2020 is a strange year. With schools, universities, and museums socially distanced or fully online, there are fewer opportunities than usual to experience science experiments and demos. But LabXchange has you covered. This free platform features all kinds of science content, including virtual lab experiments and other interactive experiences.
It’s easy to get started. You can register for a free account or simply browse the library for free. Once on the site, you can search by featured subjects, content sources, and content types. Start with content type, and select Simulations. We’ve chosen five of our favorite virtual lab experiments to highlight. But with over 400 simulations and interactives to choose from, we hope you’ll explore on your own, too!
This simulation allows you to learn how to use a micropipette in a virtual lab setting. Micropipetting, dispensing small volumes of liquid with a micropipette, is a fundamental lab technique. You’ll experience technical features of the equipment and get familiar with the layout of a lab. After performing the protocol, you’ll see the results of your actions compared to your predictions and ideal results to help you understand a range of outcomes!
In this simulation, you’ll get the chance to build atoms. Through your observations, you’ll draw conclusions about which components alter the atomic number (protons), which components affect the overall charge of atoms (electrons), and which components affect the size of atoms (neutrons). These are concepts that are often challenging to visualize. We think you’ll enjoy adding protons and working your way through the periodic table of elements.
This is a great simulation for understanding the basics of forces and motion, phenomena that we experience every day. Explore the forces at work when pulling against a cart or pushing a refrigerator, crate, or person. Create an applied force and see how it makes objects move, or change friction to see how it affects the motion of objects. Or play virtual tug of war!
Ever wonder how organisms adapt to their environment over time? Explore this question with deer mice! Add and remove hawks, change the environment, inspect and collect mice, and see fur color vs. time tracked in a graph in real time.
Did you sleep through intro physics class? We have your back. Learn about conservation of energy by building skate tracks, ramps, and jumps. Then view the kinetic energy, potential energy, and friction as your virtual skater moves through different tracks.
Beyond simulations, be sure to explore our other free resources! We have a vast collection of videos, case studies, personal narratives from scientists, and more.