NASA Science Simulations

Play interactive science activities.

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At a lateral plate boundary, plates slide past each other. The San Andreas fault in California is an example of a transform plate boundary, where the Pacific Plate slides past the North American Plate...

Plate Movements - Convergent | NASA Online

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At a convergent plate boundary, lithospheric plates move toward each other. The west margin of the South American continent, where the oceanic Nazca Plate is pushed toward and beneath the continental...

Plate Movements - Divergent | NASA Online

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At a divergent plate boundary lithospheric plates move away from each other. As the two sides move away from each other, magma wells up from the Earth's interior. It then solidifies into rock as it is...

Using NASA Technology to Track Hurricanes | NASA Online

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Because hurricane movements can be unpredictable, NASA has launched various efforts to improve hurricane tracking. NASA research aircraft equipped with sensors and other instruments have take to the...

Hurricane Basics | NASA Online

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Move your mouse over the hurricane parts in the simulation for a description.

Matter and Molecules | NASA Online

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To understand sound, you first need to understand matter. Everything is made up of matter. Learn more in the simulation above.

How Sound Travels | NASA Online

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The speed at which sound travels from one place to another depends upon the medium and how closely packed the molecules are in the matter. Learn more about how sound travels from the simulation.

Wave Traits | NASA Online

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A wave is energy in motion or energy moving from point to point. To describe the traits of a wave, there are a few terms you need to know. Choose a term in the activity to display its description in...

Common Causes of Household Odors | NASA Online

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Learn the common causes of household odors.

Sense of Smell | NASA Online

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As you take a deep sniff, the odor particles in the air flow back to the top of your nose. Learn more about the sense of smell in the simulation.

Scattering Light | NASA Online

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The Sun is a natural source of visible light waves. Our eyes see the reflection of the sunlight off the objects around us. Check out the simulation to learn more about scattering light.

Light and Color | NASA Online

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In the activity, choose a color to find out why objects appear in a particular color.

Atmosphere | NASA Online

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The Earth is surrounded by a thin envelope of gases called the atmosphere. More than 500 active volcanoes erupt around the world affecting the Earth's atmosphere and global climate.

Brain Teasers | NASA Online

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These brain teasers can help you develop your creative thinking, an important skill for inventors. Try out the brain teaser game.

Invention Timeline | NASA Online

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Use the arrows to scroll the timeline to discover inventions. Click on an event for more details.

Word Jumble | NASA Online

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Play a science word jumble game. Scramble the word jumbles by dragging each letter into the appropriate box.

Parts of an Airplane | NASA Online

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Watch the simulation to learn the parts of an airplane.

Weight | NASA Online

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How does weight affect an airplane? Watch the simulation.

Thrust | NASA Online

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Thrust is the force that propels or drives an airplane forward. This force can be produced by an engine spinning a propeller or a jet engine expelling hot gas from the back. Watch the simulation.

Drag | NASA Online

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If you have ever put your hand outside the window of a moving car, you have experienced drag. Watch the simulation.

Lift | NASA Online

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An upward force called lift, acts on the airplane and opposes the downward forces of gravity. The lift force allows the airplane to get off the ground and stay in the air. Watch the simulation.

Lightning and Static | NASA Online

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What do thunderclouds and static charge have in common?

Understanding Electricity | NASA Online

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If you want to understand electricity, you first need to know a little about matter, atoms and electrons.

Circuits | NASA Online

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When you flip a light switch on and off, you are closing and opening a circuit. A circuit is the path that electricity follows. Play the interactive above to learn more.