The text in the book points to many more simulations
than are listed here. Some of those listed below
are not really relevant to the book but are included
for amusement. To find the more serious ones,
you might have to read the book!
Interactive simulations
1. Moon
lander
Land the lunar module. You have limited fuel and
must touch down in the safe zone at under five metres
per scond.
It is linked
here.
2. Rotations - axes in aircraft mode
Slide the mouse over the control bars to adjust the
axes.
Click
here.
3. Rotations - a cube of balls
Slide the mouse over the control bars to adjust the
axes.
Click
here.
4. Simulating an orbit.
Change the starting velocity to see the satellite move
in an ellipse.
Click
here.
5. An orbiting near-Earth satellite.
A recent TV programme showed a satellite boosting into
a higher orbit by firing its rocket downwards.
Is that really the right thing to do?
Put the satellite into a steady orbit at a height of
1000 km.
Click
here.
6. Newton's cradle
Click on the balls to set them moving.
'View Source' to see how it's done.
Click
here.
7. A billiards game
Although greatly simplified, this shows how to model
impacts and decelerating drag.
'View source' to see the code. Could you enhance
it to include 'side'?
Click
here.
8. A Galilean cannon
Hold a ping-pong ball on top of a tennis ball, drop
them together and see the ping-pong ball bounce high.
There is a YouTube example at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6SKQYfpqHc
What is the theoretical maximum height it can reach,
if I can select a variety of masses for the
balls? First calculations suggest nine times the
starting height, but try 40 for the ratio to be
surprised.
Click
here.
9. A row of pendulum balls making patterns
Click
here
10. Modes of vibration of masses and springs
Click
here