The present invention includes a virtual experiment authoring application and a virtual experiment presentation application. As part of the present invention, at least two virtual experiment objects, each object including a data structure with at least one parameter defining a physical characteristic of the virtual experiment object, may be placed within a virtual work space in an arrangement defining an initial state of a system formed by the at least two virtual experiment objects. The virtual work space may include at least one global parameter, and a translation module which may derive at least one equation defining a mathematical model of a system formed by the at least two virtual experiment objects within the virtual environment. Also included in the present invention may be a virtual lab area and a simulation engine.