Augmented and Virtual Reality Projects
STEMinAR
AR Application Under Construction: Our goal is to further expand our AR applications that illustrate concepts in Thermodynamics, Electrical Circuits, Electro-Magnetic Induction, Rotational Motion, and Optics. If you'd like to be a part of testing these simulations in the future, please email rosengrant@usf.edu
Two augmented reality (AR) simulations – Newton's Cannon and Force – are available for open beta testing on Android devices. In the project STEMinAR application, players can use augmented reality technology to observe concepts and manipulate variables such as elevation, velocity, displacement, acceleration, etc. overlaid within their physical environment.
A printable AR template facilitates the simulations, which educators can freely print for use in the classroom. Supplemental curricular material is available that follows the Science Learning Environment approach; students make observations about the world around them, which leads to patterns and testable models.
Link to download STEMinAR application (Beta - Android) – iOS platform is currently not supported.
Link to download AR Cube Template – .docx file
Force Motion AR Simulation
The Force simulation begins with the view of a spaceship; students will choose the initial velocity, size of the force, force delay (how long before the rockets turn on), and force duration in any of the XYZ coordinates. In the simulation, a rocket blast represents force and an arrow represents the direction of motion. Students can view the effects of their inputted variables and come to conclusions about how force affects acceleration, the relationship between the direction of the net force and direction of motion, etc. On the left side, students have access to real-time data and can create graphs of displacement, velocity, or acceleration.
Here is a free lab to get you started. This lab is designed for conceptual physics to help students learn how force is related to acceleration, not necessarily motion.
Here is a tutorial on how to use the app:
Newton's Cannon AR Simulation
The Newton's Cannon AR simulation captures how objects move in space. Students will see a cannon positioned on top of their selected planet. Depending on their inputted variables (elevation and velocity), students can observe whether the fired cannonball will either strike the ground at some distance, fly off into space, or go into an orbit around earth. Through experimentation, students learn that if they keep firing the cannonball at higher and higher velocity, eventually, the cannonball will be falling as quickly as the surface of Earth is curving away from the cannonball. This classic thought experiment comes from Issac Newton, who published the first explanation of orbital motion in his book Principia Mathematica. Students will enjoy learning about the fascinating concepts of gravity, velocity, and orbits as they explore this Newton's Cannon AR simulation.
Link to download Gravity Lab – .docx file
Special thanks to my partners at Kennesaw State University: Rongai Guo, former Assistant Professor in the Department of Software Engineering and Game Development Devan Patel, former student in the Department of Software Engineering and Game Development.