Last edited 12/12/2011 by sturt1@illinois.edu
Find this document at http://new.math.uiuc.edu/math198/sturt1

Sticky Spheres

Abstract

The purpose of Sticky Spheres is to explore inelastic collisions between spheres in 3-space in the Cube. Sticky Spheres is written in Python and OpenGL using the PyOpenGL module. Currently, I have n spheres bouncing against the walls in 3-space with collision detection. My goal is to have spheres of the same mass and radius collide inelastically with one another. My wish is to vary the mass and radius of spheres, to implement spin on spheres, to implement inelastic collisions between 3 or more spheres, and to implement inelastic collisions between spheres that makes them unable to be seperated and hence accumulate in size as more and more balls stick together.

Update 11-16-2011

Sticky Spheres is at a crossroads in terms of what I want to do from here. I have completed the core components of my project, which includes elastic collisions in 3-space between spheres, and this can be seen (with some glitches) in the Cube. Now, my focus can go in a variety of directions. Initially, within the first week I plan on having inelastic collisions between the spheres operating. Following that, I want to clean up the code to be presentation-worthy in the cube. After that, I want to find a way to throw a ball with the wand in the cube to hit another ball.

Update 12-12-2011

Sticky Spheres now implements a variety of features to be used on the desktop or in the cube. Notably, the inelastic and elastic collisions work well. Specs on the system are readily available, including average speed and energy of the system, and velocity vectors on the spheres. Gravity to arbitrary locations can be turned on.

Links

To see my full report in LaTeX, click here
Thank you to Professor George Francis