The Escape Velocity Interactive is an adjustable-size file that displays nicely on smart phones, on tablets such as the iPad, on Chromebooks, and on laptops and desktops. The size of the Interactive can be scaled to fit the device that it is displayed on. The compatibility with smart phones, iPads, other tablets, and Chromebooks make it a perfect tool for use in a 1:1 classroom.
 

 

This Interactive focuses on the concept of escape velocity. A rock is projected vertically with a velocity. As it rises upward, the gravitational potential energy of the earth-rock system and the kinetic energy fo the rock are calculated. The simulation ends when the maximum height is reached by the rock. The rock's initial velocity can be altered in an effort to escape Earth's gravitational attraction. 

There are a variety of input parameters that can be altered. These include the initial velocity of the rock, the mass of the rock, the mass of the planet, and the radius of the planet. For convenience, a collection of planet buttons allow the user to set the planet mass and radius to that of a specific planet.

The simulation includes a variety of displays. These include calculation panels for potential energy, kinetic energy, and total mechanical energy. There are also digital outputs for time, acceleration, velocity, height, and force of gravity.
 

 

 

There are numerous resources at The Physics Classroom website that serve as very complementary supports for the Escape Velocity Interactive. These include:

 

 

 

We owe a special thanks to Physics teacher Martin Kirby for contributing the Escape Velocity Simulation to our Interactives collection. If you like this sim, you can tap on the Donate button and buy him a cup of coffee (or a pot of coffee); he'd appreciate it. Martin has contributed many other simulations to our Interactives collection. You can view them all by visiting our page listing all Martin Kirby Simulations. Or visit Martin's website (kirbyx.com) to learn more.

 

View: Interactive