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Done by: Khalid Al-Fajrani Abdullah Al-Kharusi

Submitted to: Dr Alaa

Crocodile Physics is a simulation program allowing visual display of physical processes in the following areas: electrical/electronic circuits, basic mechanical components and optics. Students are able to “design” systems with elements from these areas, operate these systems and place measuring devices to quantify system behavior. The software can operate in simulation mode (allowing the user to watch the simulation operate) or in analysis mode to measure specific parameters and observe changes during simulation.  Crocodile Physics is very intuitive. Students will quickly figure out how to put systems of their choosing on the screen. The program has some fun effects, like electrical components that “explode” on the screen when overloaded.  Teachers can use Crocodile Physics both as a tool to allow “hands-on-computer” simulation by students or to prepare visuals to supplement teaching content in the physical sciences or mathematics.

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Overview

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Accuracy of Content: Software of this nature needs several levels of accuracy as follows: Component accuracy: Components are displayed visually and depicted as they actually appear in real life. This works well for optical and physical system components. For electrical components it might be better to have an option of choosing either the real physical appearance of the component or its IEEE standard symbol. Analytical accuracy: Since many types of systems can be analyzed, it would be very difficult to be able to evaluate each extensively. From my experience, the physical and optical systems produce simulations that look reasonable. I have tested several of the electrical circuits and find that the program’s analysis predicts actual behavior.

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Technical Quality The software was easy to install and operate. Crocodile Physics uses the familiar Windows format and includes intuitive commands for building and operating systems. This command structure is surprisingly easy to navigate, and invites the user to rapidly gain increased levels of proficiency. The appearance of the simulations is very pleasing. Just as importantly, simulations that result from the use of this software are clean and uncluttered. This is unlike other programs which try to make three dimensional representations of circuits and end up being very busy with hard to follow screen images. Sound and animation are very appropriately used. Sound only happens when disaster occurs, like when an electrical component is overloaded and goes “pop”. Animation is part of physical system operation and allows students to see their simulation in action, and to watch the physical parameters of the system change as the simulation progresses.

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Use of Technology

The technology in this program is essential and well used. Without the capacity to continuously calculate physical parameters and watch and measure the simulation, the program would be useless. As indicated earlier, construction of systems is intuitive and simple. The program is an excellent example of a teaching tool that could not exist without modern computers. The software is not designed to allow student tracking as might be useful if a teacher gave specific assignments and wanted automatic tracking of student accomplishment, but programs of this sort generally do not have this feature. The technology of this program is also user friendly. The Windows environment is instantly familiar to the student or teacher, and this enhances not only effectiveness of use, but confidence that the user will be successful with the program.

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**Role of StudentsStudents have a great deal of control over how they use the software. All features of the program are available to the user at all times so the student is limited only by their understanding (which will grow rapidly with this program) and imagination. A typical assignment that students may pursue on Crocodile Physics might involve investigating a parallel DC electrical circuit involving a power supply, switch, LED, resistor and motor. Students could “build” the circuit and measure its performance with various combinations of resistance and voltage. A learning goal might be to investigate the circuit to determine the limits of voltage and resistance that allow both the motor and LED to operate.**Role of TeacherSoftware of this nature liberates the teacher to provide effective visuals, or to assign real world activities or a combination of both. The intuitive nature of the program streamlines the process of introducing the program to the students. This is a strong plus with any software. The broad facility of the program allows it to fit into mathematics curricula where real world visual examples are effective, into physical sciences curricula for “hands-on-computer” experiments, or in technology education curricula for building software prototypes of systems.

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I really like Crocodile Physics. I first ran into the program when it only modeled electrical circuits. I was impressed with how intuitive the program was and remains. I was able to use it in a classroom exercise the day I got the software. Its strengths include the broad range of systems it can simulate, ease of use, accuracy, flexibility and fairly low cost. The only shortcoming I anticipate is that all systems are available at once, and students prone to wander might spend more time trying out different options than working the assignment.

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