“Physlets do help me visualize problems at hand and are quite a bit more interesting than the text.”
“The [Physlet-based] problems show one what actually occurs and just doesn’t force one to guess what may be happening.”
“The material in interactive problems tends to be more challenging, however because they can be seen it is slightly easier to do. Being able to actually see the problem is beneficial.”
“Use of Physlets on the computer is good for experimenting and observing.”
“In addition to class demonstrations, the Physlets help bring to life sterile mathematical equations.”
“As individuals learn in different ways, little harm is done by presenting a different perspective on a given problem.”
---Typical student responses on end-of-the term evaluations.
Although Physlet problems often appear to be simple, they are usually more
challenging than traditional problems because you must first figure out a
problem-solving strategy before determining what to measure in a Physlet-based
exercise. In addition, small technical problems are bound to occur if you are
not familiar with the ways you can interact with the Physlet-based materials.
In response to these possible difficulties, we have written Chapter 1:
Introduction to Physlets. This chapter provides you with a guided tutorial
through the basic functionality of Physlets. After completing the exercises in
Chapter 1, you should be in a position to complete the exercises in the rest of
the book without technical difficulty.
Before you begin, you should read the following section on Browser Tests and
System Requirements.