Category Spotlight #6 — Physics & Mechanics: 18 Simulations Explained

simulations

sub-topics

core algorithms

EN + UK

languages

Classical Mechanics

The foundation of the category — Newtonian dynamics brought to life. These simulations are the best starting point for students.

Pendulum & Double Pendulum

The single pendulum shows energy conservation; the double shows chaos onset — tiny angle changes produce completely divergent trajectories above ~120°.

RK4 ODE

Ballistics Simulator

Projectile motion with realistic aerodynamic drag. Sweep launch angle to find the 40° (not 45°) optimum under air resistance.

RK4 + drag

Car Physics

Rigid body vehicle dynamics: weight transfer, tyre friction model (Pacejka), suspension, braking distance. Try locking the brakes.

Cannon-es rigid body

Domino Chain Reaction

Physics-accurate dominoes with energy amplification — each piece falls faster because the previous collision adds angular momentum.

Cannon-es constraints

Structural & Material Mechanics

Bridge Designer

Truss analysis via the stiffness matrix method (FEM). Color-coded tension/compression, failure safety factor, Warren/Pratt/Howe presets.

FEM · Gaussian elimination

Cloth Simulation

Position-based dynamics with structural, shear and bending constraints. Pin corners, apply wind — watch the fabric respond.

PBD constraints

Crystal Growth

DLA-based crystal growth on a hexagonal lattice. Temperature controls branching vs. faceting. Produces realistic snowflake morphologies.

DLA cellular automaton

Billiards

2D rigid body collision with accurate restitution, spin and cushion reflection. Demonstrates elastic collision and conservation of momentum.

Impulse resolution

Fluid & Continuum Mechanics

SPH Fluid

Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics — pressure/viscosity forces from neighbours. Create splashes, pour water, observe surface tension.

SPH · spatial hash

Bath Waves / Shallow Water

2D shallow water equations on a grid. Tap the surface to send circular waves; add obstacles and measure reflection.

SWE finite difference

Blood Flow Dynamics

Hagen-Poiseuille viscous flow in vessels. Model stenosis (narrowing) and aneurysm (bulge) — watch how vessel geometry controls flow rate.

Poiseuille · FD

Aerofoil & Lift

NACA 4-digit profiles with streamlines and Cp pressure distribution. Detects stall onset and shows the boundary layer separation point.

Panel method

Orbital & Aerospace Mechanics

Balloons / Buoyancy

Archimedes' principle in 3D. Vary gas temperature, balloon radius and atmospheric density. Observe neutral buoyancy altitude.

Archimedes · RK4

Solar Sail

Photon radiation pressure for propulsion — RK4 orbital integration. Watch the spiral trajectory escape the inner solar system.

RK4 · radiation pressure

Asteroid Deflection (DART)

N-body kinetic impactor simulation. Plan a deflection mission with timing, Δv direction and lead time — and watch whether Earth is safe.

RK4 N-body

Drug Diffusion

Pharmacokinetics: absorption, distribution and elimination. Drag the half-life slider and watch the plasma concentration curve reshape.

ODE compartment model

Wave & Oscillation Physics

Chladni Figures

Vibrating plate standing wave patterns. Sweep frequency and watch sand organise into the beautiful nodal-line geometries seen in acoustics labs.

2D wave equation eigenvalues

Doppler Effect

Moving source with circular wavefronts. Mach cone above supersonic threshold, frequency shift for both observers, real-time f' calculation.

Wave propagation

Core Algorithms in This Category

Runge-Kutta 4 (RK4) Verlet Integration Finite Element Method (FEM) Position-Based Dynamics Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Shallow Water Equations DLA Crystal Growth Panel Method (Aerofoil) N-Body Gravity Spatial Hash Grid Impulse Resolution ODE Compartment Models

Recommended Learning Paths

For Physics Students

Start with Ballistics (projectile motion with drag), then Pendulum (energy conservation and chaos), then Chladni (standing waves), and finally Bath Waves (wave equation in 2D).

For Engineering Students

Start with Bridge Designer (structural FEM analysis), then Aerofoil (fluid panel method), then Car Physics (rigid body dynamics), and finally Solar Sail (orbital RK4 integration).

For General Curiosity

Domino Chain → Cloth → Crystal Growth → Doppler Effect. No prerequisites — just fun.

All Physics & Mechanics simulations are available in both English and Ukrainian. The Ukrainian versions are fully translated including all parameter labels and tooltips.