This is a demonstrative model for 2D spherical mirror ray tracing in Excel. It works in Excel 2003 at about 40 frames per second and in Excel 2007 at about 4 frames per second. You can start it in a hands-off demo mode by clicking the “Fully Automatic Demo” button and at any time you can hit the the “Demo… Read More... "A Preliminary 2D Ray Tracing Demo for Spherical Mirrors in Excel"
This section begins by charting the incident rays on the same 2D acatter chart with the mirror and then explains how to derive the Cartesian coordinates for a “final” point which together with the point of incidence will define the reflected ray. A custom VBA function is created for this purpose. [sociallocker][/sociallocker] Introduction to Geometrical Optics – a 2D ray… Read More... "Introduction to Geometrical Optics – a 2D ray tracing Excel model for spherical mirrors – Part 4"
This section explains explains how to implement the formulas that define the emergent (reflected) rays into a custom VBA function. Though geometrically the last two presentation might look a little elaborate, just be patient and follow the presentation, or even better try to just sneak peek and do it yourself. All this derivation is done based on first principles and some basic… Read More... "Introduction to Geometrical Optics – a 2D ray tracing Excel model for spherical mirrors – Part 3"
This section explains the illumination setup by using an artificial star, derives the equations of the incident rays and also solves the system of equations for finding the exact coordinates of the points where the incident rays hit the mirror. Looking at the sign of the determinant of a quadratic equation involved in finding the intersection between an incoming ray… Read More... "Introduction to Geometrical Optics – a 2D ray tracing Excel model for spherical mirrors – Part 2"
This is a first post of an introduction to optics series and it explain how to create a 2D ray tracing model for a spherical mirror. This section deals with the creation and charting of the mirror using a parametric equation for a circle. [sociallocker][/sociallocker] Introduction to Geometrical Optics – a 2D ray tracing Excel model for spherical mirrors – Part 1… Read More... "Introduction to Geometrical Optics – a 2D ray tracing Excel model for spherical mirrors – Part 1"
This is a linear system of equations solver in Excel. The size of the system is programmable by the user from 2 to 20 which means, depending on the setting selection, the model can instantly find the solution of linear systems starting from 2 equations and 2 unknowns up to 20 equations and 20 unknowns. It uses the following built-in… Read More... "A Solver for Systems of Linear Equations in Excel"
This brief tutorial explains how to calculate the solution vector of a system of linear equations using the Excel spreadsheet function MINVERSE() which calculate the inverse of a matrix. [sociallocker][/sociallocker] Solving linear systems of equations in Excel – the easy way by George Lungu – This is a tutorial showing an easy and convenient method of solving moderate size systems… Read More... "The Easy Way of Solving Systems of Linear Equations in Excel – using the INVERSE() spreadsheet function"
This section displays the landscape on a 2D scatter chart and also upgrades the joystick chart by adding a dial behind the joystick image. This technique of using a stack of a back chart to display dial sprites and a front chart with transparent background to display various control devices, indicator needles and text will extensively be used in this… Read More... "Flight Simulator Tutorial #7 – upgrading the joystick chart, adding a reset button and a throttle scroll bar"
This section finishes the macro analysis and continues with the conversion of the u-v 2D formula array into a chart-able 1D array. It also adds two columns to the chart-able array, a masking condition for each triangle and masked u-coordinate which will throw out of the visible portion of the chart any shape which has a minimum of one vertex… Read More... "Flight Simulator Tutorial #6 – macro review, scene derivation and integration, mapping of the 2D u-v data into a chartable 1D array, rejecting image artifacts"
This section explains the spreadsheet implementation of the perspective rotation and translation formulas within the Present array. It also shows the implementation of the 3D-2D conversion formulas within the Past array, then it goes on to presenting the VBA macros used (the Reset and JoyStick macros). [sociallocker][/sociallocker] A Basic Flight Simulator in Excel #5 – the worksheet implementation of the… Read More... "Flight Simulator Tutorial #5 – the worksheet implementation of the perspective handling formulas and VBA the macros"
This section explains the top level functionality of the model, it also allocates the data and formula arrays needed for manipulating the scene image. The roll rate, pitch rate and throttle formulas are implemented in the worksheet. [sociallocker][/sociallocker] A Basic Flight Simulator in Excel #4 – creating the initial, current and previous landscape matrices by George Lungu – This section starts… Read More... "Flight Simulator Tutorial #4 – matrix allocation and input parameter formulas (roll rate, pitch rate, throttle)"
This is the first version of a 3D flight simulator in Excel. Start by adjusting the zoom on your file to fit the screen, so you can see the whole chart and the buttons underneath, then click “Reset” and then click the red dot in the center of the joystick. After that, the joystick handle will “stick” to your mouse pointer so… Read More... "A First Flight Simulator Model in Excel"
This is an older model of planetary motion in 3D containing eight planets. A video preview can be watched here. [sociallocker][/sociallocker] Read More... "A Legacy 3D Octal Planetary Model"
This section deals with a simple method of creating the appearance of scene movement during the flight. Beside reviewing standandard rotation and translation formulas described before on this blog, the presentation begins to explain how to apply numerical-like methods to create a live and interactive model. A Basic Flight Simulator in Excel #3 – calculating the scene rotation and translation as a result… Read More... "Flight Simulator Tutorial #3 – scene rotations and translation"