Integrating Molecular Dynamics Simulation as a Tool for Helping Student Understanding of Fluid Flow Concepts

Molecular dynamics simulation has garnered tremendous attention nowadays as a computational tool to investigate the physical movement and molecular nature of fluids. Molecular dynamics related modeling and visualization software provide a new approach for high school and community college educators to help students understand fluid flow properties. In this study, Research Experience for Teachers (RET) participants developed a set of modules that can be applied at both the high school and college curriculum levels to explore the concepts of fluids (e.g., wetting and spreading kinetics, interfacial thermodynamics, droplet impact, fluid/particle mechanics, etc.) It was the goal of the RET participants to identify best practices for teaching classes such as physics, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, etc. to explain fluid flow concepts through molecular dynamics simulation.