Where Can I Learn More About Physics Graphics Simulations?

[Frank Schroer]

TL;DR Summary

Physics Graphics Simulation

Summary: Physics Graphics Simulation

I am interested in modeling physics using graphics simulations. I took a python course with CS majors and one of the assignments was to simulate a planet orbiting a star. That being said, I was wondering if anyone knew of any good resources that I could learn how to do more of these type of programs. For example, gravity simulations, pendulum, waves, etc. I am familiar with python, c++, mathematica, matlab.

 

[m4r35n357]

IMO learning by doing is the best way to approach this, so I'll give you some search terms.

Most of these things involve systems of Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs). Search for methods of solving them. Another related area is Hamiltonian Mechanics (also an ODE formulation), which is at the root of a lot of simulations (but it is quite "fundamental" and does not model bulk effects such as friction, air resistance). Chaotic systems are fairly interesting too.

There is a lot to learn, so I would suggest maybe going back to your orbiting planet and do it again using the Hamiltonian. While you are researching and doing this you will probably stumble across enough to keep you going for ever (especially if you get into Partial Differential Equations)!

[EDIT] Just a thought, Scilab has a few things that might be useful, wrapped up in a sort of IDE.

 

[jedishrfu]

There’s the Open Source Physics website that has an extensive collection of java based simulations that use the osp java framework. There’s also a book based on the osp framework showing how they are used in different scenarios.

Www.compadre.org/osp

 

[aaroman]

My blog has links to some resources: https://compphys.go.ro I have even a 'gravity simulator' with OpenGL graphics. There is also a molecular dynamics project with an 'event driven' simulation. The Lattice Boltzmann one could be also implemented for 3D (you would need cuda or OpenCL to do the calculations if you need 'real time'), what I have there is 2D only. One that is also with nice graphics is the ray tracing project which is basically geometrical optics. The associated projects are here: https://github.com/aromanro?tab=repositories The downsize is that the projects are implemented in C++.