A Java applet is a small application which is written in Java, and the user launches it from a web page. It has the function of realistic interface design, powerful graphics and computing functions and a serial of events interaction and response mechanism. This article analyzes the present situation of physics experiment network teaching, and then points out that the virtual simulation experiment in network teaching will involve some obvious drawbacks such as the Internet bandwidth and system security, etc. Relative to this, the Java applet shows its own unique advantages, including powerful capacity, multithreading, free installation, strong compatibility, high security, and so on. So if we apply the advantages of Java applet to physics experiment network teaching, such as restoring physical process, simulating physical phenomena, processing experimental data, etc., we can do better to promote physics teaching reform, enhance quality of physics experiment teaching, improve physics experiment teaching resources construction, and so on.

physics experiment, java applet, network teaching, virtual experiment