How do I simulate a yo-yo?

Open this page and use the live Elastic Collisions 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 yo-yo from your own measurements.

Use case · powered by Elastic Collisions

Elastic Collisions for a yo-yo

Simulate a yo-yo live in your browser. This runs the real Elastic Collisions 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

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.

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 Elastic Collisions tool models a yo-yo 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 Elastic Collisions

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

Other ways to simulate a yo-yo

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

Frequently asked questions

How do I simulate a yo-yo?: Open this page and use the live Elastic Collisions 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 yo-yo from your own measurements.