EPFL Physics Simulations

Spec sheet

Purpose

The website provides interactive applications for learning, visualising, and experimenting with physics concepts in EPFL’s first-year mechanics courses.Read 11 Oct 2026 · epfl-physics.github.io

Intended users

The apps are developed to accompany EPFL’s introductory physics mechanics courses, and the site describes uses for teachers and students.Read 11 Oct 2026 · epfl-physics.github.io

Free plan

YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · epfl-physics.github.io

Support

The site invites users who find the apps useful to share them with fellow teachers and students.Read 11 Oct 2026 · epfl-physics.github.io

Activities

The activities are goal-oriented tasks intended to test knowledge and develop deeper understanding.Read 11 Oct 2026 · epfl-physics.github.io

App structure

Each app has introduction, theory, activities, and sandbox modules.Read 11 Oct 2026 · epfl-physics.github.io

Assessment tools

NoRead 20 Sep 2026 · epfl-physics.github.io

Authoring tools

NoRead 20 Sep 2026 · epfl-physics.github.io

Code license

The site says the code carries an Academic Non-Commercial Software License.Read 11 Oct 2026 · epfl-physics.github.io

Delivery mode

webRead 20 Sep 2026 · epfl-physics.github.io

Developers

The site names Dr Austin Peel for development, concept, and design, and Dr Sylvain Bréchet for concept and design.Read 11 Oct 2026 · epfl-physics.github.io

Development team

The site credits Dr Austin Peel for development, concept, and design, and Dr Sylvain Bréchet for concept and design.Read 11 Oct 2026 · epfl-physics.github.io

Educational license

The apps are Open Educational Resources licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International.Read 11 Oct 2026 · epfl-physics.github.io

Educational resource

The project describes its apps as Open Educational Resources licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International.Read 11 Oct 2026 · epfl-physics.github.io

Institutional support

The project acknowledges support from EPFL’s vice presidency for education and the Digital Resources for Instruction and Learning fund.Read 11 Oct 2026 · epfl-physics.github.io

Learning modules

Each app has four modules: introduction, theory, activities, and sandbox.Read 11 Oct 2026 · epfl-physics.github.io

Lesson library

YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · epfl-physics.github.io

Sandbox

The sandbox lets users freely set parameters to test hypotheses and run virtual experiments.Read 11 Oct 2026 · epfl-physics.github.io

Simulations

Listed simulations cover drone kinematics, rotating reference frames, coupled oscillations, and spinning-top dynamics.Read 11 Oct 2026 · epfl-physics.github.io

Teaching use

Teachers can use the theory module to manipulate dynamically drawn graphs, vectors, and other mathematical quantities during lectures.Read 11 Oct 2026 · epfl-physics.github.io

Theory

The theory module visualises the mathematics governing each physical system, with equation variables colour-coded to match their physical or mathematical counterparts.Read 11 Oct 2026 · epfl-physics.github.io

Where Specifiction places it

• Physics Simulation Software#82 of 896.9