You could start by toying around with Phyzixlabs Software. It is a platform for building and using academic applications based on Javascript and SVG. The motivation for PhyzixLabs is to make it easy to build and use applications such as these: http://phet.colorado.edu/.

It is a cloud based programming environment so you wont have to deal with setting up your own coding environment which is usually the biggest road block to new coders.

Below are some live demos of apps built on the platform and a couple of video tours:

*Firefox, Chrome,Safari or Opera required.

Spring Mechanics: http://hadron.phyzixlabs.com/embed/?action=get_main&embe...

Projectile Motion: http://hadron.phyzixlabs.com/embed/?action=get_main&embe...

Here is an example of the above programs embedded in a blog post: http://colabopad.blogspot.com/2011/03/public-release-of-simu...

User Demo : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhZcIMvejVA

Developer Demo: http://youtu.be/wma9MU2e_U0

Feel free to contact me with newbie questions! Ed.