bell's Theorem
Based on an analysis by Mermin, this animation explores correlation measurements of entangled pairs. Requires Flash 6; file size is 38k.
Relativity
Michelson-Morley Experiment
A simple analogy involving two swimmers that sets up the Michelson-Morley Experiment. Requires Flash 6; file size is 15k.
Relativity
Time Dilation
A demonstration that the phenomenon of time dilation from the special theory of relativity necessarily follows from the idea that the speed of light is the same value for all observers. Requires Flash 6; file size is 55k.
Relativity
Deriving Length Contraction
A tutorial that shows how relativistic length contraction must follow from the existence of time dilation. Requires Flash 5; file size is 37k.
Relativity
Length Contraction is Invisible
This series of animations demonstrates that the relativistic length contraction is invisible. Requires Flash 5; file size is 90k.
Relativity
Deriving the Relativity of Simultaneity
A tutorial that shows how the relative nature of the simultaneity of two events must follow from the existence of length contraction. Requires Flash 5; file size is 39k.
Relativity
Twin Paradox
There are many ways of approaching this classic "paradox". Here we discuss it as an example of the relativistic Doppler effect. Requires Flash 6; file size is 116k.
Relativity
Foucault Pendulum and Mach's Principle
This began as an animation of the Foucault Pendulum, but then I generalised it to illustrate Mach's Principle. See also the simple Foucault Pendulum in the Classical Mechanics section. Requires Flash 6, file size is 1.5M.
Relativity
Advance of the Perihelion
A simple animation showing Newton's and Einstein's predictions for the orbit of Mercury. Requires Flash 6; file size is 7.0k.
Sound Waves
Beats
Illustrating beats between 2 oscillators of nearly identical frequencies. Requires Flash 6; file size is 215k.
Sound Waves
Doppler Effect: Wave Fronts
Illustrating the wave fronts of a wave for a moving source. There are a few similar animations on the web: this is my re-invention of that wheel. Requires Flash 6; file size is 11k
Sound Waves
Doppler Effect
Illustrating the classical Doppler Effect for sound waves. Requires Flash 6; file size is 43k.
Sound Waves
Tuning Fork
A small animation of a vibrating tuning fork producing a sound wave. Requires Flash 5; file size is 2.7k.
Sound Waves
Pressure and Displacement Waves
This animation shows air molecules vibrating, with each molecule "driving" its neighbour to the right. It is used to illustrate that when the displacement wave is at a maximum then the density of the molecules, and thus the pressure wave, is at a minimum and vice versa. Requires Flash 5; file size is 30k
Sound Waves
Temperament
A very brief introduction to the physics and psychophysics of music, with an emphasis on temperament, the relationship between notes. Requires Flash 6 and sound; file size is 151k.
Vectors
Adding 2 Vectors
A simple demonstration of adding 2 vectors graphically. Also demonstrates that vector addition is commutative. Requires Flash 5; file size is 7k.
Vectors
Adding 3 Vectors
A simple demonstration of adding 3 vectors graphically. Also demonstrates that vector addition is associative. Requires Flash 5; file size is 10k.
Vectors
Subtracting 2 Vectors
A simple demonstration that subtracting 2 vectors graphically is the same as adding the first one to the negative of the second one. Requires Flash 5; file size is 4.5k.
Vectors
Component Addition
A simple demonstration that to add 2 vectors numerically, just add the cartesian components. Requires Flash 5; file size is 16k.
Vectors
Unit Vectors
A simple animation of unit vectors and vector addition. Requires Flash 6; file size is 12k.
Vectors
Dot Product
A simple demonstration of the relation between the dot product of 2 vectors and the angle between them. Requires Flash 6; file size is 8k.
Vectors
Right-Hand Screw Rule
The direction of the angular velocity vector given by a right-hand screw rule. Requires Flash 6; file size is 196k. Also linked to from theClassical Mechanics section.
Vectors
Cross Product
The direction of the cross product of 2 vectors is demonstrated. The magnitude shown is correct but not discused. Requires Flash 6; file size is 44k.
Waves
Traveling Waves
Illustrating the sign of the time term for traveling waves moving from left to right or right to left. Requires Flash 6; file size is 42k.
Waves
A Plane Wave Travelling Through Two Mediums
Illustrating the relation between wavelengths and frequencies of a wave when it travels from one medium to another. Requires Flash 6; file size is 5.4k.
Waves
Refraction
The previous animation shows wave fronts entering the mediums with a zero angle of inciddence. Here the angle of incidence is not zero. Requires Flash 6; file size is 11kb
Waves
Reflections From a Barrier
A wave is reflected from a barrier with a phase reversal. This is the behaviour for transverse waves and the displacement aspect of a longitudinal wave. Requires Flash 5; file size is 42k.
Waves
Reflections From Two Barriers
A wave is reflected back and forth between two barriers, setting up a standing wave. Requires Flash 5; file size is 41k.
Waves
Standing Waves With a Node on Both Ends
The first three standing waves for nodes at both ends. The frequencies of the waves are proportional to one over the wavelength. Requires Flash 5; file size is 11k.
Waves
Standing Waves With a Node on One End
The first three standing waves for a node at one end and an antinode at the other. The frequencies are proportional to one over the wavelength. Requires Flash 5; file size is 18k.