Simulations, Virtual Reality and Gaming Physics

Virtual Reality and Computer Games may simulate "physics", and although the laws may not be identical to those found in nature, our understanding of the natural world is generally the starting point for the rules with these computer implemented realms. This model explores typical laws and parameters governing the motion interaction of bodies within such simulations. The parameters correspond to aspects of physical law found in "the real world", but here the user can change those parameters while the action is going on, can pause the simulation and rearrange the actors, and can even "crash" this small and simplistic virtual space. The actors in this space are two balls, the user can change their size and mass, as well drag them to new positions (best done when the simulation is paused). The user can also change aspects of the physical laws: Elasticity is a measure of the "bounciness" of collisions, Gravity is how things fall (up or down), and Electric determines the strength of an interaction between to two balls which can range from fully repulsive forces to fully attractive. Explore these aspects of the laws of nature of this space: you are driving a mini universe!

It is possible to create situations with this simulation that really have no counterpart in the natural world, which is one of the features of Virtual Worlds. One example is to set the elasticity of collisions greater than 1 (think "Flubber"). Another example is to change the characteristics of the objects or the world while the simulation is running.

It is also quite possible to crash this simulation, which is a "feature" of real implementations of virtual worlds on real computers.

Experiencing both of these "unphysical" situations is a learning feature of this simulation.