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.