Crocodile Clips
Simple Simulation Software
Crocodile Physics review in Technology & Learning magazine
Technology & Learning Magazine
July 2001
Crocodile Physics is a complete physics package incorporating Absorb High School Physics, an electronic courseware package, and the Crocodile Physics interactive simulator, an on-screen simulation lab for experimentation.
Absorb High School Physics courseware covers 18 chapters of physics information ranging from principles of basic measurement to optics. Interactive, animated demonstrations complement core physics concepts in each section of this e-book. Students can experiment with and manipulate many of the 90 example demonstrations to do such things as change projectile angles and velocity to measure distance.
The Crocodile simulator lets kids explore and test any of the core concepts discussed in the courseware. They can perform numerous activities and experiments using the rich simulator toolbars that visually organize options. For example, a books toolbar lets students toggle between chapters of Absorb courseware and activities, while the picture toolbar takes them to activities with basic circuits, switches, and batteries. Once they complete activities, students can graph the data collected from experiments, print the graph, and save the simulation for future reference.
Additionally, the simulator allows kids to move and manipulate objects, e.g., students will like setting up circuits by connecting pictures of components to see if they work correctly. After selecting needed components, such as a battery, switch, or electric motor, users can then arrange and connect working parts. If connected correctly, lights on the circuit board illuminate or a trial motor will spin, complete with motor sounds.
While the broad scope of the package is somewhat intimidating and its menus complicated, Crocodile Physics is a very complete program that would work well with school and college students.