23rd Annual Student Research Conference
Interactive Demonstrations of Physical Principles with "Algodoo"
Nicholas J. Wilsey
Dr. Matthew M. Beaky, Faculty Mentor
Algodoo is a high speed, interactive physics simulation program with a simple, user-friendly interface, allowing one to devise physically realistic (or physically absurd) scenarios with a handful of clicks and drags. The possibilities are limited only by the imagination. No longer is it necessary to program the visualization and the underlying physics to demonstrate a problem. Virtually any classical problem can be modeled, any physical parameter can be adjusted, and any physical quantity can be measured and plotted over time. The wealth of a physics laboratory is at one's fingertips. The goal of this capstone project has been to develop interactive scenarios, for use in a lecture or a lab, to demonstrate various physical principles: resonant modes of a string, orbital dynamics and N-body problems, chaotic behavior in double pendula, gravitational warping of light, refraction in a raindrop, and fluid flow. Some of these demonstrations will be presented.
Keywords: Algodoo, Phun, simulation, program, chaos, gravitation, refraction, resonance
Topic(s):Physics
Education
Computer Science
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 3-1
Location: MG 1096
Time: 8:00