Physical Sciences Simulations
Simulations aligned with NGSS Performance Expectations:
HS-PS1-1
Use the periodic table as a model to predict the relative properties of elements based on the patterns of electrons in the outermost energy level of atoms.
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Alkali Metals Phenomenon - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Observe the reaction patterns and atomic structures of different elements.
Alkali Metals Phenomenon Resources & Implementation
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Monster Molecules Showcase - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Explore bizarre, extreme, and gigantic molecules to understand how periodic table patterns (like Carbon’s valence electrons) dictate bonding geometry.
Monster Molecules Showcase Resources & Implementation
HS-PS1-2
Construct and revise an explanation for the outcome of a simple chemical reaction based on the outermost electron states of atoms, trends in the periodic table, and knowledge of the patterns of chemical properties.
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Appalachian Acid Mine Drainage: Titrations & Buffers - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation to perform a continuous titration on a flowing river. Calculate molarity and neutralize acid mine drainage without exceeding ecological limits.
Appalachian Acid Mine Drainage Resources & Implementation
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Chemical Reaction Outcomes Predictor - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive sandbox to predict outcomes and construct explanations for simple chemical reactions based on valence electrons, featuring progressive challenges and real-world contexts.
Chemical Reaction Outcomes Predictor Resources & Implementation
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Chemical Reaction Outcomes Predictor (Experimental 3D) - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An experimental version of the Chemical Reactions Predictor featuring interactive 3D molecular visualizations of the products using 3Dmol.js.
Chemical Reaction Outcomes Predictor (Experimental 3D) Resources & Implementation
HS-PS1-3
Plan and conduct an investigation to gather evidence to compare the structure of substances at the bulk scale to infer the strength of electrical forces between particles.
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Forensic Chromatography of American Junk Food Dyes - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Simulate forensic chromatography to isolate and identify hidden, illegal synthetic dyes in American junk food by exploiting their distinct chemical polarities and intermolecular forces.
Forensic Chromatography of American Junk Food Dyes Resources & Implementation
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Intermolecular Forces Investigation - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Observe boiling points and surface tension to infer the strength of London Dispersion, Dipole-Dipole, and Hydrogen Bonding forces.
Intermolecular Forces Investigation Resources & Implementation
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Crystal Lattice Flythrough - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Explore the bulk 3D structures of covalent and ionic lattices to infer the strength of electrical forces holding them together.
Crystal Lattice Flythrough Resources & Implementation
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Connecticut Road Salt & Freezing Point Depression - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Explore freezing point depression and intermolecular forces through the phenomenon of winter road salt in Connecticut.
Connecticut Road Salt & Freezing Point Depression Resources & Implementation
HS-PS1-4
Develop a model to illustrate that the release or absorption of energy from a chemical reaction system depends upon the changes in total bond energy.
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Bond Energy Changes Simulator - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An animated model illustrating how breaking bonds absorbs energy and forming bonds releases energy, and how the net change determines if a reaction is endothermic or exothermic.
Bond Energy Changes Simulator Resources & Implementation
HS-PS1-5
Apply scientific principles and evidence to provide an explanation about the effects of changing the temperature or concentration of the reacting particles on the rate at which a reaction occurs.
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Reaction Rates Simulation - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Explore how changing temperature (kinetic energy) and concentration affects collision frequency, reaction rates, and activation energy barriers using an interactive particle model.
Reaction Rates Simulation Resources & Implementation
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“The Bends”: Henry’s Law & Deep-Sea Gas Solubility - * IN DEVELOPMENT * A simulation demonstrating the physics of deep-sea diving, Henry’s Law, and the deadly effects of rapid decompression (The Bends) on nitrogen gas solubility in the bloodstream.
"The Bends": Henry's Law & Deep-Sea Gas Solubility Resources & Implementation
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Connecticut Maple Syrup Thermodynamics - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Simulate the thermodynamics of boiling sap to make maple syrup, focusing on phase changes, evaporation, and boiling point elevation.
Connecticut Maple Syrup Thermodynamics Resources & Implementation
HS-PS1-6
Refine the design of a chemical system by specifying a change in conditions that would produce increased amounts of products at equilibrium.
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Le Chatelier’s Principle Simulator - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Interactively stress an equilibrium system (Haber Process) by changing concentration, volume, and temperature to see how the system shifts.
Le Chatelier's Principle Simulator Resources & Implementation
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The Flint Water Crisis: Solubility & Precipitation - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation exploring the solubility product constant (Ksp) and precipitation reactions by modeling the addition of orthophosphate to prevent lead leaching.
The Flint Water Crisis: Solubility & Precipitation Resources & Implementation
HS-PS1-7
Use mathematical representations to support the claim that atoms, and therefore mass, are conserved during a chemical reaction.
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Conservation of Mass Simulator - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Balance chemical equations and observe how total mass and atom counts remain perfectly conserved across the reaction.
Conservation of Mass Simulator Resources & Implementation
HS-PS1-8
Develop models to illustrate the changes in the composition of the nucleus of the atom and the energy released during the processes of fission, fusion, and radioactive decay.
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Nuclear Processes Simulator - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Visualize the changes in protons and neutrons, and the massive energy released, during Alpha Decay, Nuclear Fission, and Nuclear Fusion.
Nuclear Processes Simulator Resources & Implementation
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Millstone Nuclear Fission Case Study - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Evaluate the competing design solutions for managing the immense energy of U-235 fission at Connecticut’s Millstone Power Station.
Millstone Nuclear Fission Case Study Resources & Implementation
HS-PS2-1
Analyze data to support the claim that Newton’s second law of motion describes the mathematical relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and its acceleration.
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Durham Fair Tractor Pull Dynamics - * IN DEVELOPMENT * This simulation immerses students in the mechanics of heavy equipment by placing them in the role of a technician competing at the Durham Fair. Students must tune their tractor’s mass distribution, tire friction, and engine force to pull a heavy sled down a track while analyzing Newton’s Second Law through real-time kinematics data.
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Interactive Boat River Crossing Simulation - * IN DEVELOPMENT * A physics simulation exploring relative velocity and vector addition as a boat crosses a flowing river.
Interactive Boat River Crossing Simulation Resources & Implementation
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Projectile Motion Simulation - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive physics simulation to study the kinematics of projectile motion by adjusting launch variables.
Projectile Motion Simulation Resources & Implementation
HS-PS2-2
Use mathematical representations to support the claim that the total momentum of a system of objects is conserved when there is no net force on the system.
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Conservation of Momentum Simulation - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Explore 1D elastic and inelastic collisions. Adjust masses, velocities, and elasticity to observe the conservation of momentum and changes in kinetic energy.
Conservation of Momentum Simulation Resources & Implementation
HS-PS2-3
Apply scientific and engineering ideas to design, evaluate, and refine a device that minimizes the force on a macroscopic object during a collision.
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Collision Force Minimizer - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive physics sandbox where users engineer the thickness and material stiffness of a crash cushion to minimize impact forces and protect a fragile payload during a drop.
Collision Force Minimizer Resources & Implementation
HS-PS2-4
Use mathematical representations of Newton’s Law of Gravitation and Coulomb’s Law to describe and predict the gravitational and electrostatic forces between objects.
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Gravity and Electrostatics Simulator - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation to compare gravitational and electrostatic forces, manipulate mass/charge/distance, and explore the inverse-square law through data logging and graphing.
Gravity and Electrostatics Simulator Resources & Implementation
HS-PS2-5
Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that an electric current can produce a magnetic field and that a changing magnetic field can produce an electric current.
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Electromagnetism & Induction Sandbox - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Plan investigations using interactive electromagnets to see how current produces magnetic fields, and use a moving magnet near a coil to see how changing magnetic flux induces a current.
Electromagnetism & Induction Sandbox Resources & Implementation
HS-PS2-6
Communicate scientific and technical information about why the molecular-level structure is important in the functioning of designed materials.
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Molecular Structures & Designed Materials - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Explore how the molecular-level structure of metals (conductivity), polymers (flexibility), and pharmaceuticals (specificity) determines their macro-scale functioning.
Molecular Structures & Designed Materials Resources & Implementation
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Electric Boat Submarine Hull Bonding - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Students act as metallurgists and welders tasked with fusing sections of a submarine’s pressure hull, observing how macroscopic heat inputs dictate microscopic crystalline structures.
HS-PS3-1
Create a computational model to calculate the change in the energy of one component in a system when the change in energy of the other component(s) and energy flows in and out of the system are known.
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Energy Change Computational Model - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive mathematical and computational model for a rollercoaster cart system, balancing kinetic, potential, and thermal energy changes with total energy flow.
Energy Change Computational Model Resources & Implementation
HS-PS3-2
Develop and use models to illustrate that energy at the macroscopic scale can be accounted for as a combination of energy associated with the motions of particles (objects) and energy associated with the relative position of particles (objects).
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Gas Laws: Boyle’s Law - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation demonstrating Boyle’s Law, exploring the inverse relationship between the macroscopic properties of volume and pressure by visualizing microscopic gas particle collisions.
Gas Laws: Boyle's Law Resources & Implementation
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Gas Laws: Gay-Lussac’s Law - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation demonstrating Gay-Lussac’s Law ($P \propto T$). Control the temperature of a rigid container to observe how microscopic particle motion directly affects macroscopic pressure.
Gas Laws: Gay-Lussac's Law Resources & Implementation
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Gas Laws: Ideal Gas Law - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation to explore the Ideal Gas Law (PV = nRT) with a dynamic particle engine and real-time P-V / P-T graphing.
Gas Laws: Ideal Gas Law Resources & Implementation
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Gas Laws: Charles’s Law - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation demonstrating Charles’s Law (V1/T1 = V2/T2) where students manipulate temperature and observe volume changes at constant pressure.
Gas Laws: Charles's Law Resources & Implementation
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Gas Laws: Real Gas vs. Ideal Gas Sandbox - __* IN DEVELOPMENT __ An interactive simulation to investigate how intermolecular forces (van der Waals constant *a) and particle volume (van der Waals constant b) cause real gases to deviate from ideal gas behavior.
Gas Laws: Real Gas vs. Ideal Gas Sandbox Resources & Implementation
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Diesel Engine Runaway Phenomenon - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive diesel engine simulation allowing students to explore the conversion of chemical potential energy to macroscopic kinetic energy, and how to troubleshoot a dangerous real-world trade phenomenon (a blown turbo seal).
Diesel Engine Runaway Phenomenon Resources & Implementation
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Puerto Rico Bioluminescent Bay - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation exploring the conversion of macroscopic kinetic energy into microscopic light energy in Puerto Rico’s bioluminescent bays.
Puerto Rico Bioluminescent Bay Resources & Implementation
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Macroscopic vs. Microscopic Energy Model - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive dual-view model illustrating how macroscopic temperature and elastic potential energy are derived from microscopic particle motion and relative particle positions.
Macroscopic vs. Microscopic Energy Model Resources & Implementation
HS-PS3-3
Design, build, and refine a device that works within given constraints to convert one form of energy into another form of energy.
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Engine Efficiency Simulation - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation of the Otto cycle where students tune an internal combustion engine (Compression Ratio, Air-Fuel Ratio) across different fuel types to optimize thermal efficiency and power while avoiding engine knock. Includes an inquiry challenge using an unknown “Mystery Fuel X”.
Engine Efficiency Simulation Resources & Implementation
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Stage Lighting Simulator - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Investigate the energy transfer and circuit topography of two stage lighting tracks.
Stage Lighting Simulator Resources & Implementation
HS-PS3-4
Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that the transfer of thermal energy when two components of different temperature are combined within a closed system results in a more uniform energy distribution among the components in the system (second law of thermodynamics).
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Thermal Equilibrium Sandbox - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive closed-system sandbox to investigate how components of different materials, masses, and initial temperatures transfer heat until reaching a uniform energy distribution (thermal equilibrium).
Thermal Equilibrium Sandbox Resources & Implementation
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New Haven Apizza Thermodynamics - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Explore the science of heat transfer (conduction, convection, radiation) in a traditional coal-fired brick oven and how it uniquely cooks Connecticut’s famous apizza.
New Haven Apizza Thermodynamics Resources & Implementation
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Retrofitting the Mark Twain House - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Trade students must apply modern HVAC and insulation techniques to minimize thermal energy loss in an 1874 mansion without damaging its historical fabric.
Mark Twain House Retrofit Resources & Implementation
HS-PS3-5
Develop and use a model of two objects interacting through electric or magnetic fields to illustrate the forces between objects and the changes in energy of the objects due to the interaction.
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Electric & Magnetic Field Energy Simulator - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Interactively drag charged or magnetic objects to observe how distance impacts force magnitude and stored field potential energy.
Electric & Magnetic Field Energy Simulator Resources & Implementation
HS-PS4-1
Use mathematical representations to support a claim regarding relationships among the frequency, wavelength, and speed of waves traveling in various media.
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From Sparks to Waves - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive lightning and wave oscilloscope simulation exploring propagation and oscilloscope models.
From Sparks to Waves Resources & Implementation
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3D Wave Superposition & Interference - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Interactive 3D simulation exploring wave superposition, constructive and destructive interference, and standing waves by dynamically placing sources and controlling wave parameters. Enhanced with dynamic height-based color contrast mapping, Play/Pause/Reset time controls, and an upgraded 2D slice chart visualization.
3D Wave Superposition & Interference Resources & Implementation
HS-PS4-2
Evaluate questions about the advantages of using a digital transmission and storage of information.
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Digital vs. Analog Transmission Advantages - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive simulation demonstrating how digital thresholding allows a noisy signal to be perfectly reconstructed, while analog continuous signals permanently degrade.
Digital vs. Analog Transmission Advantages Resources & Implementation
HS-PS4-3
Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning behind the idea that electromagnetic radiation can be described either by a wave model or a particle model, and that for some situations one model is more useful than the other.
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Wave-Particle Duality - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Evaluate two interactive models: the double-slit experiment (wave interference) and the photoelectric effect (particle threshold energy).
Wave-Particle Duality Resources & Implementation
HS-PS4-4
Evaluate the validity and reliability of claims in published materials of the effects that different frequencies of electromagnetic radiation have when absorbed by matter.
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EM Radiation Effects on Matter - * IN DEVELOPMENT * Evaluate the claims that low-frequency radiation causes safe thermal heating, while high-frequency radiation acts as ionizing radiation that damages cellular DNA.
EM Radiation Effects on Matter Resources & Implementation
HS-PS4-5
Communicate technical information about how some technological devices use the principles of wave behavior and wave interactions with matter to transmit and capture information and energy.
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Wave Technology: Information & Energy - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive exploration of how Solar Cells capture energy from light waves, and how Fiber Optics use total internal reflection to transmit digital data.
Wave Technology: Information & Energy Resources & Implementation
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Arecibo Observatory: Capturing Radio Waves - * IN DEVELOPMENT * An interactive physics simulation where students explore how technological devices use principles of wave behavior to capture information. Students manipulate the focal point, reflector geometry, and radio wave frequencies to optimize the telescope’s ability to capture faint signals from space.
Arecibo Observatory Resources & Implementation