What Are Interactive Physics Simulations?

Interactive physics simulations are experiments you run in the browser instead of reading about: move a slider and the diagram redraws while every readout recomputes from the governing equation, so cause and effect are visible rather than asserted. This hub lists all 109 labs across 7 topics. Nothing to install, no account, and each one pairs with a calculator and an explainer on the same topic.

Interactive physics labs by topic
TopicLabsExample
Kinematics8Acceleration Lab
Mechanics53Antimatter Annihilation
Fluid Mechanics7Bernoulli's Principle
Thermodynamics11Boyle's Law
Waves & Optics12Concave vs Convex Lens — Ray Diagram Lab
Electromagnetism11AC vs DC Current
Modern Physics7Beta Decay & the Beta Spectrum

Mechanics 53 labs

Antimatter Annihilation E = 2mc² Free interactive antimatter simulator: set the antimatter mass, pick electron-positron or proton-antiproton, and see the energy released by E = 2 m c squared. Explore lab » Banked Curve tanθ = v²/rg Free interactive banked curve simulator: move the angle, radius, speed and friction sliders and watch tanθ = v²/rg set the ideal no-friction speed live. Explore lab » Capacitance C = Q/V Drag plate area, gap and dielectric to see capacitance, charge and stored energy update live from C = Q/V. No sign-up. Explore lab » Carnot Efficiency eta = 1 - Tc ÷ Th Drag the hot and cold reservoir temperatures and watch work and waste heat split live, from eta = 1 - Tc/Th. Explore lab » Center of Gravity θc = arctan((b/2)/h) Change the base width, centre-of-gravity height and tilt and watch an object stay stable or topple. Explore lab » Center of Mass xcm = Sum(m*x) / Sum(m) Slide three masses and watch the balance point move as x_cm = Sum(m*x)/Sum(m) updates live. Test it in your browser. Explore lab » Centripetal Force Lab F = mv²/r Change the speed and radius and watch the centripetal force, acceleration and period respond through F = mv²/r. Explore lab » Circular Motion a = v²/r Drag speed, radius and mass to watch a = v2/r respond live, and cut the string to see the tangent escape. Explore lab » Concave & Convex Mirror 1/f = 1/v + 1/u Move the object and flip the curvature to see real and virtual images form through 1/f = 1/v + 1/u. Explore lab » Decibel and Sound Intensity L = 10·log10(I / I0) Drag the power, distance and source-count sliders and watch the sound level update live using L = 10 log10(I/I0). Explore lab » Diffraction Grating d·sinθ = nλ Free interactive diffraction simulator: drag the wavelength, line density and slit count to watch the bright orders move and see d sin θ = nλ in action. Explore lab » Drag Force F = ½ρv²CdA Change speed, frontal area, drag coefficient and density and watch the drag and power readouts follow F = half rho v squared CdA. Explore lab » E=mc² E = mc² Free interactive E=mc² simulator: set a mass and how much of it converts, then watch the energy released in joules and tonnes of TNT. See why one gram equals a bomb. Explore lab » Elastic Potential Energy E = ½·k·x² Change the spring constant and displacement and watch the stored energy respond through E = ½·k·x². Explore lab » Electrical Resistance R = ρL/A Free interactive resistance simulator: drag length, area and temperature, switch metals, and watch R = ρL/A and the current update live. Explore lab » Energy Conservation PE = m·g·h Change the release height and watch potential and kinetic energy trade off in a frictionless valley. Explore lab » Equilibrium & Torque — Balance Beam Lab m1·d1 = m2·d2 Change the masses and their distances on a balance beam and watch the principle of moments balance the beam. Explore lab » Force & Acceleration F_net = m·a Free interactive Newton\ Explore lab » Fourier's Law Q/t = k · A · dT ÷ d Free interactive Fourier's law simulator: drag conductivity, area, thickness and temperature difference and watch the heat-loss rate in watts update live. Explore lab » Free Body Diagram N = mg cosθ − F sinφ Free interactive free body diagram simulator: drag the angle, mass, applied force and friction sliders and watch every force arrow resize live as N = mg cosθ. Explore lab » Free Fall Free interactive free fall simulator: drag the height and gravity sliders, drop two different masses, and watch fall time and impact speed update live. Explore lab » Friction on an Incline m·g·sin(θ) Change the ramp angle, the coefficients of friction and the mass, and watch static friction build. Explore lab » Gamma Ray Shielding μ Free interactive gamma ray simulator: set photon energy, shield material and thickness, and watch transmitted intensity follow I = I0 exp(-mu x) live. Explore lab » Hooke's Law Lab F = k·x Free interactive Hooke\ Explore lab » Inclined Plane mg sinθ Drag the angle, mass and friction sliders and watch mg sinθ, mg cosθ, N and the acceleration update live. Explore lab » Kirchhoff's Law det = R1·R2 + R1·R3 + R2·R3 Drag two EMFs and three resistances and watch the branch currents flip sign live, solving I1 + I2 = I3 as you go. Explore lab » Mechanical Advantage IMA = effort arm / load arm Try a lever, pulley or ramp and watch how each trades force for distance. Explore lab » Moment of Inertia Change mass, radius, shape and axis position, and watch I = k m r squared update live with the readouts. Explore lab » Momentum & Collisions Lab p = m·v Set the masses, velocities and restitution and watch momentum stay constant through every collision. Explore lab » Momentum & Impulse Lab J = F·Δt = Δp Set two masses and velocities and watch impulse, momentum and force play out through J = F·Δt = Δp. Explore lab » Newton's Second Law a = F/m Free interactive Newton\ Explore lab » Physics Constants Switch between g, c, h, G, R, k_e and sound, move one slider, and watch each constant do its actual job. Explore lab » Physics Formula Rearranger A = B × C Pick a relationship, choose the unknown, move the sliders, and watch the rearranged equation and unit check. Explore lab » Physics Symbols λ Free interactive physics symbols simulator: pick a symbol, move one slider, and watch the quantity it names change live with its SI unit and its formula. Explore lab » Polarization & Malus's Law I = I0·cos²θ Free interactive polarization simulator: rotate the analyzer and watch transmitted intensity follow Malus\ Explore lab » Potential Difference V = W/Q Free interactive potential difference simulator: drag the supply, resistance and charge sliders to see how volts split across a series circuit and why V = W/Q. Explore lab » Power Lab — Force × Velocity P = F·v Change the force and velocity and watch the power respond through P = F·v, in watts and horsepower. Explore lab » Projectile Motion R = v²·sin(2θ) / g Change the launch angle, initial velocity and gravity and watch the range, height and flight time respond. Explore lab » Quarks Build protons, neutrons and mesons from up, down and strange quarks and watch the fractional charges add to a whole number. Explore lab » RC Time Constant τ = R · C Drag R, C and supply voltage to watch a capacitor charge or discharge, and see why tau = RC alone sets the 63% timing. Explore lab » Refractive Index n = c/v Free interactive refractive index simulator: slide n from 1.00 to 2.50, watch light slow and its wavelength shrink, and read v = c/n live for any material. Explore lab » SI Units & Prefixes Free interactive SI units simulator: drag the exponent slider from quetta to quecto and watch one value get renamed by all 24 metric prefixes in real time. Explore lab » Simple Harmonic Motion Lab T = 2π·sqrt(m/k) Change the mass, spring constant and amplitude and watch the period, frequency and energy respond. Explore lab » Simple Pendulum T = 2π·sqrt(L/g) Change the length, gravity and starting angle and watch the period respond. Explore lab » Spring Constant k = F/x Free interactive spring constant simulator: hang masses, watch the spring stretch, and read k from the live force-extension graph. Uses k = F/x in N/m. Explore lab » Stefan-Boltzmann Law P = σεAT^4 Drag temperature, emissivity and area to see radiated power jump with the fourth power of temperature. Explore lab » Tension Force Lab T = m(g + a) Change the mass and a lift\ Explore lab » Time Dilation Free interactive time dilation simulator: set the speed and proper time, then watch the Lorentz factor climb as the moving clock falls behind a rest clock. Explore lab » Torque τ = r·F·sinθ Change the applied force, distance and angle and watch the torque and lever arm respond through τ = r·F·sinθ. Explore lab » Unit Conversions Set any value, pick from and to units across force, energy, pressure, length and temperature, and see the factor. Explore lab » Weight on Other Planets W = m × g Free weight on other planets simulator: set a mass, pick the Moon, Mars, Earth or Jupiter, and watch W = mg change the scale reading live. Explore lab » Weight vs Mass W = m·g Carry a mass to the Moon, Mars, Earth and Jupiter and watch its weight change while its mass stays fixed. Explore lab » Work Done Lab W = F·d·cosθ Change the force, angle and displacement and watch the work respond through W = F·d·cosθ. Explore lab »

Thermodynamics 11 labs

Waves & Optics 12 labs

Concave vs Convex Lens — Ray Diagram Lab 1/v = 1/f + 1/u Change lens type, focal length and object distance and watch real and virtual images form. Explore lab » De Broglie Wavelength lambda = h / (m · v) Drag the mass and speed sliders to see lambda = h/mv collapse from nanometres to nothing at all. Explore lab » Dispersion of Light — Interactive Prism Lab sin i = n sin r Free interactive dispersion of light simulator: set the prism angle, index and Abbe number to fan white light into a spectrum and read every deviation angle. Explore lab » Doppler Effect Lab f_ahead = f·c/(c − vs) Change the source speed and emitted frequency and watch the frequency ahead rise and the frequency behind fall. Explore lab » Electromagnetic Spectrum Explorer c = fλ Sweep from radio waves to gamma rays and watch wavelength, frequency and photon energy from c = fλ. Explore lab » Lens Equation 1/f = 1/do + 1/di Drag the object distance and focal length sliders to see image distance, magnification and image type update live. Explore lab » Reflection & Refraction Lab n1·sinθ1 = n2·sinθ2 Free interactive Snell\ Explore lab » Speed of Light Lab time = distance / c Pick a destination and see the light-travel time from distance/c, why we see the past, and how n = c/v slows light. Explore lab » Speed of Sound v = sqrt(γRT/M) Drag temperature, switch gas and add humidity to watch the pulse race, with live speed and Mach 1 readouts. Explore lab » Transverse vs Longitudinal Waves Lab v = f·λ Free interactive transverse and longitudinal waves simulator. Compare perpendicular and parallel particle motion, crests, compressions and v = f·λ. Explore lab » Wave Generator Open simulation » Wave Speed in Two Media Pick two media, set the frequency, and watch the wavelength change while v = f x lambda holds on both sides. Explore lab »

Electromagnetism 11 labs

AC vs DC Current Vrms = V0/sqrt(2) Slide peak voltage and frequency to see the sine wave, the flat DC line and the RMS value that makes them equal. Explore lab » Coulomb’s Law Lab F = k·q1q2/r² Free interactive Coulomb\ Explore lab » Electric Current I = Q/t I = Q/t Free interactive electric current simulator: slide the charge and time to see current I = Q/t and the electron count update. Explore lab » Electric Field of a Point Charge E = kQ/r² Change the charge and probe distance and watch the field of a point charge respond through E = kQ/r². Explore lab » Electricity Cost E = P × t ÷ 1000 Drag wattage, daily hours and your tariff to watch kWh and running cost update live. Cost = kWh times rate. Explore lab » Electromagnet B = μrμ0nI Free interactive electromagnet simulator: change turns, coil length, current and core, and watch the field follow B = permeability x turns per metre x current. Explore lab » Electromagnetic Induction — Faraday's Law Lab ε = -N ΔΦ/Δt Change the coil turns, field, area and drive frequency and watch Faraday\ Explore lab » Inside a Solenoid B = μ0nI Drag turns, length and current to see the magnetic field inside a coil change live, and watch B = mu0nI in action. Explore lab » Magnetic Field & the Lorentz Force F = qvB Change the charge, speed and field and watch a moving charge curve through F = qvB into a circle of radius r. Explore lab » Ohm's Law Lab V = I·R Change the voltage and resistance and watch the current respond through V = I·R, with the ohmic physics explained. Explore lab » Series and Parallel Circuits Lab R_total = R1 + R2 + R3 Change the battery voltage and three resistors, flip between series and parallel. Explore lab »
Prefer to explore by playing? The homepage has a selection of featured simulations plus a quick lab picker that loads any of these right on the page.