Equator Physics Software

Q: How do I get started asking Equator to solve a problem?

A: We don't mean to quibble, but Equator does not solve problems for students. It is a tool that helps them to solve problems for themselves. It is like a calculator or an automobile: Those things do not help you to figure out what to do, but they do most of the work once you have figured it out for yourself.

But here are a few tips on how to get started using Equator to solve a problem:
A general rule is to be sure you have a clear understanding of the problem - what you know, what you don't know, what you are asked to find out.

You could start by typing into Equator any equations you know will be needed. (Equator will then prompt you create a table of variable definitions - some of which you will probably know, and some you won't.)

You could look in the Equator reference library for equations or constants related to important words in the problem - words like "mass". (If you find the equation you are after, click its title, and Equator will insert it - and its variable definitions - into your problem.)

You could simply start by inserting a blank variable table and filling in the definitions for the variables you know.

This is of course just a start. But at this point you may be ready to change your equations to isolate any variable you don't know from the ones you do know. Then you are on your way towards a solution.

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