Asteroids – a very early simulation

This is the classic game “asteroids” which was developed in 1979. When playing, notice how thrust affects the spaceship. The acceleration is often not in the direction of velocity. This game helps students gain an intuitive understanding of Newton’s second law of motion. However it must be noted that the spaceship experiences friction and slows down if thrust is not used. Something we would not expect in space.

http://www.freeasteroids.org/