The Physics VR Experience, part of the VIRION project, reimagines learning by combining physics concepts with the thrill of an escape room. Through immersive virtual scenarios, students explore the principles of electricity and magnetism, solving puzzles and challenges to unlock doors and progress through the experience.
Set across four rooms, the adventure begins with electricity challenges, where students complete a circuit to unlock a door, finding and assembling components like batteries and fuses. In the next room, they repair a broken radio by replacing damaged parts such as resistors and transformers. Once fixed, the radio broadcasts a code, which is used to open the next door.
In the magnetism rooms, students face new puzzles. They measure magnetic field intensities with a virtual gaussmeter to match objects with specific locks on a reinforced door. Finally, they activate an old computing device and solve physics-based questions to open the last door.
This escape room-style experience not only makes learning engaging but also allows students to apply concepts like circuit design and magnetic analysis in an exciting and interactive way. By solving these challenges, students develop problem-solving skills and a deeper understanding of physics principles.
The Primary Objectives of the Application
- To enable students to build and interact with electrical circuits by assembling components and troubleshooting real-world electrical systems.
- To allow learners to explore magnetic fields, measure their intensity, and understand their applications in different objects.
- To enhance problem-solving skills through a series of challenges where students must apply their knowledge of electricity and magnetism to progress.
Structure and Functionality
The experience takes place in a mansion divided into four escape rooms, each focusing on a different aspect of electricity and magnetism. To advance, students must complete interactive tests and solve circuit-based and magnetic field puzzles.
-Electricity Room 1: Completing a Circuit
To unlock the door and move forward, students must assemble a functional electrical circuit by locating and integrating six components scattered around the room:
- Electric cable
- Battery
- Bulb
- Switch
- Ammeter
- Voltmeter
Each component includes a technical information panel, which students can use to learn about its function before integrating it into the circuit. Once the circuit is correctly completed, the door will open.
-Electricity Room 2: Repairing a Broken Radio
In this room, students must fix an old radio by replacing six faulty components in its electronic circuit:
- Capacitor
- Valve
- Resistance
- Fuse
- Relay
- Transformer
After successfully restoring the radio, it will broadcast a four-digit code that students must use to unlock the next door.
-Magnetism Room 1: Measuring Magnetic Fields
To progress in this room, students need to match objects with the correct magnetic field intensity to unlock a reinforced door.
- Using a Gaussmeter, students measure the magnetic fields of different objects found in the room.
- They must correctly place each object into one of the six magnetic locks on the door.
- Once all objects are correctly assigned, the door will automatically open.
-Magnetism Room 2: Answering Electromagnetism Questions
The final challenge requires students to activate an old computing device by locating and pressing the correct switch. Once the device is powered on, they must correctly answer three questions about:
- Electricity
- Magnetism
- Electromagnetism
Upon answering all questions correctly, the final door unlocks, and students receive their diploma of achievement.
Interactive Features
- Escape-Room Format: Encourages problem-solving by requiring students to complete practical tasks to progress.
- Hands-on Circuit Assembly: Allows students to physically connect electrical components, reinforcing real-world application.
- Magnetic Field Exploration: Enables students to measure and analyze magnetism in different objects using interactive tools.
- Gamified Learning: Engages students through a challenge-based structure, keeping them motivated throughout the experience.
Educational Outcomes
After successfully completing all four escape rooms, students are awarded a certificate of accomplishment, acknowledging their ability to identify and assemble electrical circuits, analyze and measure magnetic fields, and apply theoretical knowledge in a hands-on, problem-solving environment through interactive experimentation.
