London Gifted & Talented - Space Science Simulations

Customising the Initial State
Universe | Rocket

Customising the initial state of 'Rocket'

To start the Rocket simulation in its 'default' initial state, try:

http://www.londongt.org/local/spaceScience/fullScreen.php?movie=rocket

To start it in a customised initial state, we add extra information to the web address. For example, by default, there is a ten tonne single stage propulsion unit and a ten tonne payload. These masses are given by a variable called v_stages; to have, instead, a 100 tonne propulsion stage, a 10 tonne propulsion stage and a 5 tonne payload, try:

http://www.londongt.org/local/spaceScience/fullScreen.php?movie=rocket&v_stages=100,10,5

Suppose we want to customise the initial stage and payload masses, and also launch from Earth instead of the Moon. The planet you launch from is given by a variable called v_planet, and 'Earth' corresponds to a value of 2. So here's the web address:

http://www.londongt.org/local/spaceScience/fullScreen.php?movie=rocket&v_stages=100,10,5&v_planet=2

Complete list of variables for 'Rocket'

Both the 'Space Science' simulations allow you to change certain settings.

For example, in 'Universe', you can set up an acceleration law or a velocity law; towards or perpendicular to the sun; proportional to distance, or to distance squared, or... and so on.

And in 'Rocket', you can launch from the Moon, or Earth, or anywhere else in the Solar System; with a payload of whatever mass you like; with a propulsion unit with as many stages as you like, of whatever size you like; and so on.

The easiest way to change these settings is by hand, by playing with the simulation. But what if you want to start up the simulation with particular settings (for a presentation, for example)? This can be done by putting information into the Web address.