PHET INTERACTIVESIMULATIONS • Circuit Construction Kit

• Projectile Motion Simulator

Problem Statements: Our school does not have a circuit board kit

to assist in teaching the Basic Electricity Curriculum offered by the STEM Academy website we use for our STEM courses

Students working in our advanced STEM Class to design a basketball catapult need help in visualizing the effect of changing the initial velocity and the effect of changing the release angle of a catapult.

Solution: Use PhET Circuit Construction Kit Simulation

• We do not have a circuit board for students to use with the STEM Academy Curriculum

• Last year, the Stem Academy sold circuit boards for

over $500. This year, the curriculum uses PhET Interactive Simulations.

• The use of a virtual circuit board allows students to experiment with circuit construction safely, without any cost.

Virtual Circuit BoardSTEM Academy

Basic Electricity: Series CircuitPhET Circuit Construction Kit

Solution: Construction of a Catapult

• Our advanced STEM class is working on a project to construct a Basketball Catapult. They needed a way to visualize the effect of changing velocity and the angle of release of the basketball as they plan the construction of their catapult.

• The PhET Projectile Motion Simulation allows students to experiment by changing values of angle and initial velocity.

Projectile Motion Simulator

Advanced STEM ClassUsing PhET Projectile Simulation as they plan construction of their basketball catapult.

Suggestions

PhET Interactive Simulations offer excellent tools to be used by teachers or students

The simulations offer a cost free method of assisting students in visualization of math and science concepts

The simulations can be used by students with access to the internet or by teachers as a visual aid

State Standards

Foundations of Technology Standard 5 - Apply the Engineering

Design Process.5.2 - Understand and apply the engineering

design process by transforming an idea into a final product or system.

5.5 - Analyze how electrical systems in terms of common components, basic system design, safety considerations and simple controls.