April 1, 2014 (Vol. 34, No. 7)

URL:
http://bit.ly/1fT7IoV

Rating:
Strong Points: Contains both theory and simulations
Weak Points: Notes are very advanced, some simulations are glitchy

Platform:
iPad/iPhone

Cost:
Free

Summary:

If you you looking for an interactive way to better understand concepts in physics such as how a mass-spring system, temperature system, or pendulum system behaves, look no further than iDynamic, a great app by NgM Software that teaches these (and other) concepts through the combined use of theory and simulation. The app is divided into modules, each corresponding to a topic such as those listed above. For each module there exists a theory section and a simulation section. Under the theory section, app users will find a text introduction to the concept, including relevant math equations. (Users be warned, though: you will encounter advanced mathematical concepts such as partial derivatives.) The other section of the app includes interactive simulations demonstrating the behavior of the systems. Users can adjust various physical parameters and observe how those parameters affect the system. The app comes with a base set of free modules and additional modules can be purchased.

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