How do I simulate a rolling barrel?

Open this page and use the live Heat & Wave Fields 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 rolling barrel from your own measurements.

Use case · powered by Heat & Wave Fields

Heat & Wave Fields for a rolling barrel

Simulate a rolling barrel live in your browser. This runs the real Heat & Wave Fields 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

Field — 2D Heat EquationLive

explicit finite difference · ∂u/∂t = α∇²u

Controls

Speed1×

Click the field to add heat.

Presets

Diffusivity α

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

Grid120×120

SchemeExplicit FD

Stabilitystable

Governing equation

\frac{\partial u}{\partial t} = 0.20 \nabla^{2} u

Reading this result: Diffusivity α = 0.20 spreads heat at a moderate rate while staying well under the 0.25 explicit-stability limit — hotspots smooth into a gentle gradient within a second or two.

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 Heat & Wave Fields tool models a rolling barrel 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 Heat & Wave Fields

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

Other ways to simulate a rolling barrel

Particle / N-Body for a rolling barrel GPU Compute (WebGPU) for a rolling barrel WebGPU Fluid for a rolling barrel GPU N-Body for a rolling barrel GPU PDE Solver for a rolling barrel GPU 3D Fluid for a rolling barrel

Frequently asked questions

How do I simulate a rolling barrel?: Open this page and use the live Heat & Wave Fields 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 rolling barrel from your own measurements.