Universe Sandbox

Universe Sandbox Legacy => Universe Sandbox 2008 | Discussion => Topic started by: mightygoose on July 04, 2008, 08:23:23 PM

Title: a question on mechanics
Post by: mightygoose on July 04, 2008, 08:23:23 PM
doing a degree in physics...

i was just wondering...

are you using time interval vector addition of two body problems to sidestep the n body problem or are you merely calculating parent gravity on all bodies and taking the stronger force as total?
Title: Re: a question on mechanics
Post by: Dan Dixon on July 06, 2008, 01:55:38 AM
The underling math of Universe Sandbox is pretty straightforward; it's just a brute force n-body simulation.

Does that answer your question? I'd be happy to elaborate.
Title: Re: a question on mechanics
Post by: mightygoose on July 06, 2008, 06:38:51 AM
are you using barnes-hut or particle mesh?
Title: Re: a question on mechanics
Post by: Dan Dixon on July 07, 2008, 07:28:58 PM
Neither... It's really just a brute force n-body simulation (particle-particle).

The 'dust' that makes up the galaxies, rings, and collision particles don't dramatically impact the performance of the simulation because they don't have any mass and don't effect any other bodies in the system.

Updating the code to use more a more efficient algorithm (which would improve performance) is planned for a future release.

Title: Re: a question on mechanics
Post by: Lucas on July 08, 2008, 05:28:47 PM
all that physcs and mathemtics things are confusing me  :o
Do i ned to have any experience at mathemathics or physics to operate that software? :x
Title: Re: a question on mechanics
Post by: Dan Dixon on July 09, 2008, 01:23:43 AM
Not at all.
Do i ned to have any experience at mathemathics or physics to operate that software? :x

Not at all. I've made a really effort to make Universe Sandbox accessible to those who aren't good at math or science. No degree required. :)

mightygoose is just asking about how the program calculates the movement of planets and moons that are shown to the user. None of the math is exposed to the user.