Immersive virtual reality in learning physics: A systematic review of opportunities and challenges
Immersive virtual reality (IVR) can heighten presence and enable active, embodied interaction in realistic 3D environments, which has been associated with potential benefits in physics education. This article presents a comprehensive review of immersive virtual reality implementation in physics education at both school and university levels. The analysis included 34 studies indexed in Scopus and ERIC, published between January 1, 2018, and June 1, 2025. Methodologically, this review followed a PRISMA approach. IVR implementations for physics learning were assessed, topic-aligned activity types were summarized, and associated opportunities and challenges were documented. Findings indicate that IVR can support physics learning by providing complementary visualizations, optimizing cognitive load, enabling haptic learning, saving time, and fostering collaborative inquiry. Conversely, the most frequent potential IVR challenges include discomfort, unreliable interaction, orchestration issues, relatively high costs, and significant extraneous cognitive load.