Development of thermodynamics web based system for enhanced performance in learning

Abstract

Thermodynamics is a core subject in most engineering courses. The fundamental understanding of the subject is vital for students. In most cases the basic theory is difficult for students to understand because of poor visualization and could not relate to the application of such theories. In most universities, laboratory exercises are very limited due toa lack of time allocation, budget and the number of students.Therefore, this research is to explore and elaborate on the usage of a virtual laboratory for the subject of thermodynamics. The combination of web, Flash and Lab View will make the virtual experiments come alive. In general it was found that this method is another option where visual imaging will be emphasized in aiding the students to understand thermodynamics, experiments can be done anytime and anywhere, the student can run unlimited experiments with no time constrains and this method can prolong their attention capacity compared to traditional methods of learning.