This page contains instructions for and an example of the Potential Energy applet. The Potential Energy applet demonstrates the relationship between potential and kinetic energy. The Potential Energy applet requires a Java 1.1 virtual machine. As of 18 Sep 97, Netscape and Internet Explorer will only run Java 1.0 applets. Sun's HotJava 1.0 will run Java 1.1 applets.
The current status is complete and functional.

  • Inputting non-integers for the values of EAS will break the applet
  • Sort the checkboxes
  • Pressing "Reset" before the animation finishes breaks the applet
  • Resizing the applet breaks the applet. I am looking into this.
  • Negative values for Mass causes strange behavior
  • Disable all buttons while anim is running
    • The applet takes the following parameters: A floating point number 0.01 Modifies the granularity of the applet. The smaller this number, the more accurate the applet will be. This also will slow the applet down. For computational purposes, this value is delta-t true false false True if audio is desired A comma separated list of real numbers No default These represent the energy level options A comma separated list of real numbers No default These represent the mass options A comma separated list of integers No default The energy absorbtion settings; this is how much energy the ground absorbs on each bounce. A real number 9.81 The value for the gravity setting in meters/second*second true false true If this is false, the height meter will be hidden true false true If this is false, the energy values will be hidden true false true If this is false, the mass values will be hidden true false true If this is false, the EAS values will be hidden true false true If this is false, the gravity setting will be hidden 
    <applet code="PotentialEnergy.class" codebase="classes" 
	width="600" height="400">
<param name="audio" value="false"/>
<param name="gravity" value="4.5"/>
<param name="show gravity" value="false"/>
<param name="show masses" value="false"/>
<param name="energy stations" value="1,2,3,4"/>
<param name="masses" value="2, 4, 5"/>
<param name="EASes" value="25, 50, 75, 100"/>
</applet>
  • The animation stops when the delta-y values become so small that no noticable movement is observable in the applet, or when the object moves out of sight.
  • If values for a given variable are hidden, the buttons representing the values are shown without units. This is to avoid confusion.
  • As many values for mass, energy, and EAS may be given in the comma delimited list of values as desired. The only real limit is how many buttons can be fit on the screen at once.
  • While the animation is in progress, all buttons except "Reset" are disabled.
  • Negative numbers may be used for EAS values. This has the effect you would expect it to.
  • Negative values for other parameters (EG, mass) can cause undetermined behavior
  • For very small delta-t, odd behavior may be observed near the end of the animation. This is being looked into.
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