Modeling Physics with Easy Java Simulations

Wells, Hestenes, and Swackhamer point out that introductory mechanics courses are organized around a small number of basic models that are adapted to various contexts [1]. Constant acceleration, simple harmonic motion, Newton's universal law of gravitation, and energy/momentum conservation form the core of this course.  Although the modeling method can be used without computers, the use of computers allows students to study problems that are difficult and time consuming, to visualize their results, and to communicate their results with others. This combination of computer modeling with theory and experiment can achieve insight and understanding that cannot be achieved with only one approach.  "Modeling Physics with Easy Java Simulations" describes the Easy Java Simulations (Ejs) modeling and authoring tool and shows how it can be used to teach mechanics concepts with computer modeling. [2]

[tpt_modeling.pdf]

The ejs_tpt_modeling.jar file described in the paper contains a collection of mechanics models and can be downloaded from in the simulations directory of this website.  Users without vendor-installed Java must, of course, first download and install Java in order to run these models.  A typical (default) Java installation recognizes a Java archive (jar) file as a compiled Java program and users need only double click on the jar file to run our mechanics models.

Launcher Package

The ejs_tpt_modeling.jar Launcher package (in the form of an executable java archive or jar file) contains ready-to-run programs and a set of curricular materials in support of the TPT paper.  Once you download the jar file, navigate to a model by selecting an icon in the navigation panel on the left.  There are three icons that let you know what type of content you are selecting:

   a folder which you can double-click to open (or close) and view (or hide) its contents.

  an HTML document

  a launchable node with an HTML page and a program associated with it.  Double-clicking a launchable node launches a program.

Run Launcher Package Locally
Download the ejs_tpt_modeling.jar file. Double-click the "ejs_tpt_modeling.jar" file.  When the jar file opens, select the "Simple Modeling" folder and click on a launchable node to run a program.