3-Body Problem Simulation

This project simulates the 3-body problem using a web-based interface built with Flask and p5.js. It allows users to explore different scenarios involving the gravitational interaction between three celestial bodies. Users can choose pre-configured setups or define their own initial conditions.

Features

• Pre-configured Setups: Quickly load scenarios such as the Solar System, classic 3-body problem, figure-eight orbit, random 3-body interaction, and hierarchical triple system.
• Custom Initial Conditions: Define your own masses, positions, velocities, and colors for up to three bodies.
• Visualization: View the simulation in a 3D space with trails showing the paths of the bodies.
• Debug Information: Option to display debug information including the current step and positions of the bodies.

Usage

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/rpsiv/3body.git
   cd 3body

2. Install the dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

3. Run the Flask application:

   flask run

4. Open your browser and navigate to http://127.0.0.1:5000.

5. Choose a setup from the dropdown menu or define your own initial conditions using the form.

6. Run the simulation by clicking the "Run Simulation" button.

Development

This project was developed with the assistance of ChatGPT-4. The process involved iterative coding and debugging sessions, where the AI provided guidance on structuring the code, identifying and fixing bugs, and optimizing the simulation parameters. The initial prompt was:

Write a python program which can simulate the 3 body problem. Have it take in masses and number of bodies and their initial stating locations and vectors. It should be a web user interface which displays the motions of the objects and takes the initial inputs.

See the conversation.md to see the conversation, the generated code blocks are omitted for brevity but the full transcript can be provided

Key Development Steps

1. Initial Setup: Flask application and basic HTML structure.
2. Adding p5.js: Integrating p5.js for visualization.
3. Defining Physics: Implementing the physics for the 3-body problem.
4. UI Enhancements: Improving the UI with Bootstrap and adding features like pre-configured setups.
5. Debugging: Iteratively fixing bugs and optimizing the simulation parameters.
6. Final Touches: Adding debug information, trails, and ensuring scalability for different scenarios.

Challenges and Solutions

• Initial Condition Stability: Ensuring that the 3-body scenarios have stable initial conditions to avoid chaotic behavior. This was achieved by carefully setting the initial positions and velocities based on known solutions.
• Scalability: Ensuring the simulation runs smoothly for both small and large distances. Scaling factors were adjusted accordingly.
• UI/UX: Enhancing the user experience by making the interface intuitive and responsive.

Pre-configured Setups

The following pre-configured setups are available:

1. Solar System: A simplified model of the solar system including the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
2. Classic 3-Body Problem: Three bodies forming an equilateral triangle with initial velocities set to maintain a stable orbit.
3. Figure-Eight Orbit: Three bodies following a figure-eight trajectory.
4. Random 3-Body Interaction: Random initial positions and velocities for three bodies.
5. Hierarchical Triple System: A larger body with two smaller bodies orbiting it.

Contributions

Contributions are welcome! Please fork the repository and submit a pull request.