Crocodile Physics 1.7 - Why You Should Use It to Learn or Teach Physics

Crocodile Physics 1.7: A Powerful and Easy-to-Use Simulator for Physics

Have you ever wondered how to create realistic models of physical phenomena such as electricity, motion, forces, optics, and waves? Do you want to learn or teach physics in a fun and interactive way? If so, you should try Crocodile Physics 1.7, a powerful but easy-to-use simulator that lets you model a range of models in physics. In this article, we will show you what Crocodile Physics 1.7 can do, how to use it, and why you should use it.

Crocodile Physics 1.7

How to Use Crocodile Physics 1.7

Crocodile Physics 1.7 is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive. You don't need any programming skills or prior knowledge to use it. You can simply drag parts from the toolbars at the side of the screen, and move or position them as you wish; they start simulating straight away. You can also click on them to edit settings, and plot graphs to analyse data from your experiment.

Set up in seconds using a lesson kit

One of the best features of Crocodile Physics 1.7 is that it comes with 46 lesson kits that are designed around the science curriculum. Each lesson kit deals with a particular topic from the new GCSE science curriculum, such as electricity, motion and forces, optics and waves. In each lesson kit folder, you'll find a starter model that is a ready-made environment where you can set up the simulation. You'll also find a range of simulation parts that are already set up for you, and a set of instructions. Just drag them onto the screen and your simulation is ready to go.

Present simulations on a whiteboard

These lesson kits are ideal for presenting in front of a class using a whiteboard - as well as letting students create their own models. The lesson kit folder holds all the customised parts you'll need. The starter model has the graphs, backgrounds and parameters already set up too. You're free to concentrate on teaching.

Bright graphics and clear animations help to illustrate the topics, revealing hidden concepts. The display is fully customisable and every part can be moved and edited to suit your needs. There's also a whiteboard mode that displays the simulation full-screen and hides the toolbars.

Change settings quickly and easily

Unlike other simulation and modelling software, Crocodile Physics 1.7 isn't just a series of limited animations: it's a full flexible simulator. While the lesson kits make set-up easier, you're still free to edit parameters and add or move parts as you wish. This means you can teach in your own style, and respond flexibly to questions from your students.

Most parts in your simulation can be customised. For example, you can change the mass and elasticity of a ball or the focal length of a lens or the phase offset of an AC supply. This flexibility means that you'll never exhaust the possibilities with Crocodile Physics 1.7.

What You Can Simulate with Crocodile Physics 1.7

Crocodile Physics 1.7 covers four main areas of physics: electricity motion and forces optics and waves You can create models in each area using parts from the toolbars such as wires bulbs batteries resistors switches motors balls springs pulleys lenses mirrors prisms sound sources light sources water sources etc.

Electricity

You can simulate various aspects of electricity such as circuits current voltage resistance power Ohm's law Kirchhoff's laws series and parallel circuits AC and DC circuits transformers etc.

For example you can create a simple circuit with a battery a switch and a bulb like this:

You can then measure the current and voltage using an ammeter and a voltmeter like this:

You can also plot graphs of current voltage power or resistance against time like this:

Motion and Forces

You can simulate various aspects of motion and forces such as speed velocity acceleration displacement distance force mass weight gravity friction momentum energy work power Newton's laws etc.

For example you can create a model of a ball bouncing on a spring like this:

You can then measure the speed acceleration force energy or momentum of the ball using meters like this:

You can also plot graphs of speed acceleration force energy or momentum against time or displacement like this:

Optics

You can simulate various aspects of optics such as reflection refraction diffraction interference polarization lenses mirrors prisms optical instruments etc.

For example you can create a model of a lens that forms an image of an object like this:

You can then measure the focal length magnification or image distance using rulers like this:

You can also plot graphs of focal length magnification or image distance against object distance like this:

Waves

You can simulate various aspects of waves such as frequency wavelength amplitude speed phase angle wave equation superposition principle standing waves Doppler effect etc.

For example you can create a model of two sound sources that interfere with each other like this: