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Show HN: Quantum Game with Photons

quantumgame.io

86 pointsstared34 comments

Another good web game about advanced physics is VelocityRaptor [1]. In the game the speed of light is set to 3 miles per hour, and you have to use relativity to solve puzzles

[1] http://www.testtubegames.com/velocityraptor.html

It is my favourite science-based game, especially how it mixed game, cartoon drawings and humour, with actual Lorentz transformation.

Also, a longer list of such games: https://github.com/stared/science-based-games-list

This game needs lots more education and explanation. Through the levels, I understood reasonably well how polarization works, but interference is still a complete mystery, and I haven't been able to get past level 25 (interfrenzy).

If someone plays past the first few levels, you can be quite sure he/she is not afraid of some explanation about how stuff actually works, and having that would have made the game a lot more fun for me.

Also, in the Sagnac-Michelson-Morley level, you're supposed to place a "Sagnac-interfRerometer" somewhere (hint: it's the vacuum jar, and that's a different thing). ;)

I am really convinced to explain things after showing them, see my credo in http://p.migdal.pl/2016/08/15/quantum-mechanics-for-high-sch...:

For experimental stuff, it’s crucial to show first, explain later - if at all (otherwise you are killing the sense of suspension and awe):

The researchers’ conclusion was that, in the context of strange toys of unknown function, prior explanation does, indeed, inhibit exploration and discovery. - from http://www.economist.com/node/18741484 (When should you teach children, and when should you let them explore? - The Economist )

At the same time, yes, I agree it would benefit for adding some explanations, descriptions or links later. Just... many project, little time. But thanks for bringing it up!

I have a solution for #22 with 2 mirrors left over: http://i.imgur.com/XB4QwLy.jpg

Thx, I will make it more complicated! :)

Typically, I create some puzzle, them freeze some elements, and leave others for tray. However, often there is some sneaky way to go around. In this case, I prefer to avoid it, as it breaks this beautiful infinite loop pattern.

In any case - fixed. Just reset this level.

Level 34 also

http://i.imgur.com/BPAw8vO.jpg

Oh, this one is clever!

Added one more mine, it should do the job.

Now I can't solve it :( This is my best so far:

http://i.imgur.com/eYgcMqs.jpg

Please help!

Wait I got it never mind :)

If you are that proficient at solving it, do you want to create some levels? :)

I've added you on Google Hangouts, would love a chat :)

I don't see that. :/ Could you just drop me an email? (At http://p.migdal.pl/.) Then we can redirect talks to any channel, Hangouts included.

Great game. Two note

1) you should add some explanation about why making light to through a number of crystals (they slow it down by 1/4 wavelength) lets the beam go though a beam splitter in one or two directions.

2) Pinch to zoom works but the photon beam moves on a path that's not affected by the zoom. Firefox Android, I didn't check with other browsers. But it works on a 4,7" screen, which is great.

Ad 1)

My idea was to show who things work, rather than do any kind of textbook explanation. That said, I understand why this slow-down is mysterious (and deserves a better visualisation).

Ad 2)

Thanks for info. Tiles are on CSV and the animation is on Canvas; I will try to see what's the problem (don't own anything with Android, though). In any case: I would be really, really grateful for creating an issue here: https://github.com/stared/quantum-game/issues.

I really like the idea of this game. But while it seems to simplify certain aspects of optical tables (like adjusting mirrors and other optical elements,) it makes other things way more complicated than they should be due to the visual simplicity.

It's mostly the polarization (and phase to a lesser degree) that I am referring to. That stuff is way more intuitive on a real optical table.

You mean, that in 2D it is harder to show some inherently 3D things (like polarization)? (If so, then I agree - but wanted to keep visual simplicity... and I am not a graphic designer, and simple 2D things are the most advanced things I can do.)

I think you did a fantastic job showing all the variables at once. I did feel the need for some kind of "debugger" to really see what was going on with my setups instead of watching them run since there is simply inherently a lot of simultaneous things to keep track of.

Without that it would be impossible to debug it (from wrong signs in operators, through mistakes with simulation to typical programming bugs).

Some day I want to make it visually appealing and actually make it a part of UI.

I assume there must be some way to rotate the mirror? Maybe I'm crazy, but I can't seem to figure it out.

Edit: Seems it's mobile only, or the mouse drag event handling is masking the click event. That is, it rotates for me on mobile, but not on my desktop browser (chrome 58.0.3029.110).

Strange... while I have mobile in mind, I test it on Chrome, on OSX. Checked it right now and it works on my desktop.

Issue is here: https://github.com/stared/quantum-game/issues/5 - as it seems that more people have the same problem. Any pointers how to solve it (or Pull Requests!) are welcomed! :)

I was going crazy ;-) It seem it's not working on firefox

I hope it wasn't on purpose that the "bomb" tile crashed my browser when it exploded...

Then it worked better than expected! ;)

(Was not intended. Would be grateful for a screenshot / specs though!)

Is level 16 (three polarizers) broken? There's only one piece you can place, and only 5 places you could place it (that would make sense). Not placing it doesn't work either.

You can rotate polarizers as well :)

Ha, thanks, didn't realize that. Polarizers that you place anyways.

Nice game, but there's nothing intrinsically quantum about anything that happens. Everything is perfectly describable with classical E&M.

hi again stared, great to see you finished this at last! Will have a play later.

We met on here last year discussing my quantum game. Shameless plug for everyone else:

http://tropic.org.uk/~crispin/quantum/

(Sorry about expired security cert!)

I like such plugs! (Maybe as I do them myself a lot... and now I shamelessly confess to that.)

I would need to setup Flash, though. (Do you have/plan any JS version?)

Any hints for 21? I can get 100% to one detector or 98% to 2.

Each beam splitter splits intensities in halves. Make sure you join beams with same intensities.

This is awesome!

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