astronomy Simulations

orbits

Binary Systems

Play with 2 gravitationally interacting masses

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Effective Potential and Gravity

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

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Elliptical Orbits and Eccentricity

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

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historical

The Celestial Sphere

A 3d model of the ancient celestial sphere concept.

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Solar System

Doug's Solar System

Adjust the parameters of a custom solar system

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The Earth in Orbit (simplified)

A 3d model earth in orbit around the sun

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A (long) Day on Mercury

A simulation that shows the length of a day on Mercury

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cosmology

Expanding Universe

An expanding universe has no center.

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gravitation

A simple gravity assist

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

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Tidal Forces

Observe the effects of tidal forces on a two body system

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Two Body Orbits - One large

One large and one small body in orbit

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Two Body Orbits

Two bodies orbiting a common barycenter

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stars

Stellar Parallax

Interactive diagram show how stellar parallax arises.

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Star Color and Temperature

Observe the relation between temperature and color of star

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Star Color and Temperature

Observe the relation between temperature and color of star

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basics

Retrograde Motion

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

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Solar day vs. Sidereal day

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

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electronics Simulations

signals

Adjustable PWM output

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

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math Simulations

functions

The Line Tangent to a Function

See the tangent line at various points along a curve

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The Origins of Sine and Cosine Functions

Rotations around the unit circle can make sinusoidal functions.

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Adjustable Parabola Plot

Change the coefficients that determine a parabola

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General Cosine Plot

Change the coefficients that determine a basic cosine function

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Adjustable Sine Function

Change the coefficients that determine a basic sine function

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A Damped Sinusoidal Function

Change the coefficients that determine a basic sine function

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Square Wave Fourier Series

Summing up certain sine waves will produce a square wave

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Beating shown graphically

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

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Sum of Two Sine Waves

Add two sine waves and change the relative phase

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Triangle Wave Fourier Series

Summing up certain sine waves will produce a triangle wave

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trigonometry

Hyperbolic Angles

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

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numbers

Orders of Magnitude

How big is a circle that is 100 times wider?

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Visualizing Averages

The average of any two quantities can be seen graphically

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vectors

physics Simulations

kinematics

Ball Slides down a Ramp

A simple motion diagram for a ball sliding down a ramp

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Ball Drop - Horizontal Velocity

Drop a ball, and throw one - what happens?

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Ball Slides Up and then Down a Ramp

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

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A kinematic cart simulator

See the ball fall back into the cup.

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Launch a Projectile

A typical projectile motion, with vectors for display.

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Plot the Kinematics of an Elevator

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

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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.

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Inertial Reference Frame Example

Which observer has the right view of the bouncing ball?

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modern

The Bohr / de Broglie Model

Change the energy level of the electron in this Bohr Model

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Interactive Minkowski Diagram

Adjust the speed of the moving frame and make events.

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Quantum Scattering

Change the parameters affecting quantum scattering.

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Summing up Many Sine Waves

This is an abstract representation of the Uncertainty Principle.

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momentum

Cats in a raft

Tossing cats from a raft has never been this fun!

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rotation

Centripetal Acceleration Vectors

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

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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.

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Rotating Reference Frame

Compare the motions of a projectile between reference frames

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A rotating wheel

See the tangential velocity vectors on a rotating wheel.

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optics

Simple Color Mixing

Arrange the three circles to experiment with mixing 3 colors

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Ray Diagram

Change the parameters for a converging lens system

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electrostatics

Electric Dipole in an Electric Field

Adjust the field strength and observe the effects on the dipole

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light

Double Slit Intensity graph

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

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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.

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Single Slit Intensity graph

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

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Snell's Law

See how refraction changes the direction of a light ray

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historical

Force and Motion

A replica of an old simulation.

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Huygens Principle

An animated update to a classic figure.

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forces

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.

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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)

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oscillations

Pendulum Vectors

Inspect the acceleration and velocity vectors for a pendulum

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Pendulum with plots

See how a pendulum correlates with the kinematic variables

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A Spring and its parameters

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

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Coupled Oscillators - 2 springs / 3 masses

Visualize the normal modes in a coupled oscillator

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coordinates

Polar and Cartesian Coordinates

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

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circular-motion

Simple Solar System

add planets to a simple solar system

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sound

Radially Propagating Sound Waves

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

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Standing Sound Waves in a Closed-Closed Tube

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

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Standing Sound Waves in a Closed-Open Tube

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

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Standing Sound Waves in an Open-Open Tube

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

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Soundwaves

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

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Two Speakers - 1D interference

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

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waves

A Standing Wave with Labels

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

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A Standing Wave

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

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Adjustable Traveling Wave

Change the coefficients that determine a traveling sine wave

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Traveling Wave Amplitude

Note how the amplitude affects a transverse traveling wave

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Traveling Wave Vectors

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

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Traveling Wave

A simple traveling wave showing the motion of the medium.

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Wave in a medium

See the wavelength change as a wave passing thought different mediums

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Rotations and Torque

Torque on a Wrench

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

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