Algodoo

What Algodoo is

Algodoo is 2D simulation software for creating interactive scenes, exploring physics, building inventions, designing games and experimenting in science classes. Users can draw with boxes, circles, polygons, gears, brushes, planes, ropes and chains, then add physics elements such as fluids, springs, hinges, motors, thrusters, light rays, tracers, optics and lenses. Objects can be rotated, scaled, moved, cut or cloned, and people can interact with scenes by clicking and dragging, tilting or shaking.

Scenes can display graphs and visualizations of forces, velocities, momentum, X/Y components and angles. Algodoo includes authoring tools and a lesson library; Algobox offers more than 50,000 scenes to browse, save, share and download. The maker describes it as a tool for students and children, including use in science classes and at home. Official videos and webinars provide guidance on educational scenes and physics demonstrations. Algodoo is available for iOS, macOS and Windows. The Mac and PC version is a free download; the iPad version is available through the App Store, with its price unstated. Algodoo was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Umeå, Sweden.

Who it suits

Algodoo suits students, children and educators who want to explore physics through interactive 2D scenes. Its drawing, simulation and analysis tools can support science-class experiments, while Algobox and learning resources offer ways to browse or build demonstrations.

Limits

The Mac and PC download is free, proprietary software provided as-is without warranty. The newest version does not work with Windows 7; the download page offers an older version for Windows 7 and earlier.

Getting started

1. Visit the Algodoo website.
2. Choose the free Mac and PC download, or find Algodoo for iPad in the App Store.
3. Install the version for your platform; an older version is offered for Windows 7 and earlier.
4. Create a scene using drawing tools and add physics elements.
5. Browse Algobox to save, share, browse or download scenes.
6. Use the site's official videos and webinars for educational scenes and demonstrations.

Verdict

Choose Algodoo for free Mac or PC access to interactive 2D physics scene creation, classroom experimentation and a large scene library. Look elsewhere if you need the newest version to run on Windows 7 or require open-source software.