Fluid Dynamics
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Description
This MicroSim demonstrates fluid dynamics by simulating particles flowing through a channel and interacting with an obstacle. The simulation visualizes key concepts in fluid mechanics including laminar flow, particle collisions, and flow around objects.
How It Works
- Particle Flow: Particles are continuously generated on the left side and flow toward the right
- Central Obstacle: A circular target in the flow path causes particles to deflect and collide
- Collision Detection: Uses QuadTree spatial partitioning for efficient particle-particle collision detection
- Wall Boundaries: Horizontal walls constrain the flow channel, causing wall collisions
- Particle Interactions: Particles attract and repel each other based on distance
Controls
The simulation includes six adjustable sliders:
| Slider | Parameter | Range | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acceleration | 0-5 | 2.6 | Flow acceleration magnitude |
| 2 | Velocity | 0-10 | 3.6 | Initial particle velocity |
| 3 | Mass | 0.01-5 | 1.0 | Particle mass |
| 4 | Gravity | 0-10 | 5 | Inter-particle attraction strength |
| 5 | Upper Bound | 1000-10000 | 5000 | Maximum distance constraint |
| 6 | Lower Bound | 0-1000 | 50 | Minimum distance constraint |
Real-Time Statistics
The simulation displays:
- Current frame rate (fps)
- Frame count
- Total particle count
- Collision counts: particle/target, particle/particle, particle/wall
Physics Concepts Demonstrated
- Laminar vs Turbulent Flow: Observe how flow behavior changes with different parameters
- Conservation of Momentum: Particle collisions conserve momentum
- Flow Around Obstacles: Particles deflect around the central target
- Viscosity Effects: Particle interactions simulate fluid viscosity
Lesson Plan
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Explain how fluid particles interact with obstacles in a flow
- Describe the difference between laminar and turbulent flow
- Predict how changing flow parameters affects particle behavior
- Analyze collision statistics to understand flow dynamics
Grade Level
High School Physics (Grades 10-12)
Prerequisites
- Understanding of vectors and velocity
- Basic knowledge of Newton's Laws of Motion
- Familiarity with momentum and collisions
Duration
45-60 minutes
Activities
Activity 1: Flow Observation (15 min)
- Set all sliders to their default positions
- Observe the steady-state flow pattern
- Count approximately how many particles are in the channel at equilibrium
- Record the collision rates for each type
Activity 2: Parameter Exploration (20 min)
- Increase acceleration to maximum - observe changes in flow pattern
- Decrease velocity to minimum - what happens to the flow?
- Increase particle mass - how does this affect collisions?
- Adjust gravity slider - observe attraction/repulsion effects
Activity 3: Obstacle Interaction Analysis (15 min)
- Focus on the region around the central obstacle
- Sketch the flow pattern you observe
- Identify regions of high and low particle density
- Compare to real fluid dynamics (wake regions, stagnation points)
Discussion Questions
- What happens to the collision rate as particle density increases?
- How does the flow pattern around the obstacle compare to water around a rock in a stream?
- Why do some particles get deflected more than others?
- What real-world applications use these fluid dynamics principles?
Assessment
- Students diagram the flow field around the obstacle
- Students predict collision rates for different parameter settings
- Students compare simulation behavior to real fluid phenomena
References
- Fluid Dynamics - Wikipedia - Comprehensive overview of fluid mechanics principles
- QuadTree Algorithm - Wikipedia - Spatial partitioning data structure used for efficient collision detection
- Original Simulation - Nikola Bozhinov (vislupus) - Source code inspiration
- The Nature of Code: Chapter 6 - Autonomous Agents - Daniel Shiffman - 2024 - Explains particle systems and flocking behavior