Take your physics hypotheses to the next level with OE-CAKE’s Physics Simulator
May 7, 2010
Looking for something to spice up your physics class and let your students have a bit of fun at the same time? If so, check out the very cool OE-CAKE physics simulator, a sandbox-style physics program that allows you to see how different physics elements will interact with each other.
When you install OE-CAKE and load it up, you see a black canvas and an array of buttons on the right side. The top set of buttons are physical elements, from a gas element to a brittle element, and all the stops in-between. Below those, you can set the gravitational properties as well as fluid dynamics.
For example, click on the fire element and use your mouse’s left button to make a small fire on the canvas. Then click the water element to douse your fire and watch the water turn into a gas. That’s just the tip of the iceberg — imagine the lesson planning and activities you can do when you can propose a hypothesis on how elements will interact and then test it in the physics simulator. The program is very fun when you figure out the controls — I spent an hour with it when I had planned about fifteen minutes.
A caveat about this program — it ran smoothly on my computer, but whenever you see the word “simulation” you have to make sure your computer is up to the task. On a very out-of-date computer this application might not run as well unless you choose a small canvas size.
Related stuff:
Let’s Have Some Phun: Physics Gets Creative for Young Learners
Build your own Fantastic Contraption
Build interactive creations with Constructor
Learn Science and Kill a Few Hours with Launchball
