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Interactive Physics Tutorial You can use the Interactive physics program to create simulations or run simulations that already exist in the IP file. To find the Interactive Physics file, first use the interactive physics shortcut on the desktop to open this program or go to the start menu, programs, interactive physics, open the file called interactive physics (with the globe). Now you can create your own simulation or use one in the program. To create you one go to the next paragraph. To run one of the simulations in the program, go to open, Local Disc (C:), double click on program files, double click on Interactive Physics, open Demo Files, Physics Experiments, or Sound Experiments. Choose one that looks interesting to you , and run it.
Interactive Physics is a computer simulation program used to simulate real world phenomena. A simple example is a ball bouncing on a table. A complex example is a model of a satellite orbiting a planet. As your work through this tutorial, you will learn to make a model, watch it run, collect data , and graph the data. 1. Find the Shortcut to IP on the desktop. Open this program. 2. Find the toolbar at the top of the page. It is similar to MS Word . The next 5 tools are specific to this program. Scroll over them with the mouse to see what they do. The final 3 tools are command used to run , stop , and reset the program 3. To learn how to use the middle 5 tools, you need to draw a model. You will start with a simple example, ball bouncing on the table. a. Find the vertical tool bar. The first 6 tools are for drawing shapes and anchoring them (so they don't move) . This program assumes normal earth gravity, so objects will fall, unless anchored. 4. Draw a circle (ball) and a rectangle (table). a. To do this you left click on the circle tool and release (notice it is highlighted). Move the curser to the white are of the screen. Left click and drag diagonally to make a circle. The four dots on the circle can be used to change the size of the circle. Click on the ball (not on the center) and move it to the top center of the screen. Make the ball about 1" in diameter. b. Highlight the rectangle tool and draw a rectangle. Use the bottom right dot to make the rectangle approximately 3/4 as wide as the screen. Click on the rectangle ( not in the center) and move it to the bottom center of the screen. c. The picture should look like this. You are ready to run your model, without color.
Left click on the Run command in the top toolbar. Whoops you forgot to anchor the table. Stop.Reset. Left click (highlight) the anchor tool on bottom right of top vertical toolbar. Place the anchor on the rectangle (not in center). Now Run and watch the ball bounce. Stop.Reset. d. The ball does not bounce well because it is not very elastic (like a basketball low on air). You can change the elasticity, but you need to select all the objects. Left click on Edit, Select All, move to Object, Elasticity. You can move the slide or input a number value. The value by sliding goes from 0-1, but you can input any number . Make the value 1, which is perfect like the best superball. Values greater than 1 are like flubber. Now Run. Is it better? Stop. Reset. e, Because one object is coming in contact with another Friction is
also important. Again, Edit, Select All, go to Object, Friction. Set at 0. This
value represents the coefficient of friction in our book. Now Run . This
is as good as it gets. Stop. Reset. You should feel good. You have drawn a model and made it run efficiently. Now let's learn how to measure something and collect data. 5. Left click on the ball (it is highlighted). Find Measure on top toolbar. Left click Measure, Velocity, Y Graph. A line-graph should appear on the screen. Click once on the arrow for a bar-graph, twice for a number value (Vy -m/s ) . This is the one you want. Run. Notice the numbers change as the ball moves. Let it bounce and come back up to the top. Stop. Reset. The computer has recorded the data for you. 6. Click on the Velocity Measure box. Click Edit, Copy Data. 7. Minimize IP and open Microsoft Excel . Edit. Paste. The data should appear in a table of time vs Vy. This table will be in the A and B columns.
8. To make a graph of this data, you must open the chart wizard in Microsoft Excel. Chart Wizard can be found in the tool bar or under Insert. Left click the Chart Wizard, left click the Line type, left click the first graph in the second row ( line with markers displayed at each data value), left click Next. Left click Series at the top. Left click on Remove to remove all graphs. Left click Add. Type Y velocity in as the name. Left click on the little red chart at the right end of the values box. Left click on the first value under the Vy column and drag down to the last value ( you must hold down on the clicker while you drag down, then release). Move the mouse up to the top of the page to the and click on the little red chart . You will now see a line graph of the Vy. Click on the little red chart to the right of Category (X) axis labels. Left click on the first value under the t column and drag down to the last value ( you must hold down on the clicker while you drag down) Move the mouse up to the top of the page to the and click on the little red chart . You will now see a line graph of the Vy vs time with numbers on the axes. Click next. The Tab at the top of the page should be Title. Type Time for the X axis and Y Velocity for the Y axis. Click Next, then Finish. The graph should appear on the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet next to the Data. To enlarge the graph click on bottom right corner of the graph and drag diagonally. Right click on the White area in the Graph ( not in the grey area of the graph), left click on Copy. Reopen IP and click on Edit ,then Paste to paste the graph on your IP drawing.
Great job ! You have done it all! Go to Tutorial 2 Go to Lessons
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Save this model. Use Save As. Name it Ball Bounce.
The computer may save in My Documents, which is OK.
