NAME

xgas - animated simulation of an ideal gas

SYNOPSIS

xgas [-option ...]

DESCRIPTION

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.

OPTIONS

This is a toolkit program;: all the usual toolkit options are available.

X DEFAULTS

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.

BUGS

When the chamber is resized, molecules should be rearranged appropriately. Instead, the molecule arrays are reinitialized.

COPYRIGHT

AUTHOR

Larry Medwin