Science Simulations on the Internet

Computer simulations can represent real or imaginary situations. They allow users to study or try things that would be difficult or impossible to do in real life.

Plants

Y3 Grow a plant simulation
This simulation is particularly particularly relevant to Year 3 because children already have the opportunity do the real experiment in science (unit 3b). Children can compare the simulation with the experiment. They can then use the information they gather about each of the plants to discuss where it would grow best in their house and where it would grow outside (possibly in another country).
Download a recording sheet (textease file)

Plant Force
You work for a plant development company and and have to try and find out the optimum conditions for its growth. Which is the cheapest option?

Grow Alien plants Change the variables to grow Universe record breaking plant.
There are four plants that need feeding:

BBC virtual garden planner. Allows you to plan a garden then view it in '3D'

Keeping Healthy

Interactive Heart
Explore the structure and the function of the heart. Download the software to use offline

Forces

Parachute Man Simulation
Help the parachutist land safely. Good link for Science work on Forces.

Roller Coaster Designer -
Design your own roller-coaster. Good link for Science work on Forces.

Electricity

Crocodile Clips Elementary
Crocodile Clips Elementary comes with a set of worksheets introducing electric current and circuits, and you can also use the pictorial components to build your own circuits, adding text and images as you go. All of the circuits you design simulate just like in real life, letting you experiment with electricity in a safe and enjoyable way.

Space

Planet10 -
Build your own planet in this virtual universe

Earth, Sun and Moon – simulation of the orbit of the planets
(www.fearofphysics.com/SunMoon/sunmoon.html)

Design your own Satellite

Environmental

Global Warming simulation.
Science museum climate change simulation. What happens if you don’t turn the light off?

Food Chains

Food Chain Simulation

Virtual Experiments

BBC Online Clips

BP Young Science Investigator Online Experiments

Browse Primary YSI Resources

Twelve step-by-step interactive online science experiments to develop pupil’s investigative Science skills. Worksheets, teachers notes, video clips, and photos of real world science in action are included.

You will need to register your school first, using an email address.

[direct link] 

Secondary Schools Science Simulations

Science Simulations

Crash Test