PhET is an online series of physics, chemistry and other science simulators made by the University of Colorado. What does PhET stand for? Good question. I couldn’t find it anywhere, not even on the About PhEt page. Sheesh, eggheads… They have two physics simulators using skateboards. The simulations run in Java, which can be a pain in the butt depending on your browser and OS, but some run in the browser via HTML5. The screen capture above is from Energy Skate Park, and yes it is possible to make the loop. You can toggle various graphing functions to show energy types in proportion to each other. Tackling two stereotypes/inequities at once, the main figure in the HTML5 version of Skatepark Basics is female, proving that girls are good at science and skateboarding! – Thanks to Tallboycan for the tip.

This just in, from the San Francisco Chronicle:: Physics discussion ends in skateboard attack. A homeless man is on trial in San Mateo County on charges that he smacked a fellow transient in the face with a skateboard as the victim was engaged in a conversation about quantum physics, authorities said Wednesday. I know GVK, Rich and I have almost come to blows in the car on the way to a skatepark, but we’re usually arguing about how to raise kids instead of quantum physics. They want to build a particle accelerator in my neighborhood, but I’m organizing a petition against it because it will just attract scientific method graffiti and discarded lab jackets and pocket protectors littered on the surrounding lawn. Stephen Hawkings image from Nerdtests.com. Also check out Einstein skateboards on Zazzle and Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge, Einstein’s Skateboard. – Thanks to Tito for the tip.