How do I simulate a zip line?

Open this page and use the live Cloth / Spring-Mass tool below — set your inputs and the simulation runs instantly in your browser using real numerics. No install, no account needed.

Yes. The simulation runs free in your browser. A one-time unlock or a Pro plan adds advanced parameters, saved presets, data import, and clean exports.

Can I use my own numbers?

Absolutely — every input is adjustable, and with data import you can drive a zip line from your own measurements.

Use case · powered by Cloth / Spring-Mass

Cloth / Spring-Mass for a zip line

Simulate a zip line live in your browser. This runs the real Cloth / Spring-Mass solver — adjust the inputs, watch it respond instantly, and export the result. No install, no account.

For:Students Researchers Educators Engineers Hobbyists & Makers K-12 Students First Responders

Cloth / Spring-Mass StudioLive

Verlet integration · constraint relaxation

Controls

Speed1×

A grid of masses linked by springs, pinned at the top. Grab any node and drag it around — it's a real Verlet cloth simulation.

Presets

Gravity

Wind

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

Nodes28×20

IntegratorVerlet

Constraintsdistance (×3/frame)

Governing equation

x^{'} = 2 x - x_{p r e v} + a Δ t^{2}, ∣ p_{i} - p_{j} ∣ = 16

Reading this result: No wind, so the cloth hangs straight down from its pinned top row and settles into a smooth catenary once the motion damps out.

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

or unlock everything with Pro →

About this simulation

The full Cloth / Spring-Mass tool models a zip line with the same numerics engineers and scientists use — running entirely client-side. Change any parameter and the result updates in real time, so you can build intuition, check a design, or teach the concept without spreadsheets or installs.

More you can do with Cloth / Spring-Mass

Cloth / Spring-Mass for a projectile from a cannon Cloth / Spring-Mass for a bouncing ball Cloth / Spring-Mass for a pendulum clock Cloth / Spring-Mass for a car braking Cloth / Spring-Mass for a roller-coaster loop Cloth / Spring-Mass for a satellite orbit Cloth / Spring-Mass for a mass on a spring Cloth / Spring-Mass for a skydiver's free fall

Other ways to simulate a zip line

Particle / N-Body for a zip line Heat & Wave Fields for a zip line GPU Compute (WebGPU) for a zip line WebGPU Fluid for a zip line GPU N-Body for a zip line GPU PDE Solver for a zip line

Frequently asked questions

How do I simulate a zip line?: Open this page and use the live Cloth / Spring-Mass tool below — set your inputs and the simulation runs instantly in your browser using real numerics. No install, no account needed.
Is it free?: Yes. The simulation runs free in your browser. A one-time unlock or a Pro plan adds advanced parameters, saved presets, data import, and clean exports.
Can I use my own numbers?: Absolutely — every input is adjustable, and with data import you can drive a zip line from your own measurements.