Moving an object in 3D space

deltaV = a * deltaT
a = F/m

Remember that you''re dealing with vectors. Check the tutorials on this website for more. Ideally, also find some basic physics websites and/or borrow a high school physics book.

From TerranFury''s post, F (force), a (acceleration), and DeltaV (change in speed) are vectors. m (mass) is a scalar constant. DeltaT is the time step. So, if v is your object''s current velocity (also a vector), you can find the new v by calculating the force, calculating a from the force, calculating DeltaV from a, and then:

v = v + DeltaV

Then, your new position can be calculated by:

Delta_position = v * DeltaT
position = position + Delta_position

I know that''s roughly described, but that is a quick and dirty physics system.

The particular use of deltaV = a * deltaT and v = v + deltaT is called "simple Euler integration." It is very easy to implement, but if you begin to do complex things such as connecting springs to your objects (spring force to cause objects to oscillate), this type of integration will begin to fail, and the simulation will overflow.

Graham Rhodes
Senior Scientist
Applied Research Associates, Inc.