| Product Name: |
Elf |
| Level: |
First Year Tertiary / Second Year Tertiary |
| Platform: |
PC - Windows® |
| Supplied Information: |
Elf plots electric field and equipotential patterns for arrangements of point charges. The user can choose the number, placement and size of charges and is also able to adjust display parameters in order to create the desired pattern. Field patterns created can be saved as tiles and imported into other applications. This program serves well as a demonstration tool and could be used in a laboratory or tutorial environment. [Ed. 22/8/97 Gaussian integration and
potential difference integration features have been added and a new
evaluation version is available. ]
|
| Possible Use: |
This product is suitable for First Year Tertiary / Second Year Tertiary courses for use by students AND teachers in lab classes. |
| Price: |
$45 |
| Developer/s: |
Dr Ian Moore |
| Review: |
Elf is a program that plots electric field and equipotential patterns for arrangements of point charges. The arrangements can be quickly built from scratch, or one of the example files (eg a ring distribution) can be loaded and modified to create the desired patterns. Concise help windows are available, but the main features can be quickly mastered by experimenting with the items in the pull down menus.
Charges are individually added to particular locations on the screen by using the mouse. The size of each charge (both slide bar and numerical input options are provided) and the number and distribution of field and equipotential lines are adjustable and able to be updated at all times. Both field and equipotential lines can be dragged to any part of the screen. One particularly useful feature is that the electric field vector for each charge together with the resultant vector (including an illustrated vector addition) can be displayed for any particular point. The colour coding is extensive and easy to adjust. Field patterns created can be saved as files and imported (although not in my evaluation program) into other applications.
At present, I see this program being of most use as a visual demonstration tool in lectures or in producing lecture materials. It could also be used by students in a tutorial or laboratory situation provided that appropriately structured activities were provided by the instructor.
The author plans to extend the program in the near future with new features such as gaussian integration.
[Ed. 22/8/97 The Gaussian integration and
potential difference integration features have been added and a new
evaluation version is now available. ] |
|
Geoff Swan, Physics Programme, Edith Cowan University, June 1997 |
| |
| Supplier: |
IME Software, PO Box 1133 Toowong QLD 4066 |
|
imesoft@ozemail.com.au |
|
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~imesoft |
| Date Record Last Modified: |
22/8/97 |
