Computational Thinking Through a Dynamic Simulation of the Electron Charge-Mass Ratio
Fabián Andrés Jalk Duque, Sonia Valbuena, Francisco Juan Racedo Niebles · IEEE Revista Iberoamericana de Tecnologias del Aprendizaje · 2025
Computational thinking (CT) is recognized as an essential macro-skill that can be developed at any age and in various contexts, being a key component in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. For this purpose, the design and development of an interactive simulation to measure the charge-mass ratio of the electron, using Helmholtz coils to generate a uniform magnetic field, is presented. Based on Lorentz’s law, it describes how electrons accelerated by an electric field are deflected in circular trajectories under the influence of a magnetic field. The studio uses GeoGebra software to create a virtual lab environment where users can control experimental variables such as acceleration current and voltage. Results obtained from the simulation align with established theoretical and experimental values for the electron charge-mass ratio, suggesting its potential as a supplementary educational resource.