The Physics Lab. A virtual physics lab for curious minds.
A little wonder. A big “why?”Launch a ball. Bend a ray. Catch a wave. Twelve interactive simulations with live calculators make the invisible click.
Find your next experiment ↗Which angle goes the farthest?
What if you changed…
Physics Simulations & Visual Calculators
What happens if…? There’s only one way to find out.
Position, velocity & acceleration
Connect a moving object to its position–time and velocity–time graphs.
Energy on a ramp
Watch gravitational potential energy turn into kinetic energy on a frictionless ramp.
Pendulum explorer
Change length and gravity to discover what controls a pendulum’s period.
Traveling wave explorer
Connect wavelength, frequency, wave speed, and particle motion on one traveling wave.
Series & parallel resistors
Compare equivalent resistance, branch currents, and voltage drops in two-resistor circuits.
Refraction & total internal reflection
Change the incident angle and refractive indices to see a ray bend or reflect internally.
Popular physics calculators
Every calculator shows its formula, its assumptions, and each step of the working.
Motion & forces
Launch, accelerate, push, and float.
Energy & oscillations
Trade height for speed and find the rhythm.
Electricity & light
Follow current through wires and light through glass.
Make your next “aha” stick.
Eight questions. Clear explanations. All the time you need.
Explore our learning apps
One good question leads to another. Discover more free, interactive learning tools from the same maker.
Interactive Periodic Table
Meet the elements. Explore their properties and mix compounds in the chemistry sandbox.
Explore chemistryAstronomy Lab
Follow an orbit, explore Moon phases, and discover the worlds beyond our own.
Explore spaceGeometry Lab
Move a point, solve a triangle, and watch angles, shapes, and formulas make sense.
Explore mathBiology Lab
Cross two parents, translate a gene into protein, and watch a population grow.
Explore biologyKidsCode
Guide a robot, snap code blocks together, and make your first real Python programs.
Explore codingEarth Science Lab
Find an earthquake, move plates, carve a river, and follow water and rock through Earth’s cycles.
Explore earth scienceThe Physics Lab: frequently asked questions
Wondering about the why? Start here.
What is The Physics Lab?
The Physics Lab is a free virtual physics lab that runs in your browser. Twelve interactive simulations cover projectile motion, motion graphs, friction, energy, pendulums, springs, waves, Ohm’s law, series and parallel circuits, buoyancy, refraction, and lenses. Change an input to see the diagram, measurements, and worked calculation respond.
Browse all simulationsIs The Physics Lab free?
Yes. Simulations, lessons, practice problems, worksheets, and diagram downloads are free without an account. All calculations happen in your browser.
Can I run physics lab experiments online here?
Yes. Each simulation works like a small online lab: set the starting conditions, press Play, record the measurements, and compare them with the formula. Shareable links keep your settings, so a class can repeat the same experiment.
Try the pendulum labAre the simulations physically realistic?
They use standard introductory physics models. Every experiment explains its assumptions, such as no air resistance, no friction, a small-angle approximation, or ideal circuit components. Use them to understand relationships rather than as engineering design tools.
Can I use this in a lesson?
Yes. Share a link containing your experiment settings, download an SVG diagram, or print a worksheet with an optional answer key. The practice studio also gives an explanation after every answer.
Create a worksheetWhere should I begin?
Try changing the launch angle in the projectile experiment. Predict which angle sends the ball farthest, then test it. Follow the linked lesson when you want to understand why.
Explore projectile motion