PhET Pendulum LabHere's a newer PhET HTML5 simulation for analyzing energy transformation and conservation of mechanical energy. You can watch the pendulum swing as an ideal system or add friction and see it gradually slow down. Change the mass and length and watch the results. Jump to Jupiter or the Moon to see how different gravitational situations affect the swing of the pendulum. A Photogate timer lets students quickly and accurately find the period of the pendulum. Very robust model!
Physics Classroom: Mass on a SpringThis HTML5 simulation explores conservation of energy for a vibrating mass on a spring. Varying masses can be placed on one of two springs with differing spring constants. Set the system into vibrational motion and watch as changing gravitational potential, elastic potential, and kinetic energies are displayed on a bar chart in real time. Graphs of Position vs. Time and Velocity vs. Time are plotted alongside. You can change the spring constant and damping in each spring. Provides a great way to investigate elastic potential energy!
PhET Simulation: Energy Forms and ChangesThis Java simulation lets learners visualize energy transformation and energy flow as they build their own systems to convert mechanical, light, or chemical energy into electrical or thermal energy. Choose sunlight, a person pedaling a bicycle, or flowing water to power your system.
Energizer ModelThis Java model explores the relationship between kinetic, potential, and total energy. Students drag markers to create a 1-D curved track, then drag the motion marker to set an initial position on the track. Click "Play" and watch the object travel along the user-created curve. Bar graphs of kinetic (KE), potential (PE), and total energy (TE), are displayed in real time alongside the curve. Below the energy chart, a graph of resulting force is also displayed.
PhET Simulation: Energy Skate Park BasicsIn this mobile-friendly simulation, students explore how energy is conserved in a system of a skateboarder moving on a track. Bar graph and pie charts are displayed to show changes in kinetic energy and potential energy as the skater moves along the track. Use the pre-set tracks or customize your own skate runs. Click "Friction" and watch as thermal energy is displayed alongside PE and KE graphs. Does changing the mass of the skater make a difference in the motion? In the final challenge, students create and test their own track configurations.