The Science Wombat offers free online science modeling tools for student learning. These tools can run in modern web-browsers and allow students to explore the laws of science in a visual way. These models are designed to promote deeper learning and encourage students to push the boundaries of their understandings.
Each model provides a user interface that allows students to modify input parameters and investigate the outcomes in a three dimensional space. The programming behind these models is all embedded in the source of the HTML page and can be investigated by viewing the page source. The programming style is simple and documented for those interested in what is under the hood.
While the programs are meant to allow students to design their own investigation paths, there are also some curriculum ideas and challenges provided, that the wombat thought might help humans get started.
The Planetarium 3D Simulator
This is a fully scaled 3D real-time model of the solar system, including moons and dwarf planets. The model simulates the motions of planets acting under the influence of Newtonian Physics. As well as demonstrating scale, the model provides orbital analysis and means by which students can test alternative scenarios.
Rocket Ship Simulator
Take a rocket to explore the Solar System
Test ways to get to the planets and try not to crash!
Design Your Planet
Create a new world, design your continents, create forests, deserts and mountains. This 3D simulator allows you to draw shapes as if they were on a sphere.
Sphere Points 3D shape constructor
Sphere points is about the mathematics of distributing points evenly over the surface of a sphere. The model finds unexpected symmetries and wonky solutions, and constructs some rather unusual 3D shapes.