Study Newton's second law with the help of this simulation. Dynamics on a Rotating Hoop Model is a mass constrained to move on a rotating hoop is an excellent mechanical model of first- and second-order phase transitions. Although the minimum of the potential energy curve corresponds to the bottom of the hoop at low rotation frequency, a spontaneous symmetry breaking (cusp catastrophe) occurs as the frequency is increased. Although the equations governing these rotating hoop models can be understood using elementary mechanics, they can be used to illustrate advanced concepts such as symmetry breaking and phase transitions.

This package presents two rotating hoop examples: A hoop rotating about its axis of symmetry and a hoop rotating off axis. Although the equations governing these rotating hoop models can be understood using elementary mechanics, they can be used to illustrate advanced concepts such as:
1. Lagrangian mechanics
2. symmetry breaking
3. Landau theory of phase transitions

Requirements:
* Java

The license of this software is Freeware, you can free download and free use this graphing software.