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PhysicsCD Sofware Review
| Title: |
PhysicsCD |
| Made by: |
M.C.H. Multimedia, Inc. |
| Platform: |
Windows 95/98/NT and MacOS |
| Category: |
Education & Reference: Physics |
| Price: |
Free 30 day demo; $36.56 students, $75.92 institutions |
| Ordering Info: |
Click here to order
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| Description: |
Educational Multimedia
The PhysicsCD is an interactive physics education and demonstration software. It was developed by Prof. B.C. Sanctuary and his team at the McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
This software demonstrates basic physics concepts, from kinematics to quantum theory, with the use of interactive animations, diagrams and voice narration. The PhysicsCD can be effectively used as a supplemental multimedia to traditional textbooks at the high school and introductory college level.
Interface
The PhysicsCD covers a fairly broad range of physics topics most of which are illustrated with diagrams and animations, and voice narrated. The screen lesson browser is shown below.
Navigation and control buttons are located at the most right edge of the browser. Topics and sub-topics are listed as hyperlinks in the two scroll windows in the middle. The topic content is shown in the left, largest portion of the screen. This interface is where PhysicsCD falls short of a great software. User is confined to rather small browser window (which is not resizable), navigation buttons are boring and non-intuitive, and a user has to do a lot of scrolling in the topic windows. At some point in a given topic, the topic list disappears and the content spreads to a full screen. A more consistent navigation scheme would be a definite improvement to this software.
Content
The PhysicsCD covers following topics:
kinematics, projectile motion, frames of reference, forces, Newton's laws, momentum and collisions, work and energy, rotational motion, gravitation, thermodynamics, waves, sound, electromagnetic theory, blackbody radiation, photoelectric effect, Compton effect, quantum mechanics, special relativity, nuclear structure, and more.
All of these topics are very well covered with accurate diagrams, plots, animations and relevant equations. Problems are given to students and further exercises suggested.
Most topics are narrated while the visual demonstration is presented (animations, diagrams, photos, etc.) While the narration is extremely useful, it is done in a fairly monotonous voice. I can easily see high school students falling asleep during the presentation.
A really great feature of this software is a reference section which contains lists of fundamental physical and math constants, table of integrals, interactive periodic table of elements, and more. Several math preparation lessons are also included.
Conclusion
Even though PhysicsCD needs an interface and narrative improvement it is the best physics class-room and home study education software I have seen. It contains a broad range of topics which are demonstrated quite effectively with the use of interactive animations, diagrams, narrative, equations, etc. I can see students and educators benefiting immensely by using PhysicsCD to supplement their class textbook.
Notes
In addition to PhysicsCD two chemistry equivalents are available from the same authors. Also, one can purchase sets of topics (as opposed to the complete CD) at a substantially lower prices.
Click here to download a fully functional 30 day demo version of this software.
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 ORDERING INFO |
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