Physics of Stone Arches

This physics simulation was built to teach principles of construction. I coded the bricks and placed them in the simulation to model existing arches. I really liked that the physical properties alone–friction, mass, and gravity–held together the structure. The user can experiment with different heights and supports. If the arc is too high or not properly supported then it falls apart. You can also click on any brick to remove it and immediately see the result as the simulation is continuously running.

The images in this project are NOVA’s. I produced the video walkthrough.

Live link: Physics of Stone Arches on NOVA