PPolySim OS

Gravity Well

See gravity as geometry. A central mass dents a 3D grid into a well, and a body orbits within the curved surface — the classic visualization of curved spacetime.

Gravity Well StudioLive

Controls

The classic rubber-sheet picture of gravity: mass warps the grid, and a body orbits in the curved surface. Drag the star to move the mass and reshape the well; drag empty space to orbit the view.

Presets

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

Central mass60
Well depth∝ M/r
View3D orbit

Governing equation

Reading this result: At mass 60 the well is moderately curved; the body traces a near-stable ellipse because its sideways motion balances the inward pull (∝ M/r²).

Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.

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How it works

The grid height follows a gravitational potential (∝ M/r), rendered in 3D with an orbit camera, while a test body orbits the central mass under an inverse-square force. It's an intuition-builder for how mass curves space in general relativity.

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The math, the assumptions, real-world uses, or a code translation — explained for this exact simulation.

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Frequently asked questions

Is this gravity well simulation tool really free?▾
Yes. Gravity Well runs entirely in your browser using your device's own compute, so local use is free forever. You only pay Compute Tokens if you scale a job to the cloud.
Do I need to install anything?▾
No. Everything runs client-side in a modern browser — no downloads, no license, no account required to start.
Can I save or share my simulation?▾
Create a free account to save projects, and use a shareable embed or minted DOI to publish a live, interactive version anywhere.
How accurate are the results?▾
The solver uses established numerical methods, but results are for research and educational purposes and should be validated against experiment or professional review before you rely on them.