Miscellaneous Physics Experiments

Comments

This was inspired by one of those deadly-dull calculus II questions: "A thin plate of constant density occupies the region of the first quadrant bounded above by the line x + 3y = 15. Find the x-coordinate of the center of mass."

This is EXACTLY the same question! But it elicits a very different kind of response—both cognitive and affective—from most readers!

Comments

We are taught in physics class that motion in space is described by second-order differential equations, and most attempts to simulate physical interactions use that approach. But it doesn't usually work very well, for two reasons:

1. Because the computed simulation is discrete, rather than continuous, the "bounciness" inherent in second-order systems can easily get out of control, causing things to quiver like jelly or fly off madly in all directions, unless you get the springiness, and the friction, and the gravity, just right.
2. In practice, many physical systems we deal with are critically damped or overdamped, hence don't feel like second-order systems at all.

Comments

This one simulates dragging blocks across the floor.

Comments

A minimal 3-D engine. No perspective, just linear transformations.

Zipped .fla here