VOA标准英语2010年-Website of the Week – Physics Intera

Time again for our Website of the Week, when we showcase interesting and innovative¹ online destinations.

This time it's an educational site where principles of physics are illustrated² with interactive³ animated⁴ experiments that you can perform on your own computer.

"The PhET website is a collection of 85 simulations for teaching and learning science. So our main goal is to help students better understand the science of the world around them, but instead of telling students how something works, our simulations let them discover important science concepts for themselves and really learn and engage through scientist-like exploration," says Kathy Perkins.

Perkins is co-director of the Physics Education Technology, or PhET Interactive Simulations website.

Despite the name, the site includes animated simulations in biology, chemistry, and other disciplines, as well as physics. You can build your own solar system, model the hydrogen atom, or explore the properties of a gas as you change its temperature and other variables.

Another simulation allows you to design and modify a simple electrical circuit.

"So when you open up, you can drag out wires and batteries and bulbs," explains Perkins. "And as you connect them, as soon as you complete a circuit, you'll see the light bulb light up and the electrons shown in the wires circulate around the circuit."

The simulations look like entertainment, but Perkins says the design of each has been tested for its educational value.

"And then we do user testing with students, to ensure that the user interface⁵ is easy to use, and that the visual representation and the controls we include in the simulation actually leads to a correct interpretation⁶ of the underlying⁷ science."

The simulations can be used in the classroom, and the site has materials to help teachers make best use of it. Or you can just run the sims and learn by doing online at phet.colorado.edu, or visit our site, VOAnews.com, for the link to this and hundreds of other Websites of the Week. 

 

1 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

2 illustrated   

adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• His lecture was illustrated with slides taken during the expedition. 他在讲演中使用了探险时拍摄到的幻灯片。
• The manufacturing Methods: Will be illustrated in the next chapter. 制作方法将在下一章说明。

3 interactive   

adj.相互作用的，互相影响的，（电脑）交互的

参考例句：

• The psychotherapy is carried out in small interactive groups.这种心理治疗是在互动的小组之间进行的。
• This will make videogames more interactive than ever.这将使电子游戏的互动性更胜以往。

4 animated   

adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的

参考例句：

• His observations gave rise to an animated and lively discussion.他的言论引起了一场气氛热烈而活跃的讨论。
• We had an animated discussion over current events last evening.昨天晚上我们热烈地讨论时事。

5 interface   

n.接合部位，分界面；v.(使)互相联系

参考例句：

• My computer has a network interface,which allows me to get to other computers.我的计算机有网络接口可以与其它计算机连在一起。
• This program has perspicuous interface and extensive application. 该程序界面明了，适用范围广。

6 interpretation   

n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理

参考例句：

• His statement admits of one interpretation only.他的话只有一种解释。
• Analysis and interpretation is a very personal thing.分析与说明是个很主观的事情。

7 underlying   

adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的

参考例句：

• The underlying theme of the novel is very serious.小说隐含的主题是十分严肃的。
• This word has its underlying meaning.这个单词有它潜在的含义。