General Physics, Semester 1

Introductory Physics Additional Resources

PhET Lab Simulations

Supplemental simulations of physical phenomena are available to use with the NROC Physics course. The physics simulations referenced on this page are part of the Physics Education Technology (PhET) project at the University of Colorado and are made available under the GNU General Public License (GPL).

A selection of the PhET simulations have been linked directly to lessons in the NROC Physics course outline below. Also, you can find a complete list of the simulations listed at the end of the course outline. Click on any of these links to be taken directly to the simulations.

In addition, you can browse suggested lab assignments, homework, concept questions, and demonstrations related to these simulations by clicking here.

Physics Outline

Unit 1: Newtonian Mechanics

1. Chapter 1: Kinematics

a. Lesson 1: Motion in One Dimension

i. Interactive Physics Simulation: The Moving Man

b. Lesson 2: Motion in Two Dimensions

i. Interactive Physics Simulation: Projectile Motion

ii. Interactive Physics Simulation: Maze Game

2. Chapter 2: Newton's Laws of Motion

a. Lesson 3: Newton's First Law

b. Lesson 4: Newton's Second Law

c. Lesson 5: Newton's Third Law

d. Lesson 6: Applications of Newton's Laws

i. Interactive Physics Simulation: Forces in 1 Dimension. This is a good activity to explore Newton’s 2^nd Law.

3. Chapter 3: Work, Energy, and Power

a. Lesson 7: Work and Work-Energy Theorem

i. Interactive Physics Simulation: The Ramp

b. Lesson 8: Conservative Forces and Potential Energy

c. Lesson 9: Conservation of Energy

i. Interactive Physics Simulation: Energy Skate Park

d. Lesson 10: Power

4. Chapter 4: Systems of Particles, Linear Momentum

a. Lesson 11: Center of Mass

b. Lesson 12: Impulse and Momentum

c. Lesson 13: Conservation of Linear Momentum, Collisions

5. Chapter 5: Circular Motion and Rotation

a. Lesson 14: Uniform Circular Motion

b. Lesson 15: Torque and Rotational Statics

6. Chapter 6: Oscillations and Gravitation

a. Lesson 16: Simple Harmonic Motion

b. Lesson 17: Mass on a Spring

i. Interactive Physics Simulation: Masses and Springs

c. Lesson 18: Pendulum and Other Oscillations

d. Lesson 19: Newton's Law of Gravity

e. Lesson 20: Orbits of Planets and Satellites

Unit 2: Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Physics

7. Chapter 7: Fluid Mechanics

a. Lesson 21: Hydrostatic Pressure

b. Lesson 22: Buoyancy

i. Interactive Physics Simulation: Balloons and Buoyancy

c. Lesson 23: Fluid Flow Continuity

d. Lesson 24: Bernoulli's Equation

8. Chapter 8: Temperature and Heat

a. Lesson 25: Mechanical Equivalent of Heat

b. Lesson 26: Specific and Latent Heat

c. Lesson 27: Heat Transfer and Thermal Expansion

9. Chapter 9: Kinetic Theory and Thermodynamics

a. Lesson 28: Ideal Gases

i. Interactive Physics Simulation: Gas Properties

b. Lesson 29: Laws of Thermodynamics

Unit 3: Electricity and Magnetism

10. Chapter 10: Electrostatics

a. Lesson 30: Electric Charges and Coulomb's Law

i. Interactive Physics Simulation: Electric Field Hockey

ii. Interactive Physics Simulation: Balloons and Static Electricity

iii. Interactive Physics Simulation: John Travoltage

b. Lesson 31: Electric Fields

c. Lesson 32: Electric Potential

11. Chapter 11: Conductors and Capacitors

a. Lesson 33: Electrostatics with Conductors

b. Lesson 34: Capacitors

12. Chapter 12: Electric Circuits

a. Lesson 35: Current, Resistance, Power

b. Lesson 36: DC Circuits with Batteries and Resistors

i. Interactive Physics Simulation: Circuit Construction Kit (DC Only)

ii. Interactive Physics Simulation: Circuit Construction Kit, Virtual Lab Version (DC Only)

iii. Interactive Physics Simulation: Circuit Construction Kit (AC + DC)

iv. Interactive Physics Simulation: Circuit Construction Kit (AC + DC), Virtual Lab Version

c. Lesson 37: Capacitors in Circuits

13. Chapter 13: Magnetostatics

a. Lesson 38: Forces on Moving Charges

b. Lesson 39: Forces on Current-carrying Wires in Magnetic Fields

c. Lesson 40: Fields of Long, Current-carrying Wires

14. Chapter 14: Electromagnetism

a. Lesson 37: Electromagnetic Induction

Unit 4: Waves and Optics

15. Chapter 15: Wave Motion

a. Lesson 42: Wave Basics

b. Lesson 43: Properties of Traveling Waves

c. Lesson 44: Properties of Standing Waves

d. Lesson 45: Sound Waves and Doppler Shift

i. Interactive Physics Simulation: Sound

16. Chapter 16: Physical Optics

a. Lesson 46: Interference and Diffraction

i. Interactive Physics Simulation: Wave Interference

b. Lesson 47: Dispersion of Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum

17. Chapter 17: Geometric Optics

a. Lesson 48: Reflection and Refraction

b. Lesson 49: Mirrors

c. Lesson 50: Lenses

Unit 5: Atomic and Nuclear Physics

18. Chapter 18: Atomic Physics and Quantum Effect

a. Lesson 51: Photons and the Photoelectric Effect

b. Lesson 52: Atomic Energy Levels

c. Lesson 53: Wave-particle Duality

19. Chapter 19: Nuclear Physics

a. Lesson 54: Nuclear Reactions

i. Interactive Physics Simulations: Nuclear Physics

b. Lesson 55: Mass-Energy Equivalence

All Available PhET Simulations

Below you will find a complete list of the PhET simulations. They are separated into categories to help you easily find them. Some of the simulations will be listed in multiple categories if they relate to more than one topic. Click on any of these links to be taken directly to the simulations.

Motion

Forces in 1 Dimension

Maze Game