C++Builder Learn To Simulate Realistic 2D Ball Physics in C++ Builder

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Learn To Simulate Realistic 2D Ball Physics in C++ Builder
By Yilmaz Yoru July 18, 2021

In this post we will explain how we can simulate realistic 2D ball physics in an easy and accessible way. Let’s assume that we look from a X-Y view, and Y is the height that means Y=0 is the ground. How we can simulate a ball physics in a given ball velocity, and gravity in that environment.

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Understanding how 2D physics works​

Let’s assume that we have a ball at bx and by coordinate with a given Vx and Vy velocity. Now we want to see what happens in every milliseconds under the gravitational environment.

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Let’s create a C++ class to simulate a ball​

To simulate ball, we can create

class Tball
{
 public:
 TImage *image;
 float x,y, vx,vy, ax, ay;
 int W,H;
 
 Tball()   // Constructor
 {
 image = new TImage(Form1);
 };
 
 ~Tball()  //Deconstructor
 {
 image->Free();
 }
};

Let’s define balls

#define NUMBER_OF_BALLS 10
Tball ball[NUMBER_OF_BALLS];
 
unsigned long int mseconds=0;
float g = 9.81;

We can set all balls in our form creation as below;

__fastcall TForm1::TForm1(TComponent* Owner) : TForm(Owner)
{
 srand(time(0));
 
 for(int i=0; i<NUMBER_OF_BALLS; i++)
 {
 ball[i].image->Bitmap->Assign(ball_image1->Bitmap);
 ball[i].image->Width =ball_image1->Width;
 ball[i].image->Height =ball_image1->Height;
 
 ball[i].image->Visible = true;
 
 ball[i].x = rand()%800;
 ball[i].y = rand()%800;
 
 ball[i].vx = (rand()%100)/10.0;
 ball[i].vy = (rand()%100)/10.0;
 }
}

Applying the physics​

Now we should apply physics in a Timer, we should check if our ball is touching to borders, touching the ground. We should change its velocity direction by multiplying with -1. We can also add some friction (velocity loss) so we can multiply with -0.98. Finally we should change its x y position with well known physics (V = V+g*t or X =Vt+gt*t etc.). We should apply all these in a timer. We can check many balls in a for loop.

For example, we can check all balls physics in a Timer as below,

void __fastcall TForm1::Timer1Timer(TObject *Sender)
{
 mseconds++;
 
 float t=mseconds/1000;
 
 for(int i=0; i<NUMBER_OF_BALLS; i++)
 {
 if(ball[i].y>Rectangle1->Height-ball[i].H-ball[i].vy) {  ball[i].vy=fabs(ball[i].vy)*(-0.8); ball[i].vx*=0.98; }
 if(ball[i].x>Rectangle1->Width- ball[i].W-ball[i].vx) {  ball[i].vx=fabs(ball[i].vx)*(-0.8);  }
 
 if(ball[i].x<ball[i].vx) { ball[i].vx=fabs(ball[i].vx)*(0.8); }
 
 ball[i].vy=ball[i].vy+g*0.06;
 
 ball[i].x += ball[i].vx;
 ball[i].y += ball[i].vy;
 
 ball[i].x=Min((float)Rectangle1->Width-ball[i].W, ball[i].x+ball[i].vx);
 ball[i].y=Min((float)Rectangle1->Height-ball[i].H, ball[i].y+ball[i].vy);
 
 ball[i].image->Position->X=ball[i].x;
 ball[i].image->Position->Y=ball[i].y;
 }
}

Simulating ball movement every millisecond in C++​

Timer to simulate every millisecond,

void __fastcall TForm1::Timer1Timer(TObject *Sender)
{
 mseconds++;
 
 float t=mseconds/1000;
 
 for(int i=0; i<NUMBER_OF_BALLS; i++)
 {
 if(ball[i].y>Rectangle1->Height-ball[i].H-ball[i].vy) {  ball[i].vy=fabs(ball[i].vy)*(-0.8); ball[i].vx*=0.98; }
 if(ball[i].x>Rectangle1->Width- ball[i].W-ball[i].vx) {  ball[i].vx=fabs(ball[i].vx)*(-0.8);  }
 
 if(ball[i].x<ball[i].vx) { ball[i].vx=fabs(ball[i].vx)*(0.8); }
 
 ball[i].vy=ball[i].vy+g*0.06;
 
 ball[i].x += ball[i].vx;
 ball[i].y += ball[i].vy;
 
 ball[i].x=Min((float)Rectangle1->Width-ball[i].W, ball[i].x+ball[i].vx);
 ball[i].y=Min((float)Rectangle1->Height-ball[i].H, ball[i].y+ball[i].vy);
 
 ball[i].image->Position->X=ball[i].x;
 ball[i].image->Position->Y=ball[i].y;
 }
}

Note that you can add rotation to image by changing its rotation. You can also touch it so user can throw this ball. You can develop many creative new games with C++ Builder as given example above.