Concurrent Use of Demonstrations and Simulations for Teaching of Basic Physics

An example of the concurrent usage of both demonstrations and simulations in understanding rolling motion is provided in this study. We used a sequence of demonstrations of a solid ball rolling down inclines with different angles. Next, we used Algodoo, a simulation software, to simulate a ball rolling down different types of inclines. The sequence of demonstrations and simulations was exhibited to 22 students who did not take physics in high school. Student predictions were challenged, and they hadopportunities to use simulations to further analyze the ball's rolling motion. The simulations aided the students to observe and analyze the ball's position and velocity in each case.