Molecular Dynamics Demonstration Model Documents

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Main Document

Molecular Dynamics Demonstration Model 

written by Wolfgang Christian

The EJS Molecular Dynamics Demonstration model is constructed using the Lennard-Jones potential truncated at a distance of 3 molecular diameters. The motion of the molecules is governed by Newton's laws, approximated using the Verlet algorithm with the indicated Time step. For sufficiently small time steps dt, the system's total energy should be approximately conserved. Users can select various initial configurations using the drop down menu.

Ejs Molecular Dynamics Demonstration model was developed using the Easy Java Simulations (Ejs) modeling tool based on a Java applet written by Dan Schroeder, Physics Department, Weber State University.  It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive.  Double clicking the  js_stp_md_MolecularDynamicsDemo.jar file will run the program if Java is installed.  Ejs is a part of the Open Source Physics Project and is designed to make it easier to access, modify, and generate computer models.  Additional Ejs models for statistical mechanics are available.  They can be found by searching ComPADRE for Open Source Physics, OSP, or Ejs.

Last Modified June 10, 2014

This file has previous versions.

Supplemental Documents (4)

What is Temperature Model 

A customized Molecular Dynamics Demo model designed to teach simple molecular dynamics concepts using a realistic simulation.  The middle school lesson packaged within this model was written by Barbara Christian for her science class.

Published October 10, 2010
Last Modified August 25, 2012

This file has previous versions.

Molecular Dynamics Demo Model: Additional Documentation Regarding Customization 

A pdf file that provides additional documentation regarding customization of this simulation.

Published July 12, 2012
Last Modified August 9, 2012

This file is included in the full-text index.
This file has previous versions.

What is Temperature Lesson Plan 

A middle school science lesson plan designed to teach temperature concepts using a realistic simulation.

Released under a Copyright by Barbara Christian.  Free for non-commercial use with attribution.

Published October 10, 2010
Last Modified October 12, 2010

This file is included in the full-text index.

What is Temperature Lesson Plan Key 

Answer key with screen shots for the middle school science lesson plan.

Released under a Copyright by Barbara Christian.  Free for non-commercial use with attribution.

Last Modified October 12, 2010

This file is included in the full-text index.

Source Code Documents

Molecular Dynamics Demonstration for Teachers Source Code 

The source code zip archive contains an XML representation of the Molecular Dynamics Demo Model.  Unzip this archive in your Ejs workspace to compile and run this model using Ejs.

Last Modified June 10, 2014

This file has previous versions.