Physics Diagram Maker: Create Diagrams Easily

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    Diagram Physics
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the search for software tools that can be used to create diagrams relevant to physics, including scientific drawings, free-body diagrams, and more complex technical illustrations. Participants share their experiences and recommendations for various software options.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express a need for software to create physics diagrams, with varying levels of complexity required.
  • One participant suggests Xara as a potential tool, while others question its suitability for all types of diagrams.
  • Alternatives like Dia, Xfig, and OpenOffice Draw are proposed for simpler diagrams.
  • PowerPoint and Visio are mentioned as tools that have been successfully used for more complicated drawings.
  • Some participants emphasize the importance of vector-based tools for technical drawings, citing benefits such as scalability and ease of modification.
  • Specific features desired in diagramming software include the ability to group primitives, provide computed positions, and support for standard formats like SVG or LaTeX-picture.
  • Links to various software and resources are shared, including Asymptote and VPython, with discussions on their capabilities and limitations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on a single preferred software solution, with multiple competing views and recommendations presented throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention specific needs for diagram complexity and features, indicating that the choice of software may depend on individual requirements and preferences. There are also references to external resources and examples that may not be universally applicable.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students, educators, and professionals in physics and related fields who are looking for software tools to create diagrams for educational or presentation purposes.

Aladin
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I want a software by which I can make diagrams of physics.
thanks
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
I'd like a program like that also!
 
What do you mean by "diagrams of physics"?
 
I think he means the types of "scientific" drawings found in texts and such.
 
I would recommend http://www.xara.com/products/xtreme/default.asp?v=std&t=" . It covers graphics, drawing, and photos.
 
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Xara has several very impressives examples. But I don't think it is suitable for any kind of diagram. You can try Dia or Xfig (if you are in Windows look for winfig). But if you want a software for drawing Feynman diagrams see https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=158996 thread, the last post indicate a platform independent software :cool:
 
Those are nice. Since I'm going to college this fall, this will be handy.
 
How complicated do you need the drawings to be? If you just need to draw simple free-body diagrams and stuff like that, the drawing tools in Word are more than sufficient.
 
If you're depriving Bill of a few dollars by using OpenOffice instead of MS Office then you already have OpenOffice Draw that may be good enough for many uses. It has a number of shapes, connectors and symbols that are easy to use, more around, edit...
 
  • #10
I want a software by which such diagrams can be created.Samples are given below.
 

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  • #11
Some more samples are given.
 

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  • #13
I've done more complicated drawings than those for journal publications, all using Powerpoint! I have also used Visio, which has many built-in 'stencils'.

You don't need anything more involved if most of your figures are blocks, lines, and simple curves.

Zz.
 
  • #15
I use microsoft paint for all of my diagram needs
 
  • #16
For technical drawings, I usually prefer a vector-based (rather than raster-based) approach. They scale better and are often easier to modify and reuse. (I, too, have prepared some poster presentations using the drawing tools in Word and Excel.)
For me, some desirable features are:
- the grouping of primitives to, e.g., make a "schematic resistor", which can scaled and rotated as a single object.
- the ability to provide computed positions and orientations (so that a computer program can generate the figure).
- portability and nonreliance on a particular software package
- an accepted standard... like postscript or svg or LaTeX-picture
- human-readable format for manual editing

Some tools that I've played around with
http://jpicedt.sourceforge.net/site/index.php?section=overview&page=snapshots
http://xfig.org/userman/
http://www.inkscape.org/

http://vpython.org ...which is "physics-oriented" and which looks good on the screen... but I've been looking for a way to have it produce a vector-based output from its OpenGL display.
http://www.math.ubc.ca/~cass/graphics/manual/ and http://cm.bell-labs.com/who/hobby/MetaPost.html look interestingBy the way, it might be nice if PF supported SVG.
I have had to play around with LaTeX-picture graphics to do diagrams like
https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=261562&postcount=300
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?p=935342#post935342
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?p=968227#post968227 (scroll down..., converted from Maple postcript)

Interesting reading on SVG and other vector formats from a mathematician's viewpoint: http://www.maa.org/editorial/mathgames/mathgames_08_01_05.html
 
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