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EPFL Physics Simulations
What EPFL Physics Simulations is
EPFL Physics Simulations is a free web collection of interactive applications for studying mechanics concepts from EPFL’s first-year physics courses. Each app combines an introduction, a theory section, activities, and a sandbox. Theory modules show the mathematics governing a physical system, using matching colours to connect equation variables with their physical or mathematical meanings. Activities give goal-focused tasks for checking knowledge and building understanding. In the sandbox, learners can change parameters, explore hypotheses, and run virtual experiments. Listed topics include drone kinematics, rotating reference frames, coupled oscillations, and spinning-top dynamics. Teachers can use dynamically drawn graphs, vectors, and other mathematical quantities during lectures. The apps are described for teachers and students and are available as Open Educational Resources under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International. The code uses an Academic Non-Commercial Software License.
Who it suits
It suits students and teachers working with introductory mechanics courses. Teachers can use the theory displays during lectures, while learners can work through activities and sandbox experiments.
What it does well
- Free web access
- Four-part structure in every app
- Sandbox supports parameter experiments
- Covers four listed mechanics topics
- Open Educational Resource licensing
What to know first
- No authoring tools
- No assessment tools
- Educational scope centers on introductory mechanics
Verdict
EPFL Physics Simulations provides a structured route from mechanics explanations to guided tasks and open experimentation. Its browser delivery and free educational licensing suit classroom and student use.
Facts from EPFL Physics Simulations's own pages
- Activities
- The activities are goal-oriented tasks intended to test knowledge and develop deeper understanding. · epfl-physics.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- App structure
- Each app has introduction, theory, activities, and sandbox modules. · epfl-physics.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Assessment tools
- No · epfl-physics.github.io, 20 Sept 2026
- Authoring tools
- No · epfl-physics.github.io, 20 Sept 2026
- Code license
- The site says the code carries an Academic Non-Commercial Software License. · epfl-physics.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Delivery mode
- web · epfl-physics.github.io, 20 Sept 2026
- Developers
- The site names Dr Austin Peel for development, concept, and design, and Dr Sylvain Bréchet for concept and design. · epfl-physics.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Development team
- The site credits Dr Austin Peel for development, concept, and design, and Dr Sylvain Bréchet for concept and design. · epfl-physics.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Educational license
- The apps are Open Educational Resources licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International. · epfl-physics.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Educational resource
- The project describes its apps as Open Educational Resources licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International. · epfl-physics.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · epfl-physics.github.io, 20 Sept 2026
- Institutional support
- The project acknowledges support from EPFL’s vice presidency for education and the Digital Resources for Instruction and Learning fund. · epfl-physics.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The apps are developed to accompany EPFL’s introductory physics mechanics courses, and the site describes uses for teachers and students. · epfl-physics.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Learning modules
- Each app has four modules: introduction, theory, activities, and sandbox. · epfl-physics.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Lesson library
- Yes · epfl-physics.github.io, 20 Sept 2026
- Purpose
- The website provides interactive applications for learning, visualising, and experimenting with physics concepts in EPFL’s first-year mechanics courses. · epfl-physics.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Sandbox
- The sandbox lets users freely set parameters to test hypotheses and run virtual experiments. · epfl-physics.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Simulations
- Listed simulations cover drone kinematics, rotating reference frames, coupled oscillations, and spinning-top dynamics. · epfl-physics.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- The site invites users who find the apps useful to share them with fellow teachers and students. · epfl-physics.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Teaching use
- Teachers can use the theory module to manipulate dynamically drawn graphs, vectors, and other mathematical quantities during lectures. · epfl-physics.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
- Theory
- The theory module visualises the mathematics governing each physical system, with equation variables colour-coded to match their physical or mathematical counterparts. · epfl-physics.github.io, 11 Oct 2026
Where EPFL Physics Simulations stands on Freedom251
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