Here is a neat little program that simulates newtonian physics.

http://www.orbitsimulator.com/gravit...cles/what.html

In particular, look at the "simulations" link in the menu on the left. They have pre-made scenarios that you can download that demonstrate things like lagrange points, resonant and horseshoe orbits, and how large objects are build from smaller objects through accretion.

Hopefully I haven't been toseeked here. I did a search for the url and got no hits, so I think this is new.

It's a great little program, the guy who wrote it is quite active in the Orbiter community.

__________________
"In defense of the Earth, We're gonna fight to the last man, baby... now where's your conscience, or have ya turned that over to your computers too, eh?"
--Astronaut Glen, "Monster Zero"

yep. I lurk over there on the m6 forums. That's where I saw it.

I haven't yet managed to set up anything interesting with the gravity simulator. I seem to have a talent though for flinging planets out of the solar system. lol!

Dang. I've been tinkering with a gravity simulation for about 4 years. I've never quite gotten out of 2D and would love to see some source code!

=D>

Good find!

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Feynman
>~~~~<
Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself. The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool.

Religion is a culture of faith; science is a culture of doubt.