Science Toolbox is an exciting new resource for teachers and pupils at KS3 and KS4.

It consists of animations and simulations that help explain difficult-to-teach concepts and ideas.

Science Toolbox has been developed in collaboration with writers, programmers, artists and, most importantly, classroom teachers. Further details...

If you would like to know more about Science Toolbox, contact us now

* Prices are exclusive of delivery & VAT, E&OE

For lots more information, see the acs39 weblog

Chemistry

1. Extraction of Iron (the Blast Furnace)

In this animation of an industrial blast furnace, the reaction sequence is run step by step to help students understand this fundamental process in the production of iron.

Order Code ST110040
Price £ ex VAT

2. Neutralising by Titration

Perform a simulated titration experiment. Can you neutralise an acidic or alkaline solution without overshooting the endpoint?

Order Code ST110048
Price £ ex VAT

3. The Periodic Table

A comprehensive interactive table with animated 3D atoms, electron configuration / orbitals and nuclei configurations.

Order Code ST110056
Price £ ex VAT

4. Reactivity

Discover and create a reactivity series for common metals by measuring the potential difference generated when two different metals are placed in a conducting solution to form a cell.

Order Code ST110064
Price £ ex VAT

5. Fractional Distillation of Crude Oil

This animation shows how a fractional distillation column separates crude oil (a mixture of hydrocarbons) into components (fractions).

Order Code ST110072
Price £ ex VAT

6. Electrolysis

Explore four different electrolysis processes. The simulation shows: electrolysis of a molten ionic compound; electrolysis of a dissolved ionic compound; electrolysis of acidified water; and electrolysis as a purification process.

Order Code ST110080
Price £ ex VAT

7. Separating Mixtures

In chemistry, a separation process is used to transform a mixture of substances into two or more compositionally distinct products. Investigate a selection of the following processes: dissolving; filtration; evaporation and crystallisatio; evaporation and condensation; and chromatography.

Order Code ST110088
Price £ ex VAT

8. Exothermic and Endothermic Reactions

This dynamic simulation can be used to investigate the energy curve of chemical reactions. Investigate how the intoduction of a catalyst affects the rate.

Order Code ST110096
Price £ ex VAT

9. Extraction and Origins of Oil

A sequenced animation showing the formation, discovery and extraction of crde oil. What are the main features of oil formation? Are there similarities between surveying for oil on land and sea? How does the extraction of oil (and its cost) on land differ from that at sea?

Order Code ST110104
Price £ ex VAT

10. Cracking

Study the cracking animation to discover how surplus long-chained hydrocarbons are broken up into more useful short-chained hydrocarbons. Can a flow diagram be written for this process? Can a balanced equation be produced for this particular cracking reaction?

Order Code ST110112
Price £ ex VAT

Physics

1. Investigating Resistance in Wires

This interactive simulation can be used to investigate the variables that affect the resistance of a wire. Choose appropriate wires, take readings, plot graphs, analyse results and come to conclusions about the phenomenon known as resistance.

Order Code ST110120
Price £ ex VAT

2. Optics Lab One

This fully functional optics workbench includes a real time dynamic physics simulation of reflection, refraction and total internal reflection. Mix and match lenses and components to explore light and its properties.

Order Code ST110128
Price £ ex VAT

3. Fuses and Calculating Power (the Plug)

Correctly wire a plug and choose a suitable fuse for an appliance.

Order Code ST110136
Price £ ex VAT

4. The Earth, Moon and Sun

Why is there day and night? How do seasons occur in the northern hemisphere and what are eclipses?

Order Code ST110144
Price £ ex VAT

5. Light, Colour and the Electromagnetic Spectrum

Use the activities in this resource to learn about light and colour including colour mixing and the dispersion of white light through a prism. Includes the electromagnetic spectrum.

Order Code ST110152
Price £ ex VAT

6. States of Matter

Explore the motion of particles in the three common states of matter. View particle animations for each state and see how these relate to a substance's physical properties.

Order Code ST110160
Price £ ex VAT

7. Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Half-life

Explore the nature of radioactivity. View animations of the types of radiation. See how a charateristic decay curve is related to an element's half life.

Order Code ST110168
Price £ ex VAT

8. Investigating Radiation

This interactive experiment can be used to investigate radioisotopes. Sources can be dragged to the holder on the left of the screen and investigated.

Order Code ST110176
Price £ ex VAT

9. Solar System Explorer

This simulation can be used to familiarise students with the planets of the solar system. View all 8 planets (!) full screen, the asteroids and Pluto. Explore their character and relative sizes.

Order Code ST110184
Price £ ex VAT

10. Moments

A dynamic interactive simulation that allows the user to choose values of mass / weight and distance and hence the turning forces on a balance beam.

Order Code ST110192
Price £ ex VAT

Biology

1. The Heart

Study the heart animation to discover which parts of the heart perform which functions. See how an increas in exercise leads to an increase in heart rate by viewing the heart and an ECG trace simultaneously.

Order Code ST110200
Price £ ex VAT

2. The Blood

Investigae the composition and function of the components of the blood and discover how respiration increases as the result of exercise.

Order Code ST110208
Price £ ex VAT

3. Environmental Data logging (Line Transect)

Choose a suitable line transect and investigate how the populations of organisms are affected by abiotic factors such as humidity, temperature, wind and pH.

Order Code ST110216
Price £ ex VAT

4. Investigating Photosynthesis and Limiting Factors (Elodea Plant Experiment)

Interactive simulation showing how light intensity affects photosynthesis in Elodea (pondweed). Which wavelengths and colours of light increase the rate of oxygen production? How does the concentration of CO₂ affect photosynthesis?

Order Code ST110224
Price £ ex VAT

5. The Eye, Accommodation and Iris Reflex

Learn how the eye works, label the eye, see how the lens focuses the image on the retina. Correst short and long sight using the appropriate lenses. Explore the function of the retina and see how the pupil responds to light.

Order Code ST110232
Price £ ex VAT

6. The Useful Plant

Explore the flowering plant's biology and organ systems. Label the structures of the plant. View the structure and function of the leaves (including photosysnthesis), roots (including the uptake of water and minerals), stem and flowers.

Order Code ST110240
Price £ ex VAT

7. Predator Prey

This dynamic simulation (based on the Lotka-Voltera Model) of the numbers of predators and prey in a simple ecosystem shows a typical predator / prey cycle with its characteristic oscillations in population.

Order Code ST110248
Price £ ex VAT

8. The Lungs and Gaseous Exchange

Observe the structure adn function of human lungs. Label the tissues and organs of the chest cavity. How does the percentage of gas change during inhalation and exhalation and why? How does the structure of the lungs and aveoli facilitate gas exchange? How does the diaphragm work to help ventilation?

Order Code ST110256
Price £ ex VAT

9. Food Chains and Food Webs

Explore food chains and food webs. View pyramids of iomass and number. Construct food webs and food chains for common ecosystems.

Order Code ST110264
Price £ ex VAT

10. Osmosis

Investigate the movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane from an area of high water potential to an area of low water potential.

Order Code ST110272
Price £ ex VAT