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xgas - animated simulation of an ideal gas
xgas [-option ...]
xgas
is a physical simulation of an ideal gas in a heated box. Gas molecules
move around the box with velocities dependent on their temperature. A chamber
consisting of two boxes contains the gas molecules; the temperature of
each box can be independently controlled by a scrollbar. When gas molecules
collide with the walls, their temperature approaches that of the box.
Use
mouse button 1 to create molecules one at a time at the cursor position.
Use mouse button 2 to create the maximum number of molecules at the cursor
position.
- This is a toolkit program;
- all the usual toolkit options
are available.
The xgas program uses the following X resources:
- timeStepSize
- Specifies the simulated time duration in microseconds for
each cycle of computation.
- delay
- Specifies the real time interval between
timestep computations.
- randomBounce
- In each wall collision, a molecule bounces
elastically (angle of incidence = angle of reflection). A component of randomness
is added to this angle. RandomBounce varies from 0.0 (no randomness) to 1.0
(completely random angle of incidence).
- equilibrium
- During each wall collision,
a molecule's kinetic energy approaches that corresponding to the temperature
of the wall. If equilibrium is 1.0, the molecule reaches the wall temperature
immediately. For values between 1.0 and 0.0, the molecule approaches the temperature
of the wall more slowly.
- maxMolecules
- Specifies the maximum number of molecules
in the simulation.
X(1)
, xwd(1)
When the chamber is resized,
molecules should be rearranged appropriately. Instead, the molecule arrays
are reinitialized.
Copyright 1991, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Larry Medwin
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