During our academic journey, there are subjects we enjoy more and others we find quite difficult. It’s no wonder that we often seek ways to better understand the tough concepts of the difficult subjects, particularly maths and physics. Fortunately, I recently came across PhET Interactive Simulations — a site that made me wonder if physics could ever feel like a breath of fresh air.

Without a doubt, PhET is one of the best resources for interactive physics simulations available on the internet, created by the University of Colorado Boulder. The site covers everything from basic to advanced physics concepts through animations and simulations, making it hard to believe we ever struggled with these concepts in the first place.

The site is visually engaging and very user-friendly. All the simulations in sections like motion, forces, energy, electricity and magnetism are not only educational, but are also designed to be intuitive, allowing you to explore at your own pace without feeling overwhelmed by the often difficult jargon of the subject.

With a clean and simple layout, you can easily navigate on the website; the good part — it is not just limited to physics but also covers subjects like chemistry, earth science, biology and mathematics. You can choose the category/subject from the ‘Simulations’ tab in the top menu.

Each simulation includes a simple description and instructions to get started. Some simulations offer interactive activities or ‘challenge’ modes, where you can experiment. For example, the simulation on forces and motion lets you set up different objects, change their mass, apply forces and see how they move — all in real-time.

This hands-on approach makes it easier to grasp difficult concepts, helping you not just memorise the facts, but truly understand the principles behind them.

You can also use a ‘Filters’ section that allows you to sort simulations by grade level.

Whether you’re learning for exams or trying to be an expert, PhET makes physics really simple that no typical textbook can. So, without wasting more time, transform the way you learn physics at: https://phet.colorado.edu

Published in Dawn, Young World, May 3rd, 2025