Teacher Demonstration
Use the live model as a shared screen demonstration before students try their own predictions and observations.
Physics / Electricity and Magnetism
Potential Difference
Explore Potential Difference as an interactive EJS simulation for electricity and magnetism.
1. Watch or Launch
Launch the Interactive
Open the simulation, adjust the controls, and compare what changes on screen before answering the concept-check questions.
2. Big Ideas
Key idea This physics / electricity and magnetism model helps learners connect a controlled change in the simulation to a measurable physical outcome.
What Students Can Learn
- Identify the variable being changed and the quantity being observed.
- Use the graph, labels, or numerical display as evidence.
- Compare two settings before forming a conclusion.
- Explain the pattern using the relevant physics concept rather than a visual impression alone.
Guiding Question
What changed, what stayed constant, and what evidence from the model supports your explanation?
3. Try the Investigation
Make a Prediction
Choose one control in the model and predict how the displayed outcome will change.
Change One Variable
Adjust only that control. Keep the other visible settings as constant as possible so the comparison is meaningful.
Use Screen Evidence
Record what changed in the graph, numerical label, motion, field, or diagram. Use that evidence rather than only saying it looked different.
Explain the Relationship
Compare the before-and-after cases and write the physics relationship that explains the observed difference.
4. Teacher Notes
Lesson Use
Use the model for a short predict-observe-explain cycle. Students should name the control they changed, the physical quantity they observed, and the evidence that supports their explanation.
Discussion Prompts
Ask students to compare two settings: What changed? What stayed the same? Which graph, label, motion, force, field, or numerical value is the strongest evidence for the physics claim?
Teaching Moves
Keep the focus on one-variable comparisons and screen evidence before introducing formal vocabulary. This helps students link the visual model to the underlying physics relationship.
5. Concept Check
These questions are generated from the topic and the concept illustrated by the simulation. Use them after students have explored the model.
Concept Score
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1. What is the main value of using Potential Difference as a simulation?
2. Which habit makes the investigation more reliable?
3. What should students use as evidence in their explanation?
4. Why is comparing two settings useful?
5. What is a strong final response after using the simulation?
7. Learning Pulse
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