Interactive scenes

Some problems in SimuLab include an animation alongside the statement. That animation is the scene: it shows the situation of the problem visually so you don't have to picture it from the text alone.

What you can do with a scene

The scene plays automatically when you open the problem. You can pause it with Pause and resume it with Play. You can also adjust the playback with the Speed control to watch the motion more slowly or more quickly.

In 3D scenes you can rotate the view by dragging with the mouse to see the object from different angles. In 2D scenes the view is fixed, but objects move within the plane.

2D scenes and 3D scenes

A 2D scene shows the problem on a plane: points, vectors, trajectories, geometric shapes, and particles. It is the most common type and covers most problems in physics, math, and basic chemistry.

A 3D scene shows objects in space: spheres, boxes, cylinders, planes, and molecules. It is useful when the problem describes a situation that cannot be represented well in two dimensions, such as a molecule or a body rotating through space.

What types of figure can appear

The figures you can see in a scene include:

• Points — a marked position in space, with an optional label.
• Vectors — an arrow representing direction and magnitude.
• Segments and lines — straight lines between two points.
• Circles and rectangles — basic geometric shapes, filled or outline only.
• Polygons — shapes with any number of vertices.
• Curves — trajectories defined by a mathematical function.
• Labels — text positioned in the scene to point something out.
• Particle emitters — streams of moving particles (useful for fluids or fields).
• In 3D scenes: spheres, boxes, cylinders, planes, 3D arrows, and molecules.

All of these figures can be animated: moving, rotating, appearing, or disappearing depending on what the problem needs to show.

If you see the View simulation code button, you can inspect how the scene is built, but this is not necessary to solve the problem.

Frequently asked questions

Does the scene affect grading? No. The scene is only a visual aid. Your answer is evaluated by what you write in the answer area, not by what you do with the scene.

Do all problems have a scene? No. The scene is optional. If a problem does not include one, you will see the statement without the Simulation tab.

Can I interact with the objects in the scene to change values? Scenes show the situation of the problem, but they do not ask you to move objects to give your answer. Interaction is visual (rotate, pause, change speed), not editorial.

Next step

• Solving a problem — how to use the statement, the scene, and the answer area together.
• Hints — if the scene is not enough, hints help you understand the concepts behind the problem.
• Scene language — if you want to create your own problems with a scene, this explains how the language works.