Black Hole

This simulation has the goal of the player piloting a spacecraft into orbit of a black hole and escaping again. As the manual says, "See Kepler's and Newton's laws in action!" Notably, they don't mention Einstein. But it does simulate orbital mechanics and requires the player to manage fuel for the trip into orbit and the trip out. The meat of the game is trying to set the lowest possible orbit that can still be escaped from.

The black hole is a very special black hole that does not cause time dilation, has a Michell even horizon, only gravitationally effects matter and does not effect radiation, has no accretion disk, does not emit hawking radiation, does not cause friction in its surroundings, the list goes on, Someone should write a paper... But it does simulate orbital mechanics and requires the player to manage fuel for the trip into orbit and the trip out. That's kinda impressive on an Apple][ in 1980.

Of further note, at the time of this game's publishing, Dynacomp was producing over 24 games that were cross platform to all 6 different platforms they supported. Black Hole was an unusual exception. It was Apple][ only.

zerothis # 2021-02-25 01:09:40

BLACK HOLE is a visual simulation of the problems associated with closely observing a small black hole.
The object of the simulation is to enter a defined close orbit about a black hole, maintain it for a given length of time, and then exit.
Of course, if you use too much fuel in achieving the orbit, you may not be able to later break free.

The black hole acts as a point source of gravity.
Your probe is outfitted with a main thruster and may be rotated to direct the force.
The path taken by the probe is displayed so that you may better understand the interplay between the thrust and its direction, and the subsequent change in trajectory.

BLACK HOLE is not only entertaining and challenging, but is also educational.
Notice how the probe speed slows towards the apogee.
Is angular momentum conserved under free fall? See Kepler's and Newton's laws in action!

# 2021-11-30 05:59:34 - official description