Step
A KDE interactive physics simulator for building two-dimensional experiments and watching them evolve.
These buttons open the developer's own site, repository or store listing in a new tab. wares.gg does not host downloads.
About Step
Step lets you place bodies in a scene, add forces such as gravity or springs, and press Simulate to see how the scene evolves. Properties can be changed even while the simulation runs. It covers classical two-dimensional mechanics, rigid and soft bodies, collisions, Coulomb forces, sound waves and molecular dynamics of gases and liquids.
Values can be entered with units and expressions, and with uncertainties that propagate to dependent properties. It suits students and teachers exploring physics hands-on.
Strengths
- Edit properties during a running simulation
- Unit conversion and expression input
- Error propagation for values with uncertainties
- Molecular dynamics for gases and liquids
Limitations
- Two-dimensional simulation only
- Collision detection is discrete only
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree KDE application.
- License
- Open source, license not stated
- Developer
- KDE
- Platforms
- Linux
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- Students and teachers experimenting with classical physics
- Categories
- Learning tools
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to Step
Compare allSoftware that can replace Step for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
Algodoo
A 2D physics sandbox where you draw objects and watch them move, collide and interact.
Algodoo is a free draw-and-play 2D physics sandbox for macOS and iOS, simulating fluids, friction and optics, but it is not open source.
PhET Interactive Simulations
Free interactive physics, chemistry and math simulations usable directly in the browser.
PhET Interactive Simulations runs free in the browser with ready-made physics, chemistry and math simulations rather than experiments you build yourself.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
Falstad Circuit Simulator
Explore electronic circuits through an interactive browser simulation.
Universe Sandbox
A physics-based space simulator for experimenting with gravity, collisions, climate and stellar evolution.
Numbat
Calculate with physical units in a typed scientific language.
Kalzium
A KDE periodic table and chemistry reference with element data, calculators and a molecule editor.
