Hold down the mouse button to load and aim the Asteroid Cannon. Holding the button down increases the launch speed. Release to launch the Asteroid through space. The aim is to avoid colliding with the various Planets and hit the far (right) wall. Hitting the top, bottom or a Planet just gives you another turn. Hitting the right wall adds another (and larger) Planet with stronger gravity. Launching at the highest speed (10) is not always the best option. Sometimes you need to use the gravity of one planet to change your course and miss the next one.
This project simulates the gravitation attraction between a small moving object and multiple large ones. The mass of each is simulated by first calculating a volume/mass based on its diameter: Volume=(4/3)*pi*r^3. The attractive Force (of gravity) between two bodies is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance apart: F=G*(m1*m2)/r^2 where G is a constant equal to 6.673*10^-11. The effect of all the Planets is combined into a single vector. *** Note 1 *** Since (obviously) this is a simulation that must operate at the scale of the Scratch Stage, I have modified the value of G. (May Sir Isaac Newton not roll over in his grave) *** Note 2 *** These calculations ignore any motion and attraction between the "planets".
