Fun with Particles

The fun is at the bottom of Cass's page. Cool little Java app - waste time and learn about the structure of matter.

Clicking in the box produces cyan colored particles, and (this is the key) you can make a bunch of them. The coolness starts when the space starts to get filled up with cyan particles. Because they repel each other, they begin to form a structured lattice. A some point, you add the particle that breaks the camels back. There's just not enough room for them all in the space, and they go nuts. Top men believe this is remotely similar to atoms when the state of a substance becomes gaseous.

Oh, and don't forget the bully orange particles which you can add to the mix to push the cyan particles around.