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Mini-Challenges with PhET™ Simulations

Short, guided science challenges that help students explore PhET simulations, make observations, and answer five questions to show what they understand.

130 challenges in the collection

Build an Atom PhET simulation screenshot
Mini-Challenges with PhET Simulations

Build an Atom

Protons, neutrons, and electrons, plus isotopes and ions.

Physical Science
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Build an Atom challenges

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  1. Parts of the Atom (Build an Atom, opens in a new tab)
  2. Fix Lithium-7 (Build an Atom, opens in a new tab)
  3. Lithium-7 Test Bench (Build an Atom, opens in a new tab)
  4. Mystery Atom (Build an Atom, opens in a new tab)
  5. Carbon Isotopes (Build an Atom, opens in a new tab)
  6. Charge Check (Build an Atom, opens in a new tab)
  7. Shells vs. Cloud (Build an Atom, opens in a new tab)
  8. Hydrogen Isotopes (Build an Atom, opens in a new tab)
  9. Positive Ion (Build an Atom, opens in a new tab)
  10. Periodic Table Neighbors (Build an Atom, opens in a new tab)
Gases Intro PhET simulation screenshot
Mini-Challenges with PhET Simulations

Gases Intro

Particle motion, temperature, pressure, volume, and gas behavior.

Physical Science
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Gases Intro challenges

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  1. Always Moving (Gases Intro, opens in a new tab)
  2. Heat Up, Cool Down (Gases Intro, opens in a new tab)
  3. Toward Absolute Zero (Gases Intro, opens in a new tab)
  4. Heat It and It Grows (Gases Intro, opens in a new tab)
  5. Cool It and It Shrinks (Gases Intro, opens in a new tab)
  6. Pressure Push (Gases Intro, opens in a new tab)
  7. Pop the Lid (Gases Intro, opens in a new tab)
  8. More Particles, More Pressure (Gases Intro, opens in a new tab)
  9. Squeeze It (Gases Intro, opens in a new tab)
  10. Heavy and Light (Gases Intro, opens in a new tab)
States of Matter: Basics PhET simulation screenshot
Mini-Challenges with PhET Simulations

States of Matter: Basics

Solids, liquids, and gases, particle motion, melting, boiling, condensation, freezing, and the water cycle.

Physical Science
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States of Matter: Basics challenges

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  1. Three States (States of Matter: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  2. Particles on the Move (States of Matter: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  3. Melting Ice (States of Matter: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  4. Boiling Water (States of Matter: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  5. Condensation (States of Matter: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  6. Freezing (States of Matter: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  7. Hotter Means Faster (States of Matter: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  8. Not All the Same (States of Matter: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  9. Under Pressure (States of Matter: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  10. Water Cycle Connections (States of Matter: Basics, opens in a new tab)
Buoyancy: Basics PhET simulation screenshot
Mini-Challenges with PhET Simulations

Buoyancy: Basics

Density, displacement, floating, sinking, and buoyant force.

Physical Science
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Buoyancy: Basics challenges

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  1. Same Mass (Buoyancy: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  2. Same Volume (Buoyancy: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  3. Same Density (Buoyancy: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  4. Sink or Float (Buoyancy: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  5. Measure by Displacement (Buoyancy: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  6. Find the Density (Buoyancy: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  7. Forces When Floating (Buoyancy: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  8. Forces When Sinking (Buoyancy: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  9. Change the Fluid (Buoyancy: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  10. The Tipping Point (Buoyancy: Basics, opens in a new tab)
Energy Skate Park: Basics PhET simulation screenshot
Mini-Challenges with PhET Simulations

Energy Skate Park: Basics

Kinetic, potential, and thermal energy through motion and friction.

Physical Science
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Energy Skate Park: Basics challenges

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  1. Up and Down (Energy Skate Park: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  2. Energy Pie (Energy Skate Park: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  3. Energy Bars (Energy Skate Park: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  4. Start Higher (Energy Skate Park: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  5. Heavier Skater (Energy Skate Park: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  6. Over the Hump (Energy Skate Park: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  7. Add Friction (Energy Skate Park: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  8. Where Does the Energy Go? (Energy Skate Park: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  9. Coming to a Stop (Energy Skate Park: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  10. Build a Track (Energy Skate Park: Basics, opens in a new tab)
Forces and Motion: Basics PhET simulation screenshot
Mini-Challenges with PhET Simulations

Forces and Motion: Basics

Balanced and unbalanced forces, friction, mass, and acceleration.

Physical Science
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Forces and Motion: Basics challenges

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  1. Balanced Tug of War (Forces and Motion: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  2. Unbalanced Tug of War (Forces and Motion: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  3. Win the Tug of War (Forces and Motion: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  4. Keep on Rolling (Forces and Motion: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  5. Same Push, More Mass (Forces and Motion: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  6. Friction Holds It (Forces and Motion: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  7. Less Friction (Forces and Motion: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  8. Coming to a Stop (Forces and Motion: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  9. Push Harder (Forces and Motion: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  10. Steady Speed (Forces and Motion: Basics, opens in a new tab)
Circuit Construction Kit: DC PhET simulation screenshot
Mini-Challenges with PhET Simulations

Circuit Construction Kit: DC

Build circuits and investigate current, voltage, conductors, series, and parallel paths.

Physical Science
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Circuit Construction Kit: DC challenges

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  1. Light the Bulb (Circuit Construction Kit: DC, opens in a new tab)
  2. Fix the Circuit (Circuit Construction Kit: DC, opens in a new tab)
  3. Open and Closed (Circuit Construction Kit: DC, opens in a new tab)
  4. Conductor or Insulator (Circuit Construction Kit: DC, opens in a new tab)
  5. Bulbs in Series (Circuit Construction Kit: DC, opens in a new tab)
  6. Bulbs in Parallel (Circuit Construction Kit: DC, opens in a new tab)
  7. Series or Parallel? (Circuit Construction Kit: DC, opens in a new tab)
  8. More Voltage (Circuit Construction Kit: DC, opens in a new tab)
  9. Short Circuit (Circuit Construction Kit: DC, opens in a new tab)
  10. Dim It Down (Circuit Construction Kit: DC, opens in a new tab)
pH Scale: Basics PhET simulation screenshot
Mini-Challenges with PhET Simulations

pH Scale: Basics

Acids, bases, neutral solutions, dilution, and changes in pH.

Physical Science
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pH Scale: Basics challenges

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  1. Read the Meter (pH Scale: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  2. Acid or Base? (pH Scale: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  3. What Is Neutral? (pH Scale: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  4. The Strongest Acid (pH Scale: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  5. The Strongest Base (pH Scale: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  6. Water Down an Acid (pH Scale: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  7. Water Down a Base (pH Scale: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  8. Pour Some Out (pH Scale: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  9. Add More Juice (pH Scale: Basics, opens in a new tab)
  10. Order the Liquids (pH Scale: Basics, opens in a new tab)
Wave on a String PhET simulation screenshot
Mini-Challenges with PhET Simulations

Wave on a String

Amplitude, frequency, wavelength, particle motion, reflection, tension, and damping.

Physical Science
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Wave on a String challenges

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  1. Make a Wave (Wave on a String, opens in a new tab)
  2. Parts of a Wave (Wave on a String, opens in a new tab)
  3. Taller Waves (Wave on a String, opens in a new tab)
  4. Faster Wiggles (Wave on a String, opens in a new tab)
  5. Measure the Wavelength (Wave on a String, opens in a new tab)
  6. Follow the Bead (Wave on a String, opens in a new tab)
  7. Tighter String (Wave on a String, opens in a new tab)
  8. Bounce Back: Fixed End (Wave on a String, opens in a new tab)
  9. Bounce Back: Loose End (Wave on a String, opens in a new tab)
  10. Fading Away (Wave on a String, opens in a new tab)
Gravity and Orbits PhET simulation screenshot
Mini-Challenges with PhET Simulations

Gravity and Orbits

Gravitational force, orbital motion, mass, velocity, and scale.

Physical ScienceEarth & Space Science
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Gravity and Orbits challenges

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  1. Around the Sun (Gravity and Orbits, opens in a new tab)
  2. Gravity Off (Gravity and Orbits, opens in a new tab)
  3. Follow the Pull (Gravity and Orbits, opens in a new tab)
  4. Which Way Is It Going? (Gravity and Orbits, opens in a new tab)
  5. A More Massive Sun (Gravity and Orbits, opens in a new tab)
  6. A Less Massive Sun (Gravity and Orbits, opens in a new tab)
  7. A More Massive Earth (Gravity and Orbits, opens in a new tab)
  8. Add the Moon (Gravity and Orbits, opens in a new tab)
  9. Moon Around Earth (Gravity and Orbits, opens in a new tab)
  10. Real Distances (Gravity and Orbits, opens in a new tab)
Diffusion PhET simulation screenshot
Mini-Challenges with PhET Simulations

Diffusion

Particle motion, concentration, temperature, mass, and mixing.

Life SciencePhysical Science
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Diffusion challenges

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  1. Remove the Divider (Diffusion, opens in a new tab)
  2. Crowded to Spread Out (Diffusion, opens in a new tab)
  3. Evenly Mixed (Diffusion, opens in a new tab)
  4. Still Moving (Diffusion, opens in a new tab)
  5. Two Kinds of Particles (Diffusion, opens in a new tab)
  6. Warmer Spreads Faster (Diffusion, opens in a new tab)
  7. Hot vs. Cold (Diffusion, opens in a new tab)
  8. More Massive Particles (Diffusion, opens in a new tab)
  9. Bigger Difference, Faster Flow (Diffusion, opens in a new tab)
  10. Faster Mixing (Diffusion, opens in a new tab)
Membrane Transport PhET simulation screenshot
Mini-Challenges with PhET Simulations

Membrane Transport

Diffusion across membranes, channels, gates, pumps, and selective transport.

Life Science
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Membrane Transport challenges

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  1. Through the Membrane (Membrane Transport, opens in a new tab)
  2. Which Ones Cross? (Membrane Transport, opens in a new tab)
  3. Crowded Side (Membrane Transport, opens in a new tab)
  4. Carbon Dioxide Out (Membrane Transport, opens in a new tab)
  5. Open a Channel (Membrane Transport, opens in a new tab)
  6. The Right Channel (Membrane Transport, opens in a new tab)
  7. Open and Closed Gates (Membrane Transport, opens in a new tab)
  8. Pump It In (Membrane Transport, opens in a new tab)
  9. Glucose Needs Help (Membrane Transport, opens in a new tab)
  10. Design a Membrane (Membrane Transport, opens in a new tab)
Greenhouse Effect PhET simulation screenshot
Mini-Challenges with PhET Simulations

Greenhouse Effect

Energy entering and leaving Earth, greenhouse gases, clouds, surfaces, and climate.

Earth & Space Science
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Greenhouse Effect challenges

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  1. Sunlight Warms Earth (Greenhouse Effect, opens in a new tab)
  2. Light In, Heat Out (Greenhouse Effect, opens in a new tab)
  3. No Greenhouse Gases (Greenhouse Effect, opens in a new tab)
  4. Add Greenhouse Gases (Greenhouse Effect, opens in a new tab)
  5. Earth Through Time (Greenhouse Effect, opens in a new tab)
  6. Clouds (Greenhouse Effect, opens in a new tab)
  7. Energy In, Energy Out (Greenhouse Effect, opens in a new tab)
  8. Measure the Flow (Greenhouse Effect, opens in a new tab)
  9. More Layers (Greenhouse Effect, opens in a new tab)
  10. Shiny Surfaces (Greenhouse Effect, opens in a new tab)

Simulations by the PhET™ Interactive Simulations project at the University of Colorado Boulder, used under license.
Mini-Challenge questions, instructional design, and teacher sharing tools by Virtual Science Teachers.

Learn more about PhET simulations · PhET licensing information

PhET is a trademark owned by the Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate, registered in the U.S. and certain other countries, and is being used under license.