Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2026

New Features in Visual Dynamics 3.0
Published on: August 9, 2024
Brownian dynamics simulation of rigid particles of arbitrary shape in external fields
Miguel X Fernandes1, José García de la Torre
1Departamento de Química-Física, Facultad de Química, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30071 Murcia, Spain.
Abstract:
We have developed a Brownian dynamics simulation algorithm to generate Brownian trajectories of an isolated, rigid particle of arbitrary shape in the presence of electric fields or any other external agents. Starting from the generalized diffusion tensor, which can be calculated with the existing HYDRO software, the new program BROWNRIG (including a case-specific subprogram for the external agent) carries out a simulation that is analyzed later to extract the observable dynamic properties. We provide a variety of examples of utilization of this method, which serve as tests of its performance, and also illustrate its applicability. Examples include free diffusion, transport in an electric field, and diffusion in a restricting environment.
Related Concept Videos
Planar Rigid-Body Motion
Planar motion is typically divided into three distinct categories. The first is rectilinear translation, demonstrated by a subway train that moves along...
Equilibrium Conditions for a Particle
To understand the concept of equilibrium, let us first consider the forces acting on an object. When different forces act on an object, they can...
Principle of Linear Impulse and Momentum for a System of Particles
Notably, internal forces between particles, occurring in equal and opposite collinear pairs, cancel out and are not part of the equation of motion. This exclusion simplifies the...
First Law: Particles in Two-dimensional Equilibrium
Newton's first law tells us about the...
Equations of Motion: Rectangular Coordinates and Cylindrical Coordinates
When a particle moves relative to an inertial frame, the equations of motion can be expressed using rectangular components. If the motion is confined to the x-y plane, the equations having the x and y coordinates only can be used to simplify the mathematical representation.
However, when particles...
First Law: Particles in One-dimensional Equilibrium

