Science Infoblog

Many games are driven by physics engines that mimic motion in the real world in a virtual counterpart. Phun discussed earlier is a simple 2D example. A number of classes had a brief look at the technology behind the Nintendo Wii and the physics concepts underpinning the games. The boxing game will have to be banned in future as students let loose in a virtual world were determined to punch each others’ lights out risking a virtual school suspension

get your vodpod

Some physics concepts identified include:

Don’t forget the homework!

Phun lets you move objects around in 2D obeying the laws of physics. You can control gravity, how things collide, friction and the strength of motors. Download the software and see if you can make a simulation like this one on YT. Enter the competition

Competition:

1 Tell Mr West you want to enter the competition (three categories, junior, senior and interested parents/members of the community.

2 Download Phun (see previous post to dowload the software or Mr West for a copy)

3 Use the software to produce a simulation/cartoon (you will have to interact with some physics as you do this!)

4 See Mr West or Mr Duff if you need help to get started.

5 Email your simulation to Mr West (john.west@greenbayhigh.school.nz) or bring it along to E11 on a memory stick.

Entries must be in before the end of term 1

A very handsome trophy will be awarded to the winner in each category.

Have phun….get physical or use your artistic talents and get creative.

Have you ever wondered how cars, bikes helicopters and people move around in games like Grand Theft Auto 4.

Objects that move around in the real world follow Newton’s laws of motion. To develop software that mimics the real world you need to understand the physics of motion.

Rockstar North is the developer behind Grand Theft and they are based in Edinburgh Scotland. They are currently advertising for a physicist and people to test their games to check that they are realistic!

Phun is an educational, entertaining and addictive piece of software for designing and exploring 2D multi-physics simulations in a cartoony fashion and you can download it for free.

ICT Challenge trophy

Release your artistic and scientific skills. Dowload PHUN and use it to illustrate a physics concept (friction, gravity, collsions, billiard table etc)

There are three different categories for junior and senior students and a separate category for enthusiastic parents.

email mr West as an expression of interest and for further details ( john.west@greenbayhigh.school.nz ). Have PHUN