There is one major limitation to Universe Sandbox - the Euclidean/Newtonian dynamics model used to carry out n-body simulations. Orbits with high eccentricities, such as Mercury's, can't be simulated accurately using only Newtonian dynamics. The next release of the software should add the effects of General Relativity so that one can simulate the precession of perihelia of orbits (actually, there's no such thing as a pure Keplerian orbit. Orbits are not "closed" due to the effects of spacetime curvature). Adding a "black hole" object as part of the simulation doesn't make sense, since the software does not include the effects from general relativity. Orbits around black holes and even neutron stars will not be modeled correctly using only Newtonian dynamics. If time dilation is to be taken into account, the program should also include the effects due to special relativity (time dilation results from spacetime curvature near a massive object producing a gravitational potential [general relativity] as well as due to relativistic speeds. There are two well-known programs that model relativistic effects. "Astrograv" is very accurate in that it now includes the effects due to general relativity (as a version 2.0), and the program "Starstrider" models the visual effects due to special relativity. I hope there are plans to eventually include relativistic effects in "Universe Sandbox", else it will always have significant limitations relative to programs that model relativistic effects.
Topic: Adding Relativistic Effects to Universe Sandbox (Read 5023 times)
