Do I need to install anything?

No. It runs in any modern browser, free, with no account required.

For Researchers · Elastic Collisions

Elastic Collisions for a trebuchet launch

Built for researchers prototyping or validating an idea. Prototype fast, reproduce exactly, and share a citable, interactive version of your model. Simulate a trebuchet launch live below — adjust the inputs and watch it respond, right in your browser.

Elastic CollisionsLive

momentum & energy conservation

Controls

Speed1×

Presets

Balls collide with impulse-based physics. At restitution 1, kinetic energy is conserved; below 1, collisions are inelastic and energy drains away.

Balls

Restitution

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

Balls12

Total KE0.00e+0

Collisionselastic

Governing equation

j = \frac{- ( 1 + e ) ( v _{b} - v _{a} ) \cdot n ^}{1/ m _{a} + 1/ m _{b}}, e = 1.00

Reading this result: With restitution 1 every bounce is perfectly elastic, so the total kinetic energy of all 12 balls stays constant forever — a 2D model of an ideal gas.

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Frequently asked questions

Is this good for researchers?: Yes — this version of "Elastic Collisions for a trebuchet launch" is framed for researchers prototyping or validating an idea. Prototype fast, reproduce exactly, and share a citable, interactive version of your model.
Do I need to install anything?: No. It runs in any modern browser, free, with no account required.