Physics for Flash Games, Animation, and Simulations teaches ActionScript programmers how to incorporate real physics into their Flash animations, games, user interfaces, and simulations.

Introduces Flash physics in an accurate, but approachable way, covering what is required to produce physically realistic simulations (as opposed to animations that look roughly right)
Packed full of practical examples of how physics can be applied to your own games and applications
Addresses the diverse needs of game developers, animators, artists, and e-learning developers

The book assumes a basic knowledge of ActionScript and Flash. However, no previous knowledge of physics is required—only some very basic math skills. The authors present everything from basic principles to advanced concepts, so you'll be able to follow the logic and easily adapt the principles to your own applications. The book builds on your physics knowledge, enabling you to create not only visual effects, but also more complex models and simulations.

What you’ll learn

Basic math and physics you'll need to incorporate realism into your games, animations and simulations
How to incorporate a wide range of forces, including environmental forces such as gravity and friction, and forces due to fluids, such as drag and upthrust
How to build a number of realistic simulations, like submarines and flight simulators
How to model particle systems and use them for generative art and to create effects, such as smoke
Numerical subtleties, including accuracy and stability of integration schemes and handling boundary conditions properly; and how and when to use approximations and analytical solutions

Who this book is for

Flash developers interested in incorporating real physics into their games, animations, simulations or generative art projects.
Table of Contents

Introduction to Physics Programming
Selected ActionScript 3.0 Topics
Some Math Background
Basic Physics Concepts
The Laws Governing Motion
Gravity, Orbits, and Rockets
Contact and Fluid Forces
Restoring Forces: Springs and Oscillations
Centripetal Forces: Rotational Motion
Long-Range Forces
Collisions
Particle Systems
Extended Objects
Numerical Integration Schemes
Other Technical Issues
Simulation Projects