Tailored Virtual Reality for Hydrodynamics: Evaluating an Original Physics-Based Submarine Simulator

STEM education continuously seeks innovative methods to enhance student learning. Virtual Reality (VR) technology can represent a critical tool for effectively teaching complex engineering subjects. This study evaluates an original VR-based software application, entitled Submarine Simulator, developed specifically to support competencies in hydrodynamics within an Underwater Engineering course at École des Mines Paris. Our application uniquely integrates a customized physics engine explicitly designed for realistic underwater simulation, significantly improving user comprehension through accurate real-time representation of hydrodynamic forces. Additionally, unlike traditional Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software, the simulator requires minimal training, enabling students to proficiently construct and test submarine models within an hour. Through a combination of qualitative and quantitative assessments, including interviews, questionnaires, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), we find that VR affordances significantly predict user flow state and learning effectiveness. Overall results indicate strong user engagement and satisfaction. These findings show the substantial educational potential of tailored VR experiences in STEM, particularly in engineering, and highlight clear paths for further methodological refinement.