Introduction to SimPHY

SimPHY is a simulation software in Physics and Geometry. It lets you visualize Physics by creating Free Body Diagrams, analyzing Constraints, showing graphs, making circuit (Current Electricity) simulations, Optics simulations and feeling properties of geometrical shapes, vectors and graphs. It also allows users to save and export simulations. This software is created to make understanding of physics better.

Simphy can simulate dynamic 2D simulations in Mechanics, Circuits, Optics and Geometry by simple drag-and-drop tools in its fold. Games, 3D simulations and most interactive simulations can be created by writing few lines of code in SimPHY's own intellisense Script Editor in JavaScript. This documentation of SimPHY provides details about how to make most use of it to make your curriculum and lectures more interactive and engaging for students, and for enthusiastic students to learn Physics, constructive geometry, animation, coding and games in a very fun manner.

1. Classical Rigid Body Mechanics:

Students generally have difficulty in visualizing Rigid Body Newtonian Physics. To rescue them we present you with the most accurate and precise Physics simulator Simphy that generates the curiosity of students and satisfies it at the same time. In mechanics, Simphy simulations can cover almost all concepts. SimPHY Mechanics module lets users create simulations by using simple Drag-and-Drop tools for creating bodies and constraints (Joints) and then visualizing the motion with help of tools such as tracer, timer, camera (frame of reference), ghosting and plotting graphs. Here is a snapshot of Mechanics module of SimPHY which lets user make simulations in following sub-topics:

1 (a). Static Physics: Deals with the body and systems at rest or in equilibrium. Using Free Body Diagram tool, we can watch the interactions between bodies or system of bodies and resulting forces on them.

1 (b). Kinematics: Deals with the motion of object, regardless of its cause. Using tracer, graph plots we can easily understand real world and virtual scenarios of 1D/2D/3D motions in SimPHY.

1 (c). Newton's Laws of Motion (Dynamics): Studying the cause of motion and relation between force and acceleration.

Here is a small video covering all above subtopics in a single highly interactive simulation,

1 (d). Centre of mass

1 (e). Conservation of Momentum

1 (f). Collision

These three subtopics deal with how complex motions can be simplified with help of some basic Laws in Physics like Momentum Conservation while collisions between bodies is being discussed. Centre of Mass is the point to which a force may be applied to cause a linear acceleration without an angular acceleration. Here is a glimpse of some examples on how simulations in SimPHY make such visualizations pretty easier for students,

1 (g). Rotation

1 (h). Work, Power & Energy

These two subtopics are considered toughest in Physics, NOT ANYMORE! Check out this conceptually tricky simulation and you will know why SimPHY is best way to learn Physics?

2. Current Electricity (Circuit Module)

Here is quick look at SimPHY's 'CIRCUIT MODULE' which covers current electricity comprehensively. Teachers and students can now easily create real-world situations of current electricity.

Best features are:

a. Create all electrical elements like wire, resistor, capacitor, inductor, bulb and switches.

b. Create batteries with AC or DC Source, measuring devices like Ammeter, Voltmeter, Potentiometer, Galvanometer and Transformers.

c. Add Diodes, LED and Transistors in simulations to make them complex according to need. Change input values as per problem statement.

d. AND, OR, NOT, NOR, NAND, XOR LOGIC GATES.

e. Graph tool to plot Current, Voltage or Power across any element and get outputs in form of exportable data.

A small demonstration on ease-of-use of Circuit module of SimPHY:

3. Ray Optics Module

‘OPTICS MODULE' of SimPHY covers Ray Optics comprehensively and you can create any real-world situations of Optics into SimPHY.

Best features are:

a. Create all kind of light sources like Point source, Single ray or parallel beam of light.

b. Create ideal mirrors and lenses (plane, convex or concave), real mirrors from arcs.

c. Create arbitrary refracting surfaces like Prism, thin or thick slab, plane surfaces with varying refractive index.

d. Use the Observer feature to see image formation and number of images formed in any scenario.

A brief video demonstrating working of Optics module and how to create optics simulations:

4. Lab Experiments

Experiments are integral part of scientific study and are great way to do hands-on learning activities. But due to economic constraints, time paucity and higher students to teacher ratio, it's not possible to have set-ups for them. Virtual Lab and Experimentation on SimPHY solves this problem. Teachers can create or get from our 'Pre made simulation bundle' all kinds of Physics experiments on SimPHY.

Here is small video of Physics Experiments on,

1. Measurement devices like Vernier Callipers and Micrometer
2. Experiment to find focal length using OPTICAL BENCH

5. Electrodynamics

Most 2D electrostatics, electrodynamics and magnetism simulations does not require coding as we have easy option to create any field (like electric fields and magnetic field in this case) and give charge to any body. More advanced and complex and 3D simulations can be made by coding in script editor of SimPHY, which will be discussed and documented after simpler creations are learnt.

6. Other topics (Coding based)

Even after covering all crucial and tough topics of Physics in above three modules (Mechanics, Circuit, Optics), still there are several topics which require considerable attention. Simulations of such topics like Modern Physics, Thermodynamics etc can't be directly created using Drag-and-Drop tools and might require great expertize in Coding as well as Physics to get the desired impact in lectures.

To fill those gaps and present a holistic and comprehensive solution to Physics faculties and enthusiasts out there, we have made 'Simulation Bundles' which are curriculum mapped for global as well as regional schools/universities like

• CAIE (Cambridge Assessment International Education) IGCSE/ O-level AS and A-levels and Cambridge Pre-U/ AICE Diploma
• The International Baccalaureate MYP, IBDP and Career-related Programme (IBCP)
• Grade 9th to 12th (CBSE/ Regional Boards/ CISCE exams ICSC and ISC)
• Basic UnderGraduate Physics.

We do understand that teachers might not be apt or interested to code due to time paucity, hence we have pre-made simulations that teachers can choose from and use them in classrooms. These can be accessed here. Teachers interested to create simulations by themselves are welcome to code on our platform SimPHY to create simulations of their likings. Technical team at SimPHY also provides customized simulations to users on their demand.

Some of such topics whose simulations can be created using coding, or can be asked from us includes, but not limited to:

6 (a). Waves:

These simulations are great to visualize mechanical waves, transverse/longitudinal waves and their properties, interference, Wave Optics, Polarization, Diffraction, Young Double Slit Experiment (YDSE), WaveFronts, sound waves, Doppler's effect, sonic boom.

6 (b). Modern Physics:

Have a look at PhotoElectric Effect Simulation on SimPHY to get an idea of how useful these pre-made simulations are,

6 (c). Magnetism

Since magnetism and electrodynamics is by default mostly 3D visualization like Homopolar motor, bending of charges perpendicular to surface, magnetic field lines inside solenoid, toroid etc. all such visualizations are very easy on SimPHY and its associated simulation bundle

6 (d). Thermodynamics

6 (e). Fluid Mechanics

6 (f). Kinetic theory of gases

All these topics can also be felt easier to understand with use of simulations like the one shown in video below,

7. Geometry Module

In geometry module, SimPHY provides detailed construction starting from vectors, straight lines, circles, properties of triangle, trigonometry, conic sections and properties related to them, their intersection, pole, polar, making inputs of explicit and implicit functions and plotting them over.

All in all you can check out quickly about all modules for creating here

In next sections, we will go through the very basics of SimPHY like its canvas, working environment, how to open various modules/ tools and use them with help of navigation panel. Then we will move to describe and instruct about Mechanics Module and its various tools. We will cover how to make simulations interactive using sliders and checkboxes with details over nuances. After that we will move on to circuit, optics and geometry module.