Introduction to CindyLab

CindyLab is the part of Cinderella that for creating simulations of physical experiments with a few mouse clicks. The basic philosophy is similar to the geometry part. You draw the experiments with your mouse, then you just click a start button and you see what happens. While your experiment is running you can always interact with the objects of your construction by picking and dragging them.

The basic model behind the simulations in Cinderella is a particle/forces model. There are particles with certain masses that behave according to Newtons laws of motion. At the same time there is a variety of forces (springs, gravity, magnetic fields, walls, etc.) that influence the movement of the particles. With this simple paradigm a surprisingly rich variety of experiments can be modeled. Just to give one example, you can enter and simulate the motion of a planet around a sun with only four mouse clicks. By adding additional suns or planets you can experience the chaotic motion of a many-body system.

There are many powerful links between CindyLab and the geometry part of Cinderella, as well as to CindyScript, where you can measure forces, speeds, positions and energy, just to name a few. Using this connection you can easily evaluate your experiments and draw quantitative conclusions.

• Simulating masses and forces
  • Elementary Mechanics
  • Cinderella and Physics
  • CindyLab and CindyScript
• Reference
  • The Elements of CindyLab
  • The objects

    • 	Free Mass
      	Velocity
      	Gravity
      	Sun
      	Magnetic Field
      	Rubber Band
      	Spring
      	Coulomb Force
      	Floor
      	Bouncer

  • Environment
  • Many-Particle Systems
  • Animations and CindyLab
  • Geometry and CindyLab
  • Scripting Physical Environments