These simulations (and the associated exploration activities) were mainly written by Dr. Richard L. Bowman, professor of physics,
at Bridgewater College in Virginia, USA, and have been used by him and other
professors and teachers in physics and astronomy courses. The goal of
the project continues to be to
develop web-based simulations (with exercises) that are interactive
visualizations of scientific concepts. While designed
primarily for high school and college students, these
activities have also been used by lay person with some
- Visualization: Most persons learn better
when a scientific concept or its consequences can
be visualized. All of the Phys-Astro Sims activities
emphasize visual output so that a user will leave
the activity saying, "Ah ha, I saw it!".
- Interactive: Learning is also enhanced
when a participant interacts with the material
rather than just passively reading and reciting it. The Phys-Astro
activities allow the user to experiment and then
visualize the results of that experimentation.
- Web-based: The Phys-Astro Sims
web-pages are written in
of the particular computer and web browser in use, to interact with
the concepts under study. If the simulations do not work in your
browser. please report this to Dr. Bowman at the email address
- Associated Exercise Page:
Each simulation has an accompanying lab "write-up" or exercise that
can guide a user through using the simulation to learn the concepts
upon which the simulation was built. These exercises can also be
modified by a teacher for their own purposes. Each one can be
completed within two-hours by a student.
- Additional Resources:
The introductory page to each simulation and the pages of the
simulaiton also describes the concepts involved. Books and other web
links are also included.
The simulations that are part of this Phys-Astro Sims site
were originally written for the project entitled ISAW (pronounced "I
saw") but have since been transferred to this site.
II. Current Simulations and Associated Activities
New and revised simulations and laboratory exercises
will be developed and added to this site as time
allows. Check back from time to time to see what has been changed.
Report all problems to the email address given below.
III. Using The Activities
These simulations may be used directly from this Edt Tech by Bowman
site. However, if they are to be
used in a classroom/laboratory setting, then the
instructor may wish to copy them to their own server.
Permission is hereby granted to do such copying if the
hyperlinks to Phys-Astro Sims and the author(s) are left intact. Check
back often at the Phys-Astro Sims site so as to have available the
latest version of each activity on your own server.
The above simulations were tested using the latest versions (and many
earlier versions, too) of Microsoft
Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, and
Maxthon. and the simulations all worked fine. If you have a problem,
please report it tio the address below. BUT beware of the following
- Browsers must be set to allow cookies and to be
simulations to function properly. (Cookies are
used to store values entered in a form so that
the next web page can use these values for its
- Text-based browsers will not be able to use these
activities since the resulting plots are images and cannot be
displayed as text.
IV. Other Physics Simulations
V. Contact Info
Richard L. Bowman, PhD
937 College Ave.
Harrisonburg, VA 22802