Welcome student:
Course Documents:
Split Page
Weblog
Discussion Board
Chemistry Syllabus
Chime Molecular Models
Chemistry Text Resources
Graphical Analysis Tutorial
Physlets
Video and Animation
Homework Calendar
District 228 Materials:
District 228
Tinley Park High School
IMC Resources
Semester Test Reviews
Keith Kuykendall
Science Teacher
Tinley Park High School
6111 W. 175th Street,
Tinley Park, IL 60477
708-532-1900x3912 kkuykendall@bhsd228.com
How to use Physlets!
Enable Your Browser.
Physlets are Java Applets written around a series of Java Archives developed by Wolfgang Christian at Davidson College. As such, you need a Java enabled brower to work with them.
In Windows (TM) systems this is probably already accomplished. To check follow this link to the first of all Physlets, about the Doppler Effect (the Physlet is at the bottom of the page). Be patient, Applets can take a long time to load, especially if this is your first Applet of the session. If you see concentric rings radiating from a moving dot you've got Java! You might still be ahead to get the latest plugin from Sun.
On Apple systems things can be more difficult. The best advice is use an updated version of Safari on OS X 10.3 (Panther). This seems to work very well. I've only gotten mixed success on earlier systems. To give it the best possible effort go to Sun Microsystem's Web to obtain the proper plugin for your system.
Configure the Plugin.
On windows, you will find "Java Plugin" in the control panel. Opening the control reveals eight tabs. Make sure that under "Browser" your choice has a check next to it. Also under "Cache" make sure that you allow at least 50 MB. This will speed your work on subsequent applets. Depending on your environment you may have to implement various settings in the "Proxies" tab.
Use the Applets.
Getting your browser to view the applets is just the beginning. Remember they have been created as a learning tool. Once you open an assigned applet I suggest the following:
- Play it through. Some applets have you choosing one of several sequences as the "right" sequence. Simply play them all.
- Read the question. Read the question again. Read the question one more time.
- Do some work with paper and pencil. List what you know and what you don't know. Determine your working equation. In short do what you always do when faced with a physics problem.
- Take advantage of the interface. Use the frame advance buttons. Look at the numerical output. Determine the step size in all changing dimensions (especially time and distance).
- Test your answer.
- Metacognate. Don't just submit "the answer", tell me how you got it -- reveal your entire thought process.