Which module(s) do I need for this project, please?

Please could you offer advice on which module(s) (I have not bought matlab yet, trying to decide whether to do so) would be best to help me create a simulation of our solar system's interconnected motion in 3D with dynamic 3D graphical output (simple gravity, velocity & xyz co-ordinate motion approach) (on an i7 home computer). Thanks.

[Rik]

The more work you're prepared to do on your own, the less you will need the Symbolic toolbox. What calculations/simulations are you planning on doing?

[Keith Elliott]

I propose to take xyz start positions and velocities (heliocentric) then calculate compound vector gravitational effect (sum of the Gm/r^2) by each body on each body in turn and apply this to create end xyz position for each body(assuming one second time elapse per cycle). Then repeat.

In practice I would start with a 2d, 2 body model and progress to 3d multi body model.

What I would like is to see 3D graphical output of body positions (plus their orbital history) as calculations progress.

thanks in advance.

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

If you are simulating as point masses, and you are not trying to make predictions, and you are not trying to do things like plan flight paths, then basic MATLAB is enough for that.

Basic MATLAB is also enough to do some flight path planning such as by using ode45() and possibly solve boundary conditions.

More complicated situations might end up needing the PDE (Partial Differential Equations) toolbox, and maybe the Optimization Toolbox.

If you were wanting to find equations instead of doing particle simulations, then Symbolic Toolbox.

[Keith Elliott]

Exactly that. Simple point masses. Just for fun. Until I'm happy it works then I can later consider perturbations. Thanks.