Physlets—“Physics applets”—are small, flexible Java applets that can be used in a wide variety of WWW applications. Many other Physics-related Java applets are being produced around the world—some of them very useful for education. However, the collection of applets we call “Physlets” has some attributes that make it valuable for the educational enterprise.
Physlets are simple.
The graphics are simple; each Physlet is designed to deal with only one facet of physical
phenomena, and does not incorporate very much in the way of data analysis. This keeps Physlets relatively small—easing
downloading problems over slow network connections—and removes details that could be more
distracting than helpful.
Physlets are flexible.
All Physlets can be set up and controlled with JavaScript, meaning Animator can be used
for almost any subject in mechanics and EField for almost any topic in electrostatics with small
changes in the JavaScript—and not the Java—associated with each exercise. Data taking and data analysis can be added when needed
using inter-applet communication.