Physlets: Teaching Physics with Interactive Curricular Material

Physics instructors can use this manual and CD set to build their own interactive teaching materials, whether they are new to web design or already comfortable with Java. Its subject is Physlets, which are Java applets created for physics education. They can be placed inside HTML pages and respond to what the user does.

The book also shows how to combine Physlets with JavaScript to create many kinds of browser-based physics activities. Its examples cover classroom demonstrations, homework for traditional and Just-in-Time Teaching courses, pre-lab and post-lab exercises, and Interactive Engagement tasks. Beyond the technical instructions, it suggests new ways Physlets can be used in teaching, and it aims to make switching to them simple.

The contents begin with pedagogy and technology, including JITT, Physics Education Research, an overview of the tools, and a scripting tutorial. Next come curricular materials: in-class activities and problems in mechanics, waves, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, optics, and modern physics. The final section is a reference covering resources, inherited methods, naming conventions, and the individual Physlet tools such as Animator, EFIELD, DATAGRAPH, DATATABLE, and the Version Four Physlets.