How physics are coded into video games
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The physics of simulated objects can be calculated using a set of math equations. An object in freefall near Earth’s surface will always accelerate downward at 9.81 m/s^2. An object flying through the air will experience drag depending on the density of the air and the object’s shape and mass, and equations can calculate how much it slows down. When two objects collide, their mass, spin, velocity, and elasticity (bounciness) are put into an equation which calculates how each object’s movement and rotation changes.
So, calculating realistic physics in a video game is just a matter of constantly doing a ton of math to simulate how objects should behave based on how they’re moving and how massive they are. Depending on the game, these calculations may be done 100 times every second or more, with every object constantly having math done to update its position and movement.
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