PHET simulations with the class

Today before investigating the validity of Charles law via an experiment, I decided to show the students what would happen if we heat up a gas under constant pressure. This is so that they could first identify and visualize what would happen in such a case. After all, if they do not know what to expect, then how can we expect them to know what to observe during the experiment.

I decided to use my go-to simulation website, PHET interactive simulations because they are pretty much the only reliable source for physically accurate simulations when it comes to the science of matter.

Of course, the students were quite fond of this website as I have used in in class several times before. I do however, find the animation a little bit too kid oriented to my liking, but then again it would not be a great tool for kids leaning if it leaned towards the adult side. Anyway, however it looks like doesn’t matter as long as the students can benefit from it.

I do think that more people should use these simulations when it comes to teaching children processes. I do remember the days I used to chalk and talk some of these processes and the students would have to fill in the blanks with their imaginations. For some its intuitive, for some its not. And repeating the explanations over and over again to those that don’t get it can be somewhat frustrating at times. That’s where these simulations can come in handy. No more does the students have to try hard to imagine what molecules look like or how would a rocket move forward by pushing things backward.

Things aren’t all that perfect though, as seen in today’s simulation. This is because that the experiment that the students will be conducting would not exactly be the same as the experimental setup of the simulation.

I guess one thing that simulations lack is the variety of which experiments or daily examples can be done in. Naturally, I don’t blame the website for not meeting all of my needs. It’s just that sometimes I wish there would be simulations for every scenario that I would want to show to my students. But it is unrealistic for anyone to think that the developers of the site would create a simulation for everything. I just wish we have more resources. (side note, do comment if you know of any site that hosts good physics simulations. Cheers!)

If anything, PHET simulations have made my teaching life easier. I do encourage the students to go on it from time to time to explore, though I doubt they do as they’re always so excited every time I put PHET simulations on as if they have never seen it before.

As good as the simulations are, I only got one of the students to try it out. In an ideal world, I would have gotten every student to try out this simulation as it can solidify their understanding about the Gas Laws. However, due to time constraints (and mostly the fact that all the students don’t have a computer at the time to try out the simulations), only one could really try out this simulation. Perhaps I could show them the simulations at the computer lab? But then again, they would need to move back to the lab 10 minutes after for their experiment. I guess I’ll just have to find a solution, one day.

Till next time, Felix.