Virtual labs: a complement for traditional laboratories

Abstract

Science is mainly a practical activity, this is why, in the academic world, a laboratory becomes an essential element. For a long time, the traditional laboratory has been the only place for experimentation for both students and teachers. However, current technological advances allow the use of virtual laboratories. Both, traditional and virtual laboratories, show disadvantages, but also substantial advantages which justify its use. This study presents the work developed in the Classical Mechanics laboratory of the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Aeronáutica y del Espacio (School of Aeronautics and Space Engineering), of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. In it, traditional didactic materials are complemented and integrated with virtual practicals which have been completely developed in a 3D virtual environment with OpenSim.