A concept of virtual laboratory as a tool to teach kinematics and dynamics of mechanisms is presented. A virtual laboratory has many advantages vs physical laboratory: it is not limited to a specific variety of mechanisms, it allows to "measure" the trajectory, velocity and acceleration of any point, it allows to "measure" internal forces in the joints, and, what is most important, it allows changing the links dimensions and observe the consequences in terms of the mechanism's output function.

more »

... n important component of the virtual lab is the motion animation, which allows student to develop a visual perception and intuition.