How do I simulate a yo-yo?

Open this page and use the live Ray Optics / Lenses 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 Ray Optics / Lenses

Ray Optics / Lenses for a yo-yo

Simulate a yo-yo live in your browser. This runs the real Ray Optics / Lenses 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

Ray Optics / Lens StudioLive

thin-lens equation · ray tracing

Controls

Presets

Trace principal rays through a thin lens to locate the image. Move the object inside the focal point to flip from a real to a virtual image.

Focal length

Object distance

Object height

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

Lensconverging

Focal length120px

Magnification-1.00×

Equation1/v − 1/u = 1/f

Governing equation

\frac{1}{v} - \frac{1}{u} = \frac{1}{f} = \frac{1}{120}

Reading this result: The object sits near 2f, so the image is real, inverted and roughly the same size (1:1).

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 Ray Optics / Lenses 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 Ray Optics / Lenses

Ray Optics / Lenses for a projectile from a cannon Ray Optics / Lenses for a bouncing ball Ray Optics / Lenses for a pendulum clock Ray Optics / Lenses for a car braking Ray Optics / Lenses for a roller-coaster loop Ray Optics / Lenses for a satellite orbit Ray Optics / Lenses for a mass on a spring Ray Optics / Lenses 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 Ray Optics / Lenses 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.