3D Motion Diagram Simulation
Motion diagrams strip movement down to a sequence of snapshots, and in three dimensions they reveal how velocity and acceleration point in genuinely different directions. This simulation builds the diagram as the object moves and lets you rotate it freely.
How to use this simulation
- Choose the motion type and set the initial conditions
- Rotate and zoom the 3D scene
- Toggle the velocity and acceleration vectors
What to look for
- Evenly spaced dots mean constant speed; spreading dots mean speeding up
- Acceleration points towards the centre of curvature, not along the path
- Velocity stays tangent to the trajectory at every instant
The physics behind it
Each dot marks the object's position at equal time intervals, so the spacing between dots shows the speed and the change in spacing shows acceleration. The velocity vector is always tangent to the path, while the acceleration vector points towards the inside of any curve. Only when motion is in a straight line do the two align.