Interactive Physics Labs
Online, Computer-based Labs
Concepts of Physics

Devry University in Pomona, CA
offers Concepts of Physics course
 One-semester

General survey course for all
students
 Aimed

course
at non-scientists
Breadth of course poses unique
challenges
Lecture and Lab



Labs are the best way to see
“physics in action”
Some courses have
“demonstrations”
No chance for interactive, handson experience
Group Lab Section

Some courses offer group labs
 Divide
the class into multiple, large
groups

Equipment constraints:
 Variety
and quantity of equipment
 Equipment budget, maint., etc.
 Experimental errors and
FRUSTRATION

Alternative pedagogical
methodologies need to be explored
Blended/Hybrid
Learning to the rescue!





Create applet-based “virtual” labs
Instead of large groups watching a demo, each
student can have a personalized learning
experience
Students work at their own pace
Eliminate equipment issues that usually sidetrack
students and take away from the physical
concepts you're trying to explore
 Might be a disadvantage for science majors
Minimize experimental errors that can stump and,
even worse, frustrate non-science majors
 Makes learning difficult concepts FUN!
What is an applet?


An application that runs in the
browser's window
What's Shockwave?
 Interactive
multimedia authoring
app

What's Java?
 Industrial
strength programming
language (compile once, run
everywhere)
Sample Lab #1

Measurement and use of the Vernier Caliper

http://www.sethi.org/classes/elabs/lab_01.html

The idea of this lab is to use simple measuring tools (a ruler and a
Vernier caliper) to measure dimensions of objects in both the English
and the Metric units and show that they are equivalent. This exercise
requires some unit conversion.
Sample Lab #2

Fluid Behaviour & Density

http://www.sethi.org/classes/elabs/lab_02.html

These experiments are aimed at: a) the determination of the density of
an irregularly shaped object from the volume of fluid displaced when it
is immersed in a fluid and it's mass when measured on a balance and
b) the demonstration of the principles governing fluid behaviour.
Sample Lab #3

Temperature and Heat

http://www.sethi.org/classes/elabs/lab_03.html

To determine the temperature of a liquid in degrees Fahrenheit and Centigrade
and to use the data to confirm the general relationship between the two scales.
Also, to determine the specific heat of a metal object by measuring the amount
of heat transferred from that metal object to another, cooler body (of water).
But the main purpose of this lab is to elucidate the scientific method at work.
Sample Lab #4

Centripetal Force & Motio

http://www.sethi.org/classes/elabs/lab_04.html

If an object moves in a circular path there must be a Centripetal Force
acting on it. This experiment determines this Centripetal Force and
compares it with the balancing force of gravity on a hanging object.
Sample Lab #5

Buoyancy

http://www.sethi.org/classes/elabs/lab_05.html

These experiments are aimed at: a) the determination of the density of
an irregularly shaped object from the volume of fluid displaced when it
is immersed in a fluid and it's mass when measured on a balance and
b) the demonstration of the principles governing fluid behaviour.
Drawbacks to the online
approach



Some students lament the lack of an actual
hands-on experience, where they can feel the
equipment and really see the physics in action
Sometimes, the most learning occurs when
things go wrong!
 Fixing equipment, figuring out where an error
happened, or improving the experiment can
all lead to great insight
Science majors might need more specialized
labs (perhaps designing the lab themselves)
 The variety of online labs and applets,
although great, is still limited in comparison to
the plethora of physical experiments possible
in a real lab
Flexible Online Options



Totally online or partial-online
supplement
Extend to other subjects, like
Astronomy, Engineering,
Chemistry, Calculus, etc.
Completely interactive, stand-alone
labs instead of Instructor-Led labs
Requirements

Server: any web server should
suffice
 Recommendation:
RedHat Linux
9.0 or another free Linux distro

Client: any Java- and Shockwaveenabled browser
 Recommendation:
IE, Mozilla, or
Firebird

Additional requirements for nonInstructor-Led labs
Editing and customizing
Java Applets

Find Java applets online
 http://www.google.com
or
http://www.yahoo.com or
http://www.sethi.org/colloquiums/int
eractive_physics.html

Copyright and Licensing Issues
obtain author’s permission
to use applets!
 MUST

Write or Hack!
 Hacking
the Java source using
javad or writing your own applets
Outcome, Assessment,
& Impact



Learner-based concept of
education
Tried by both Principal
Investigators in Phys 214 in
multiple terms
VERY positive feedback by
students
ToDo



Create uniform interface for all the
labs
Create a new LabView/game-like
environment where students create
their own labs subject to laws of
physics
Extend to DHTML based, standalone labs
Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr.
A. Cherif, Dr. C. Koop, Dr. D.
Overbye, Dr. B. Aron, and Dr. N.
LaChance for their support in the
Faculty Technology Grant program
at Devry University.