Physics engine

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A physics engine is a functional unit of information technology that is used to simulate physical processes and to calculate properties inherent in the object (e.g. impulse ). The aim is to simplify programming and to convey realistic motion sequences in a 3D view, for example realistic " game physics " should be achieved. The main areas of application are modern computer games and simulation software.

It is not always a question of physical accuracy. This is often due to the immense complexity of the calculations based on physical processes. Since in such cases there is usually a requirement for real-time capability, efficiency takes precedence over accuracy.

Types of simulation

  • Physics of rigid bodies (rigid body mechanics)
  • non-elastic physics with deformations (soft body dynamics)
  • Mass-spring models (spring dynamics) u. a. as a basis for the simulation of ropes and fabric ( rope or cloth )
  • Particle systems u. a. as a basis for the simulation of liquids (fluid dynamics) and fire

Rigid Body Mechanics

Open source physics engine Tokamak

The physics of rigid bodies makes use of the laws of classical mechanics (Newtonian mechanics). The system to be analyzed is described by means of differential equations ( Newton's axioms ), which can be solved after inserting start and boundary conditions. Since exact solving is too time-consuming, approximation methods (e.g. Runge-Kutta method ) are mostly used (see rigid body simulation ).

The treatment of impacts is more complicated, since u. a. sudden changes in direction and momentum must be taken into account. A distinction is made between collision detection and collision response.

Physics engines

Engine License Web link operating system SDK / sources
Bullet Open source bulletphysics.com Windows , Linux , Mac OS X
Box 2D (2D engine) Open source box2d.org Windows, Linux, Mac OS X
IBDS Open source impulse-based.de Windows, Linux, Mac OS X
Havok commercially Havok.com Windows, Mac OS (from 4.0)
PhysX (formerly NovodeX) Open source nvidia.com Windows, Linux C ++, C # (PhysX-sharp)
karma commercially - Windows
Meqon commercially - Windows
Newton Game Dynamics Open source Newtondynamics.com Windows, Linux, Mac OS
Open Dynamics Engine Open source ODE.org Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Unix derivatives
Tokamak Open source tokamakphysics.com Windows C ++
True Axis commercially trueaxis.com Windows
Phyz (Dax Phyz) free phyz.ath.cx Windows
starLiGHT.Engine commercially starLiGHT-Engine.de Windows, Xbox , Windows Phone 7 , Silverlight C # / Microsoft XNA
Step Open source https://edu.kde.org/step/ GNU / Linux C ++

In September 2005 ageia Technologies, Inc. took over competitor Meqon. Thus, the engine of the same name does not experience any further development, but support is guaranteed. In 2007 Havok was bought by Intel . Ageia, the original maker of PhysX, was bought by Nvidia in 2008.

Physics games

In many computer games, the player must take advantage of the in-game physics engine in order to advance in the game. Games that only consist of the player solving puzzles based on the physics engine are also known as physics games. For example, the player has to experiment with gravity , trajectories , friction , elasticity , magnetism and leverage and different fluids and gases in order to move figures or objects to a suitable position until the level has been passed.

Well-known examples of this are Angry Birds , Cut the Rope , Where's my water? , Crayon Physics Deluxe , Bridge Constructor , World of Goo and Crazy Machines . Physics games are mainly published as mobile phone and browser games and can usually be assigned to the genres of puzzles , brain games , games of skill , puzzles or jump 'n' run . Games like Angry Birds are also known as parabolic games because of their parabolic shape.

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ zdnet.de: Nvidia buys Ageia Technologies , February 5, 2008.
  2. ↑ Felix Knoke: Fantastic physics games: throw, flight, meal! In: Spiegel Online . January 22, 2011 ( spiegel.de [accessed September 30, 2019]).
  3. ↑ The best physics games for Android (Part 1). In: Androidmag. September 1, 2013, accessed on September 30, 2019 (German).
  4. ↑ Playing with physics: roll, throw and fall. Retrieved September 30, 2019 .

Web links

Commons : Physics engine  - collection of images, videos and audio files