Are there any physics engines available?

Game Mechanics
#1

If there aren’t can someone at least tell me the minimum knowledge in physics I would need to simulate a missile traveling and striking a target and being intercepted.

I know I need Newton’s basic laws and kinetic energy but that’s as far as my knowledge goes. It’s been years since I’ve done physics.

BTW: The physics will be applied on a 2d renderer.

I’m making a real world simulation of a missile defense shield. I will do real world simulation of the patriot interceptor missiles then go further from there simulating Arrow and Arrow 2.

Starting off however it will be basic.

#2

You’ll need a basic understanding of forces and how they work in conjunction with the momentum principle. If you understand the relationships between position, velocity, and acceleration along with that, you’re set to do your project.

You can also try adding rotational momentum. I’ve never seen a game that used it, but it’s not hard at all to include, it’s just really hard to control if you’re flying a ship with it or something :slight_smile:

#3

Thanks.

#4

You can do this with Odejava. I am making a tank game with ballistics with collision detection like you describe. I am simulating almost my whole game in Odejava - but you can use it for just some physics calculations if you wish.

When you say missile - it is important to determine if it is rocket propelled. If so can’t simply treat it as a ballistic missle - you will need to add forces to alter its direction (i.e. simulating the rocket as well).

Will.

#5

In the early '80s I met two game programmers. They did game work in their spare time. Their day job was working at Raytheon doing missle simulation software programming for the Patriot missle system :slight_smile:

I havent seen them in 20 years so I dont think they can help :slight_smile:

#6

I’ve found an impressive missile simulator:
http://www.tripletsandus.com/80s/80s_games/missilecommand.htm (needs shockwave)

Perhaps this is the simulator your friends worked on back in the 80’s :smiley:

But seriously, if your going to simulate something like ICBMs then you will also need values for earth’s gravity as well as the atmospheric pressure at different heights. Your atmospheric pressure will be needed for aerodynamics of your missiles, also don’t forget to include supersonic/hypersonic flow.