Simulations Odyssey

The physical description of the simulated systems in Odyssey is via classical potential functions that have been developed for research applications. In many areas relevant to teaching, the description is at least qualitatively correct. This is all that is required from a pedagogical standpoint. Nevertheless, the models do fail on occasion, even qualitatively. Rather than being a drawback, this can well be considered a compelling illustration of the fact that eventually all scientific models have intrinsic limitations. As teachers of science (rather than of scientific facts), we should be conveying this to our students in any case Going back to the laboratory is eventually the only way to find out ... 

Among the pedagogically most appealing features of Odyssey is the ability to influence simulations as they occur. Parameters such as the temperature, the available volume, and the system composition can be changed at any time—not because it was all set-up for a particular topic, but because of the fundamental power of the underlying method. Inquiry-based learning becomes possible on a much broader scale than in science media software. 

The following examples involve Odyssey simulations of a few minutes duration each that are carried out under active control of the student with full three-dimensional visualization of all molecular motion. 

Results from a series of Odyssey simulations of non-ideal gases are shown in Figure 6. The compression factor PV/nRT is plotted as a function of the pressure for two systems. The first system is a mixture of hydrogen and helium (T-120 K 90 and 10 molecules, respectively) as it might be encountered in the atmosphere of Jupiter. The second system is pure gaseous ammonia (7 298 K 50 molecules). 

Figure 6. Non-ideal gas behavior of a mixture of hydrogen and helium (T 120K 90 and 10 molecules, respectively) and a 50 molecule sample of ammonia (T 298 K), both simulated with Odyssey.

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