The Catalog of Sims

Binary Systems

Play with 2 gravitationally interacting masses

Effective Potential and Gravity

Change to orbital parameters to modify the effective potential as a function of r.

Elliptical Orbits and Eccentricity

How close are ellipses and circles for our solar system objects?

Kepler's Second Law

Equal Areas in Equal times

The Celestial Sphere

A 3d model of the ancient celestial sphere concept.

Epicycles Simulator

A tool to visualize epicycles

Doug's Solar System

Adjust the parameters of a custom solar system

The Earth in Orbit (simplified)

A 3d model earth in orbit around the sun

A (long) Day on Mercury

A simulation that shows the length of a day on Mercury

Expanding Universe

An expanding universe has no center.

A simple gravity assist

Watch a smaller body getting a gravity assist from a larger body

Tidal Forces

Observe the effects of tidal forces on a two body system

Two Body Orbits - One large

One large and one small body in orbit

Two Body Orbits

Two bodies orbiting a common barycenter

Stellar Parallax

Interactive diagram show how stellar parallax arises.

Star Color and Temperature

Observe the relation between temperature and color of star

Star Color and Temperature

Observe the relation between temperature and color of star

Retrograde Motion

See how apparent retrograde motion is created in a heliocentric solar system.

Solar day vs. Sidereal day

A solar day is just a little longer than a sidereal day. See how!

Adjustable PWM output

An interactive plot showing duty cycle and frequency for a PWM output.

The Line Tangent to a Function

See the tangent line at various points along a curve

The Origins of Sine and Cosine Functions

Rotations around the unit circle can make sinusoidal functions.

Adjustable Parabola Plot

Change the coefficients that determine a parabola

General Cosine Plot

Change the coefficients that determine a basic cosine function

Adjustable Sine Function

Change the coefficients that determine a basic sine function

A Damped Sinusoidal Function

Change the coefficients that determine a basic sine function

Square Wave Fourier Series

Summing up certain sine waves will produce a square wave

Beating shown graphically

Add two sine waves and change the relative frequency of one, slightly

Sum of Two Sine Waves

Add two sine waves and change the relative phase

Triangle Wave Fourier Series

Summing up certain sine waves will produce a triangle wave

Hyperbolic Angles

See the relation between normal angles for a circle and their hyperbolic analogues.

Orders of Magnitude

How big is a circle that is 100 times wider?

Visualizing Averages

The average of any two quantities can be seen graphically

Random Walk

A Random walk or two or twenty

Vector Addition

Vector Components

Ball Slides down a Ramp

A simple motion diagram for a ball sliding down a ramp

Ball Drop - Free Fall and Measure

Drop a ball, and measure its height

Ball Drop - Horizontal Velocity

Drop a ball, and throw one - what happens?

Ball Slides Up and then Down a Ramp

A simple motion diagram for a ball given an initial velocity up the ramp.

A kinematic cart simulator

See the ball fall back into the cup.

Launch a Projectile

A typical projectile motion, with vectors for display.

Plot the Kinematics of an Elevator

See three graphs of position, velocity, and acceleration for an elevator moving up and down.

Plot a Trajectory with Drag

This simulation solves the differential equations for projectile motion with both linear and quadratic drag and plots the result, allowing for comparison between different drags.

Inertial Reference Frame Example

Which observer has the right view of the bouncing ball?

The Bohr / de Broglie Model

Change the energy level of the electron in this Bohr Model

Interactive Galilean Coordinate Transform

Adjust the speed of the moving frame.

Interactive Minkowski Diagram

Adjust the speed of the moving frame and make events.

Quantum Scattering

Change the parameters affecting quantum scattering.

Summing up Many Sine Waves

This is an abstract representation of the Uncertainty Principle.

Cats in a raft

Tossing cats from a raft has never been this fun!

Centripetal Acceleration Vectors

Observe the acc. and vel. vectors for an object moving in a circle.

A box attached to a Massive Pulley

Adjust the parameters of a pulley/mass system to see the change in rotation speed and linear acceleration of the falling mass.

Rotating Reference Frame

Compare the motions of a projectile between reference frames

A rotating wheel

See the tangential velocity vectors on a rotating wheel.

Simple Color Mixing

Arrange the three circles to experiment with mixing 3 colors

Ray Diagram

Change the parameters for a converging lens system

Electric Dipole in an Electric Field

Adjust the field strength and observe the effects on the dipole

Double Slit Intensity graph

Adjust the variables in a double slit experimental setup to see their effects on the intensity plot.

Diffraction Grating Intensity graph

Adjust the variables in a n-slit (i.e. diffraction grating) experimental setup to see their effects on the intensity plot.

Single Slit Intensity graph

Adjust the variables in a single slit experimental setup to see their effects on the intensity plot.

Snell's Law

See how refraction changes the direction of a light ray

Force and Motion

A replica of an old simulation.

Huygens Principle

An animated update to a classic figure.

A Block on a Ramp, with Friction

See how a block on a ramp will respond to the angle of the ramp and a shoving force.

Mass on a Ramp Free Body Diagram

Adjust the angle of a ramp and see how the free body diagram changes. (Does not include friction)

Pendulum Vectors

Inspect the acceleration and velocity vectors for a pendulum

Pendulum with plots

See how a pendulum correlates with the kinematic variables

A Spring and its parameters

Adjust the parameters of a spring mass system and see the effects

Coupled Oscillators - 2 springs / 3 masses

Visualize the normal modes in a coupled oscillator

Polar and Cartesian Coordinates

An object in circular motion shown in both cartesian and polar coordinates.

Simple Solar System

add planets to a simple solar system

Radially Propagating Sound Waves

soundwaves are oscillations in pressure as function of position and time.

Standing Sound Waves in a Closed-Closed Tube

soundwaves are oscillations in pressure as function of position and time.

Standing Sound Waves in a Closed-Open Tube

soundwaves are oscillations in pressure as function of position and time.

Standing Sound Waves in an Open-Open Tube

soundwaves are oscillations in pressure as function of position and time.

Soundwaves

soundwaves are oscillations in pressure as function of position and time.

Two Speakers - 1D interference

The spacing between two speakers changes the interference of the sound waves.

A Standing Wave with Labels

A standing wave labeled with node and antinode and adjustable wavelength.

A Standing Wave

A standing wave formed by two traveling waves and adjustable angular frequency.

Adjustable Traveling Wave

Change the coefficients that determine a traveling sine wave

Traveling Wave Amplitude

Note how the amplitude affects a transverse traveling wave

Traveling Wave Vectors

Visualize the velocity of the constituent particles of a traveling wave.

Traveling Wave

A simple traveling wave showing the motion of the medium.

Wave in a medium

See the wavelength change as a wave passing thought different mediums

Torque on a Wrench

Adjust the position, angle, and magnitude of a force applied on a wrench.