Q. What is Java?
A.  Java is a programming language created by Sun Microsystems.  Its advantages include 1) portability (the ability to run programs on many different platforms, such as Windows, Linux, and Mac),  2) simplicity (Java is an easier programming language to use and run than C), and 3) web applications (applets) are easy to write.

Q.  What is an applet?
A.  An applet is a Java program that is designed to run on the web.  The program is interpreted by a Java Virtual Machine (JVM), which is located in your browser.  Older versions of Netscape and Internet Explorer do not necessarily have the most recent release of the JVM, so the Java Plug-In was created.  If you have an older version of these browsers, you can still run programs which use the later versions of Java by installing the Plug-In.  See troubleshooting for more details.

Q.  What is the Physics Olympics?
A.  The physics olympics is an annual event sponsored by The Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO).  Hawaii high school students are invited to come to the Kapiolani Community College campus to compete in six physics-related events.  Events in the past have included water-balloon catapulting, a fork balance game, a physics maze (in which students had to solve physics questions to get through the maze), and many others.  College students from Kapiolani Community College and from the University of Hawaii (UH) plan and implement the events.

Q.  What is SPS?
A.  SPS stands for the Society of Physics Students.  I am the current president of the UH chapter of SPS.  Our chapter is providing three of the six events which will be used in the physics olympics. 

To ask a question, please feel free to e-mail me at jmcfatri@hawaii.edu