A physics simulation engine is software that numerically integrates equations of motion over time to compute the movement, collision, and interaction of objects according to physical laws such as Newtonian mechanics, rigid-body dynamics, and contact resolution. It is used in real-time applications (games, XR), offline engineering simulation, and robotics training environments.
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- A physics simulation engine integrates equations of motion over time to predict how objects move, collide, and respond to forces. It handles rigid bodies, constraints, and contact resolution, and some engines also model soft bodies and fluids.
- These engines provide realistic behaviour for games and a testing ground for robotics, where control software can be evaluated before deployment. Accuracy and stability of the numerical methods affect how faithfully the simulation matches reality.