Thrust Lab · forces and vectors

Mode

paused

Ship

t: s
J: N·s
d: m
r: m
e
lap
m: kg
F_net: N
θ_Fnet
F_x: N
F_y: N
F_a: N
F_g: N
a: m/s²
a_x: m/s²
a_y: m/s²
v: m/s
θ_v
v_x: m/s
v_y: m/s

r is your distance from the planet's center and e is the eccentricity of the orbit you're on (0 is a circle; 1 or more means you'll escape). lap counts how far you've coasted around the planet with the engine off. t is the time this round, J is the impulse your engine has delivered (∫|F|dt), and d is your distance to the target's center. F_net = F_a + F_g: thrust plus the total pull of gravity. Scale: 20 px = 1 m (one small square). Angles from +x, counterclockwise; +y is up.

Projectile

g: m/s²
t: s
h: m
v: m/s
t_flight: s
h_max: m
s: m

g = GM/R² at the surface. h is height above the ground; the last three rows are for the most recent shot that landed, with s the distance along the ground from the cannon. Dots mark every 0.25 s. Scale: 20 px = 1 m.

In orbit

F m G θ v₀

← → turn · ↑ thrust · space pause · C components · 1–6 modes · click the ship to inspect

A ship in empty space

No friction, no gravity. The only force is your engine.

Hold ↑ or W to fire, ← → or A D to turn. Drag the ship to move it; click it to see its readouts.

Use the Mode bar at the top to switch setups. Mode 1 is just the ship, so you can get a feel for flying. Mode 2 adds the vectors and controls. Mode 3 is a parking challenge: stop the ship inside a target. Mode 4 adds small planets whose gravity pulls on the ship. Mode 5 is an orbit challenge around one big planet.

Get moving to the right, then point straight up and fire. Which way does F point? Which way do you go?
Bring the ship to a complete stop. Which way did you have to push?
Show a next to F, then double the mass. What changes, and what doesn't?

Parked

t: s
J: N·s
J_min: N·s

You started drifting at m/s. Just to stop, the engine had to change the ship's momentum by m|v₀| = kg × that speed, so no pilot can do better than J_min. How close can you get?