Interactive Physics

The Properties Window

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To Open the Properties Window, do one of the following:

• Double-click on an object in the main view.
• Click on an object in the main view, and then select "Properties" from the Windows Menu.
• Click on an object in the main view, then press <Apple><I>.

To Get a Different Object in the Properties Window:

• Click on the object in the main window.
• Choose the object by name from the top pull-down menu in the Properties Window.

The Properties Window displays different attributes, depending on the type of object selected. Regardless, you can change an object's properties by typing a new value or selecting from one of the menus in the window.

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Mass Object:

For a mass object, you can change its:

• position (x, y) in meters
• orientation in radians
• linear velocity (v_x, v_y) in meters/second
• rotational (angular) velocity in radians/second
• material - use the pull-down menu to select from the list of materials. This will automatically set typical values for mass, friction, and elasticity based on the object's size and the materials density and surface properties.
• mass in kilograms
• static friction coefficient
  • 0.0 for no friction
• kinetic friction coefficient
  • 0.0 for no friction
• elasticity -
  • 0.0 = perfectly inelastic
  • 1.0 = perfectly elastic
• electric charge in Coulombs
• moment of inertia

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Force Constraint:

For a force constraint you can change its:

• x- and y-components (F_x, F_y) in Newtons (Cartesian), or
• magnitude |F| in Newtons, and direction in radians (Polar)

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Rope Constraint:

For a rope constraint, you can change its:

• length
• elasticity

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