Garry's Mod as science fair project, how can we measure? - Garry's Mod

Hey all, My son has decided he wants to do a science fair project on garry's mod. We're asking the question, how realistic is the Half Life 2 physics engine compared to real life? So, we have a few ideas. We're going to drop an object and time how long it takes to hit the ground, and then do that in real life. Let a can roll down an incline.. shoot a can with a 9mm and compare... So I think this is a really fun idea but I have a problem. I have no idea how to measure things. I've tried a Measuring Stick mod that does a measurement in some unknown unit. How do I get a measurement in meters or feet? If anyone has any other good ideas on ways we can make comparisons I'd love to hear some ideas. Anyhow I have a feeling I will always come to the same issue of accurate comparisons if I can do a somewhat proper measurement. Anyone know how to convert the Measuring Stick mod units into inches? Any help would be appreciated.. thanks.

Show hoverball, get an F- But honestly, Source cannot be compared to real life physics on any scale; Even a can rolling down a plane, the thing has about eight sides, I doubt it will have a realistic result.

Show Kliener getting some from Alyx, Totally an A+. :V

[QUOTE=nofear1999;18336671]Show Kliener getting some from Alyx, Totally an A+. :V[/QUOTE] Are you ever going to just leave?

Doubt it.

Sure it can be compared... We're not saying that garry's mod is realistic and here's proof... We're trying to come up with ways to gauge how accurately objects move and how forces are applied in one of the more advanced game engines out there. Should be somewhat interesting I think.

This is actually a very interesting idea I have thought about Garry's Mod's use for education.

Im not sure of an addon, so try measuring it by the can, if the plane look a certain size compared to the can, then try to match that

Yeah I've thought about using a can, or one of those oil barrels (since I think those are a standard size) Of course we run into so many problem on how accurately the model has been created. I've accepted the fact that there are a log of variables here that are going to make this near impossible to get a 1:1 comparison. We're going to find a way though damn it...

Sadly, the physics in Half-Life 2 is not really accurate. Momentum being a conservative quantity is not fulfilled in most cases and the air drag coefficient is a way too high: Drop a prop from a height of 100 m and it will first accelerate but then stop after 10 m so it won't get any faster like in real life. So using this as a base for a Science project is not really adequate if you want to compare it with real life.

[QUOTE=aVoN;18336947]Sadly, the physics in Half-Life 2 is not really accurate. Momentum being a conservative quantity is not fulfilled in most cases and the air drag coefficient is a way too high: Drop a prop from a height of 100 m and it will first accelerate but then stop after 10 m so it won't get any faster like in real life. So using this as a base for a Science project is not really adequate if you want to compare it with real life.[/QUOTE] Does depend on the type of Science Project. If it is a physics one, it won't work. But a chemistry or biology one would work.

Well I believe a science project is more about teaching children about the scientific method. Based on what a few people have said, the answer to our question would be, "Garry's mod is not realistic". aVoN's last post would be a good explanation as to why. We would use the scientific method to come to that conclusion. Is anyone following me here? aVoN : how do you come to these conclusions about acceleration and such? [editline]02:02PM[/editline] Omolong : Why would it work if it was a chemistry or biology project?

He is a physics student of some sort.

[QUOTE=aVoN;18336947]Sadly, the physics in Half-Life 2 is not really accurate. Momentum being a conservative quantity is not fulfilled in most cases and the air drag coefficient is a way too high: Drop a prop from a height of 100 m and it will first accelerate but then stop after 10 m so it won't get any faster like in real life. So using this as a base for a Science project is not really adequate if you want to compare it with real life.[/QUOTE] strictly speaking though in real life an object dropped from high enough will reach its "Terminal Velocity" and stop accelerating

[QUOTE=ryasnack1;18336782]This is actually a very interesting idea I have thought about Garry's Mod's use for education.[/QUOTE] Yeah, I used a short film I made in Garry's Mod for class. Got full credit too.

[QUOTE=sen3ca;18336350]Hey all, [B]My son has decided he wants to do a science fair project on garry's mod.[/B] We're asking the question, how realistic is the Half Life 2 physics engine compared to real life? So, we have a few ideas. We're going to drop an object and time how long it takes to hit the ground, and then do that in real life. Let a can roll down an incline.. shoot a can with a 9mm and compare... So I think this is a really fun idea but I have a problem. I have no idea how to measure things. I've tried a Measuring Stick mod that does a measurement in some unknown unit. How do I get a measurement in meters or feet? If anyone has any other good ideas on ways we can make comparisons I'd love to hear some ideas. Anyhow I have a feeling I will always come to the same issue of accurate comparisons if I can do a somewhat proper measurement. Anyone know how to convert the Measuring Stick mod units into inches? Any help would be appreciated.. thanks.[/QUOTE] Your son? No, I think it's you not your son. I don't think a father would help his son do a science project based on his game. That would be weird. Btw HL2 physics arn't that accuarate, I tried droping bridge and and a melon fell faster than the bridge.

[QUOTE=ryasnack1;18336782]This is actually a very interesting idea I have thought about Garry's Mod's use for education.[/QUOTE] I was trying to see if I could take a circular object in garry's mod, and roll it with the phys gun to see if it will eventually tip over, spool around itself, then collapse flat on the ground. It's a nice physics demonstration if you think about it. If you try hard enough, with the correct math skills, that melon can be correctly compared to the bridge.

Meh, it's easier to write stories about Garry's Mod then it is to make physics in Garry's Mod.

"It was a cold day in the Construct, I was quietly toying with a bath tub. There was a thin flicker of shine coming from the water texture as I walked around the surface"

Thanks for all the responses. Back to the main topic, anyone have any good ideas for doing measurements?

try and find something about a certain characters height, then use ragdolls to measure

I was thinking about that. Anyone know the heights of any of the ragdolls? How tall is Gordon suppose to be?... or the girl?...

[QUOTE=ROFLBURGER;18398209]Your son? No, I think it's you not your son. I don't think a father would help his son do a science project based on his game. That would be weird. Btw HL2 physics arn't that accuarate, I tried droping bridge and and a melon fell faster than the bridge.[/QUOTE] Well dropping a melon in real life would drop faster than the bridge because all objects fall to Earth at the same rate (9.8m/s) so because of air resistance the bridge would drop first because it is bigger.

[QUOTE=guitarhero1966;18469837]Well dropping a melon in real life would drop faster than the bridge because all objects fall to Earth at the same rate (9.8m/s) so because of air resistance the bridge would drop first because it is bigger.[/QUOTE] No they don't. They accelerate at 9.81ms-2, meaning that the speed will increase until the air resistance matches the negative force of gravity. Example Mass = 2kg -- A large watermelon a = 9.81ms-2 F = ma, force = 2 * 9.81 F = 19.62N Air resistance must be 19.62 N upwards in order to negate the acceleration. Mass = 5000kg -- A bridge a = 9.81 ms-2 F = ma, force = 5000 * 9.81 F = 49050N Air resistance will be greater on the watermelon, therefore the bridge will reach the ground a fraction of a second quicker than the melon. However, this effect is exaggerated in Source.