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written by
Harvey Gould and Jan Tobochnik
technical implementer: Wolfgang Christian and Robert Hanson
The Statistical and Thermal Physics (STP) JavaScript Chaos program is a ready-to-run computer model for the teaching of statistical and thermal physics. In this program we initialize 11 particles moving with the same velocity such that the net force on each particle is zero. The particles interact through a Lennard-Jones potential. Perturb the system very slightly and see what happens. The velocities can also be reversed to see to what extent the system is reversible.
The goal of this simulation is to explore how the smallest perturbation changes a special initial state of the system to one we would expect at thermal equilibrium. The idea of chaos or sensitivity to initial conditions is needed to understand why this happens, and to help explain irreversibility. The STP Chaos program shown here was converted from Java to JavaScript by Wolfgang Christian and Robert Hanson (St. Olaf College) using the SwingJS system developed at St. Olaf College.
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Record Link
<a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=15436">Gould, Harvey, and Jan Tobochnik. "STP Chaos JS Simulation."</a>
AIP Format
H. Gould and J. Tobochnik, Computer Program STP CHAOS JS SIMULATION (2020), WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/stpbook/thermal/ex1_6.cfm).
AJP/PRST-PER
H. Gould and J. Tobochnik, Computer Program STP CHAOS JS SIMULATION (2020), <https://www.compadre.org/stpbook/thermal/ex1_6.cfm>.
APA Format
Gould, H., & Tobochnik, J. (2020). STP Chaos JS Simulation [Computer software]. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/stpbook/thermal/ex1_6.cfm
Chicago Format
Gould, Harvey, and Jan Tobochnik. "STP Chaos JS Simulation." https://www.compadre.org/stpbook/thermal/ex1_6.cfm (accessed 1 May 2025).
MLA Format
Gould, Harvey, and Jan Tobochnik. STP Chaos JS Simulation. Computer software. 2020. 1 May 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/stpbook/thermal/ex1_6.cfm>.
BibTeX Export Format
@misc{
Author = "Harvey Gould and Jan Tobochnik",
Title = {STP Chaos JS Simulation},
Month = {July},
Year = {2020}
}
Refer Export Format
%A Harvey Gould %A Jan Tobochnik %T STP Chaos JS Simulation %D July 26, 2020 %U https://www.compadre.org/stpbook/thermal/ex1_6.cfm %O application/zip
EndNote Export Format
%0 Computer Program %A Gould, Harvey %A Tobochnik, Jan %D July 26, 2020 %T STP Chaos JS Simulation %8 July 26, 2020 %U https://www.compadre.org/stpbook/thermal/ex1_6.cfm Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
Citation Source Information
The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual. The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References. The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation. The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ. |
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