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Throughout the ages, brave teachers have made science fun. Watching Mr. Wizard, Bill Nye or even Beakman made kids want to go out, pick up a lab coat and make some science. Or at least blow things up. Then those same kids would endure a Science Class in school, and, crestfallen and bored beyond belief, would turn toward other interests and activities for excitement. It would seem that it takes a certain enthusiasm and hands-on approach to keep kids focused on science and not, say, the cute girl in the next row.

Making science fun isn’t all that difficult. It’s the part about having a classroom full of kids with rubber bands and super balls and vaccuum tracks that doesn’t work well. Computer simulation, though, doesn’t take up space and leaves no big messes. Physics computer simulations, though, generally cost a lot of money and were cumbersome to use, let alone play with and tinker.

Not so with My Physics Lab. On this site can be found around twenty interactive Java applets of various physics toys, such as a pyramid made out of springs and a swinging double pendulum. Everything can be clicked on and manipulated, and each successive toy gets more interesting. They’re not necessarily interesting enough for most surfers to continue onto the explanations of underlying differential equations and matrix math, but those too are there for the hardcore readers. But everyone can enjoy interacting with the site at some level, even if that’s merely bouncing the sumo blocks around.