Relativity Lab for a bouncing ball
Built for researchers prototyping or validating an idea. Prototype fast, reproduce exactly, and share a citable, interactive version of your model. Simulate a bouncing ball live below — adjust the inputs and watch it respond, right in your browser.
Controls
Presets
Near the speed of light, space and time warp. The Lorentz factor γ = 1/√(1−v²/c²) governs it all: moving clocks run slow by γ (time dilation), moving objects shrink along their motion by 1/γ (length contraction), and energy grows without bound. At everyday speeds γ ≈ 1, so we never notice.
Data Inspector
Governing equation
Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.
Controls
A moving source squeezes its wavefronts ahead and stretches them behind — higher pitch approaching, lower pitch receding. Push past the wave speed for a sonic boom.
Presets
Data Inspector
Governing equation
Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.
More with Relativity Lab
Frequently asked questions
- Is this good for researchers?
- Yes — this version of "Relativity Lab for a bouncing ball" 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.