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For Students · Schelling Segregation

Schelling Segregation for a forest fire

Built for students learning it for a class or exam. See the concept move instead of memorizing formulas — and check your homework intuition. Simulate a forest fire live below — adjust the inputs and watch it respond, right in your browser.

Schelling SegregationLive

emergent segregation from mild bias

Controls

Speed1×

Presets

Similarity wanted

Empty fraction

Each agent is happy if at least this fraction of its neighbors share its color; unhappy agents move to a random empty cell. Even a mild preference for similar neighbors drives sharp, global segregation — Schelling's famous result.

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

Happy0.0%

Threshold35%

Grid80²

Governing equation

move if \frac{n _{like}}{n _{total}} < τ = 0.35

Reading this result: Even a moderate 35% preference drives global segregation — Schelling's core surprise — with the grid still settling.

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Frequently asked questions

Is this good for students?: Yes — this version of "Schelling Segregation for a forest fire" is framed for students learning it for a class or exam. See the concept move instead of memorizing formulas — and check your homework intuition.
Do I need to install anything?: No. It runs in any modern browser, free, with no account required.