What is Simulator: Definition and 134 Discussions

A simulation is the imitation of the operation of a real-world process or system over time. Simulations require the use of models; the model represents the key characteristics or behaviors of the selected system or process, whereas the simulation represents the evolution of the model over time. Often, computers are used to execute the simulation.
Simulation is used in many contexts, such as simulation of technology for performance tuning or optimizing, safety engineering, testing, training, education, and video games. Simulation is also used with scientific modelling of natural systems or human systems to gain insight into their functioning, as in economics. Simulation can be used to show the eventual real effects of alternative conditions and courses of action. Simulation is also used when the real system cannot be engaged, because it may not be accessible, or it may be dangerous or unacceptable to engage, or it is being designed but not yet built, or it may simply not exist.Key issues in modeling and simulation include the acquisition of valid sources of information about the relevant selection of key characteristics and behaviors used to build the model, the use of simplifying approximations and assumptions within the model, and fidelity and validity of the simulation outcomes. Procedures and protocols for model verification and validation are an ongoing field of academic study, refinement, research and development in simulations technology or practice, particularly in the work of computer simulation.

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  1. V

    Exploring Flight Dynamics: Physics & Math for a Flight Simulator

    Hello ! I'm a Computer Science student and I'm working on a flight simulator. I know that there's a Computer Science section but my question is more about flight formulas. I have good bases in mathematics but in physics, it's completely different. I would like to know what formulas affect...
  2. L

    ELECTRONIC Circuits editor and Simulator

    Hi everyone, I am new to the forum and i am looking at a software that will help me simulate circuits. i have been using Pspice but I am not really happy with all its features. can someone please suggest something better for me? Eagerly awaiting a reply. thanks lakshmi
  3. C

    Creating a 3D Planet Orbit Simulator

    I am making a three dimensional planetary orbit simulator but I can't figure out a formula that can work out where a certain planet is at a certain time e.g. if a planet with speed s was at position a with the sun at position b at time 0 then how would I calculate the position of the planet at...
  4. R

    Accurate Magnet Computer Simulator

    Does anybody know of an online application, or a program, or anything that can simulate accurately magnets and how they interact? Like a simulator. Thanks very much. ^_^\/
  5. C

    MATLAB Creating a Water Rocket Simulator with Matlab

    Hi, I have recently started a Matlab course and I have been given a task to write a simple water rocket simulator using function files and a main script. I really don't know where to start and feel over whelmed tackling such a huge task, not knowing anything about water rockets. I would...
  6. edguy99

    Are 3D Molecule Animations Valuable for Studying Elements and Compounds?

    Simulations include gravity form the space station to the Earth moon system. Charge simulations using the Bohr model of atoms and access to PDB (protein data base) molecule manipulation. Looking to see if these are of value in this format, hope I'm in the right place...
  7. J

    Solve 1D Simulation w/ Ruby w/ Self-Taught Programming

    I have just started programming (started on C but currently using Ruby). This is literally my first proper program and I wanted some help and opinions. The problem is I am completely self taught using various random tutorials to learn the language and my own logic for the actual programs, so...
  8. DaveC426913

    How can I improve my Orbit Simulation logic?

    Orbit Simulation logic I'm building an Orbit Simulator (this is what I build every time I learn a new language). I'm looking for the pseudocode for calculating the acceleration. I know the formula: G*m/(d2-d1)^2, I'm trying to figure out why I'd need the hypotenuse. You see, I can...
  9. B

    What is Orbiter Space Flight Simulator?

    I am toying with the idea of creating a general orbital simulator. Possibly lacking the proper terminology, here is a basic description of my goal, make that wild dream. Step 1. Working in 2 dimensions, user enters the mass of 1 to N object, their initial position, their initial velocity...
  10. DaveC426913

    Does Sailing Simulator Software Exist for Learning Purposes?

    Has anyone ever heard of such a thing? I'm looking for something that would help the process of learning such things as your points of sail.
  11. N

    Impulse of objects in a physics simulator

    I am making a physics simulator for a computer. All objects have their translational and rotational momentums stored, and each frame, objects are moved according to these values. Upon collisions, momentum is transferred from one object to the next. However, I do not know how to find how...
  12. N

    Strafe and translation vectors in a 3d physics simulator

    I'm working on a 3d physics simulator, and I'm trying to build a nice, easy-to-use camera into it. Currently, the camera allows you to specify inputs that modify (among other things such as zoom) its pitch, yaw, roll, strafe, movement, and elevation. The way it currently works is this: The...
  13. U

    How can a flight simulator be any useful?

    An accelerating aircraft, in whatever direction, will move long distances. A flight simulator cannot move long distances. Therefore it cannot simulate acceleration correctly. Only slight deviations and turbulence can be simulated correctly. So what use can a flight simulator be, in...
  14. A

    Quantum Mechanics 1D Harmonic Oscillator Simulator

    Hi. I have recently designed a simulator about Qunatum Mechanics one dimensional harmonic oscillator. Please try it. I will be glad to read your opinions. http://erham.persiangig.ir/Programs/1386/QM1DHOS10.png Size: 223 KB http://erham.persiangig.ir/Programs/1386/QM1DHOS10.zip"
  15. B. Elliott

    Looking for old DOS orbit simulator.

    It was more of a game actually. I believe the name of it was Moon Shot, Moon Lander or something to that extent. The game was laid out fairly simple. The entire game was composed of a white blob in the center of the screen (Earth) along with another eraser-head sized blob orbiting around the...
  16. A

    MC68HC11 and the HCSim11 simulator

    Hey everyone, new here. I am currently doing an assignment to write a program in assembly for the MC68HC11 microcontroller using the HCSim11 simulator. The program must make use of the IRQ request line. On Strobe A rising edge, a count from 0 to a set maximum (the maximum is set by switches...
  17. M

    Programming a Small Car Simulator in Belgium

    Hi, I'm trying to program a sort of small car simulator, but I have a problem. I managed to calculate the force on the car, acceleration, speed, air ressistance etc... My theory: We've got a car at a certain speed (v) and I calculate the RPM: rpm = ( v * gear-ratio * current gear ratio...
  18. N

    Coefficient of Restitution for a 2-dimensional physics simulator

    I'm developing a 2-dimensional physics simulator (it includes gravity, electric force, and collisions as of now, between spherical objects of varying masses, charges, and radii). I'm trying to improve my collision algorithm, though, and I'm not sure how to handle coefficients of restitution...
  19. P

    Explore the Universe with an Astrophysics Simulator - Download Now!

    Hello, I need an astrophysics simulator. I've googled and yahooed but couldn't find any. If you kno where I could download one please let me know. Thanks for your time.
  20. D

    Programming an Orbital Simulator

    Hello, I plan to write a (modest) orbital simulator in C++, I am an experienced developer with an average knowledge of classic physics; I would like to have some recommendations (recommended book reading, eventual existing C++ libraries that can help) before starting knowing that I need...
  21. S

    Can We Simulate the Fundamental Interactions of Atoms and Elementary Particles?

    Is there such program available for download from the Internet; a program in which you can simulate interactions between elementary particles and atoms. So - it works like this: - you start the program, and there is just empty space (and literaly - it's vacuum (simulation equivalent (a ball...
  22. V

    Physics about particles behave (dust simulator)

    Dear all, I have some problems to do a dust simulator. Now there are a lot of physics and math questions I should figure out, then I can do the particle behavior calculation correctly. What I want to do: A simple scene contains a floor and a box. When the user press the direction key...
  23. F

    Orbital simulator and non fixed orbit

    Hello, Let's consider a small 3 planet system. One of the planet's is fixed and is a lot heavier than the others. The acelleration is mP2 * aP2 = - FP3 - FP1 From with the velocity is derived with allows to calculate the positions of the planet's in a simulator program. After running the...
  24. B

    Heat Treatment Furnace Design: Tempering Sim Software

    hi I am working on a senior project entitled"Design and manufacturing a heat treatment furnace", and before designing process, I need a simulation software that we can give inputs like the steel type of the piece that is need to be hardened, the thik of it, hardness degree required, and then...
  25. z-component

    Microsoft announces newest version of Flight Simulator

    For those of you who have been loyal followers of Microsoft's Flight Simulator series (I have every version since FS98 and am also currently a student pilot), you may or may not have heard the latest news regarding the all-new version coming out in late 2006. Right now it's called "Flight...
  26. D

    Atom Simulator: Kids Create Compounds & Play

    Are there any good atom simulators where kids can bash some atoms around on screen using all the measured real world numbers, so bringing reactive elements together would create compounds but something that wasn't staged or pre-animated. something with more of a constructive 'do-anything' on the...
  27. C

    CONTENT/content-files/150833-Particle%20System%20Simulator-0.4.tar.bz2

    Does someone know a nice freeware particle system simulator?
  28. K

    Good Flight Simulator for PC | $100-$1000

    This isn't really an Engineering question more rather an an aero question. What is a good Flight Simulator other than the real thing, (commercially, ranging between $100- $1,000). Anyone have ideas (for PC)
  29. R

    Generate Holograms with a Simulator - Get Answers Now

    does anyone know of a program where I can simulate the properties of a hologram, or generate a hologram from an image? thanks :)
  30. M

    Ultra-cool Multi-Spring simulator freeware

    Take a look, http://lorenb.com/software/sproing/ I can't imagine the differential equations needed for this to work...
  31. W

    Creating a VB6 Orbit Simulator: Tips & Advice

    I would like to start a fun project to create a vb6 program to create a orbit simulator. Is there anybody that's done this that could give me some tips?
  32. L

    Telescope mirror polishing simulator

    Greetings All, I am attempting to develop a software simulation of the dynamics involved in machine figuring concave parabolic telescope mirrors. As a member of the amateur telescope making community, we currently don't have any tools to do this other than the "trial and error" method...
  33. M

    Ultra-cool Roller-Coaster simulator

    http://www.nolimitscoaster.com/ This is one cool app, it seems to obey the laws of physics as it couldn't get over a second higher hill when I designed my own coaster. Then you can ride your own coasters in 3D all rendered in opengl :)
  34. B

    Exploring the Physics of a Star's Life: Building a Sun Simulator

    I was wondering if anyone knew of any websites which deal with the specfic gravitational and nuclear effects at each age of a stars life. I am going to "try" and create a sun simulator! as a start of OpenGL programming physical simulators, and thought this would be a good start point :) thanks!
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