Fragments of the Cosmos

Welcome to the Fragments of the Cosmos educational simulations.

Developed using the p5.js interactive animations library to replicate natural cosmic phenomena. These sims are designed to enrich science education as Open Educational Resources (OER) under a CC-BY-NC 4.0 license. You are welcome to integrate these resources in your classroom or digital learning environments to spark curiosity and enhance understanding of complex cosmic and astrophysics concepts.

This page is best viewed from a laptop/PC. This page is not optimized for mobile viewing.

Disclaimer: These physics education simulations represent my explorations as an enthusiast, not a professional physicist.

Physics Simulations

Infinite Galactic Zoom - 2D (click and hold)

Instructions:

Click and hold anywhere on the screen below–to fly through deep space filled with infinite galaxies
Release click to stop
Made with simple HTML, CSS and JS. Also available as standalone webapp here: https://galaxy-zoom.vercel.app/
Available open source on Github. Pull requests welcome

Note: Simplified simulation for educational purposes only. Not to scale.

Milky Way 3D (basic)

Instructions:

Click and drag to rotate the axis of the view; Zoom-in/out.

Note: Simplified simulation for educational purposes only. Not to scale.

Mass Gain on the Higgs Field (2D)

Watch as particles navigate through space, dramatically changing as they encounter the Higgs field. See them slow down and grow, representing mass gain, then shrink and speed up upon exit. Watch this short clip by astrophysicist Brian Greene for a succinct explanation.

Instructions:

Click anywhere to add particles (i.e. yellow circles as they represent electrons, quarks, and the W and Z bosons)
Observe how particles entering the Higgs field (central raised area) slow down and increase in size, representing mass gain
Watch particles shrink and speed up when exiting, simulating mass loss
Particles outside the field maintain constant size and speed, representing their natural massless state
Simplified simulation for educational purposes only. Not to scale. Best viewed on a computer/laptop browser

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Gravitational Wave Simulator 3D

Field of Study: Astrophysics, Gravitational Wave Astronomy

This Gravitational Wave sim provides an interactive visualization of how wave-form disturbances propagate through the fabric of spacetime, and offers a simplified representation of the cosmic phenomenon. Every single click begins a wave.

Instructions:

Click and drag to rotate the view and observe the simulation from different angles
Click anywhere on the grid to create a gravitational wave propagating outwards
Click multiple times to generate multiple waves and observe their interactions
Watch as waves dissipate upon reaching the edge of the visible space-time fabric
Simplified simulation for educational purposes only. Not to scale. Best viewed on a computer/laptop browser

Scalar Curvature Sim 2D (spacetime fabric)

Instructions:

Use the slider to adjust the strenght of the spacetime curvature
Currently under development for 3D
Best viewed on a computer/laptop browser

Interactive Gravitational Lensing

Experience the mesmerizing effects of gravitational lensing in this interactive simulation, demonstrating the profound impact of massive objects on the path of light in space.

Instructions:

Click and hold anywhere on the canvas to observe how light particles bend around a gravitational source (click)
Release click to reset

Note: Simplified simulation for educational purposes only. Not to scale.

[Closeup] Interactive Gravitational Lensing 2

Instructions:

Click, hold and move your mouse to see how gravitational lensing occurs.

Note: Simplified simulation for educational purposes only. Not to scale.

LHC ATLAS Experiment 3D

Visualize the ATLAS experiment's detector–showcasing particle collisions and their interactions with different detector layers. Particles are color-coded based on type and leave fading traces to represent their trajectories.

Instructions:

Click and drag to rotate the axis of the view

Note: Simplified simulation for educational purposes only. Not to scale.

Purpose of this page:

Fragments of the Cosmos: Interactive Cosmic Phenomena Simulations for Physics Educators

Why P5JS PhysicsEd Simulations work for your physics classroom:
- Reduces Cognitive Load: No equations → pure visualization first, easing learners into later math.
- Embodied Learning: Dragging/clicking creates a "body-in-the-loop" understanding (neuroscience shows this boosts retention).
- Gateway to Advanced Topics: Opens discussions about the LHC experiments, spacetime topology, or numerical relativity simulations.
Example classroom use cases:
- Pre-Lab Exploration:
  Example: "Click different locations. How does wave behavior change with distance from the source?"
- Post-Simulation Analysis:
  Example: "Why do waves lose amplitude as they expand? Relate this to energy conservation."