Physics of Animation

Alej Garcia Dept. Physics SJSU

www.algarcia.org

Anatomy for Artists

Surgeons and artists learn anatomy, but for very different purposes.
Thomas Eakins Leonardo da Vinci

Life drawing is difficult but its not brain surgery

Physics for Animators

An engineers calculation of motion needs to be highly accurate, with precise measurements.

Animators, on the other hand, usually dont need such mathematical precision. It just has to look right.
Its not rocket science.

Motion & Mechanics

The study of motion is a fundamental field of physics known as mechanics.

In order to do the fantastic we must first understand the real. Walt Disney

Motion & Mechanics

Physical laws apply equally to living characters, living beings are just a little more complex (but then so is an automobile engine)

Thomas Eakins

Physics in Maya
Animation software, such as Maya, have sophisticated physics engines that use the laws of physics to compute motion. Easier to use these tools knowing physics.

Its all in the timing

An essential element of animation is the timing between frames
Its not important what goes on each frame of film; its the spaces between the frames that are important. Norman McLaren

Timing: Frames, Keys, & Clocks

Well use three different ways of measuring time: Frames (intervals of 1/24th of a second) Keys (given number of frames between poses) Clocks (actual seconds as measured by a clock)

IMPORTANT: Well select the keys such that there are always the same number of frames between each key.

Uniform Motion
1 2 3 4 5

Equal Distances

Arbitrary

Rolling ball is an example of uniform motion. Velocity of the ball is constant (with no friction).

NOTE: In all examples there are an equal number of frames between keys

Uniform Motion in Perspective

Uniform Motion in Perspective

Uniform motion may not appear uniform due to distortion of scale when shown in perspective.
Horizon Line Vanishing Point

Accelerating Motion & Falling

1

1 4

1 3

Falling is an example of accelerating motion (in animation, slowing out). Distance between keys increases in the ratios 1:3:5:7:9 starting from point of release (key #1). Total distance from point of release (key #1) increases in the ratios 1:4:9:16:25: or 12:22:32:42:52

16

In Straight Ahead animation after drawing keys #1 and #2 the positions of the rest are given by these rules.

Distance Fallen
Distance fallen from key #1 (release point) to key #2 depends on the number of frames between keys. Distance fallen from key #2 to #3 is three times further; from #3 to #4 is five times, from #4 to #5 is seven times, etc.
Time (seconds)
1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 24 12 8 6

Frames 1 2 3 4 6

Distance fallen (key #1 to #2)

1/ 3

inch

1 1/3 inches 3 inches 5 1/3 inches 1 foot 1 feet 4 feet 7 feet 9 feet 16 feet

1/ 3

8 12

2/ 3

Note: These distance do not depend on the objects weight.

16 18 24

Falling Bowling Ball

1 (Release) 1 (Release) 2 2

Same times

Bowling ball is one foot in diameter. Balls falls by one diameter in the first six frames. Falls of diameter in the first three frames.

3 4

4 5 5

3 frames per key (and dolly in)

6 frames per key

Demo: Catch a Buck

Put thumb and index fingers near Washingtons head. Can you react fast enough to catch the money?
Half length of dollar bill is 3 inch so it takes about 1/8 of a second (0.125 seconds) to fall this distance. Typical reaction time is 0.20 to 0.25 seconds.

Measuring Reaction Time

Distance (inches) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 12 14 16 18 Time (sec.) 0.07 0.10 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.17 0.19 0.20 0.23 0.25 0.27 0.29 0.30 Release

Catch

Rolling Downhill
1

1
2

3
3

Key #1 is point of release

5
4

Rolling downhill is also accelerating motion

Very similar to falling except distances are smaller and depend on the slope of the incline.

Demo: Galileos Clicking Ramps

Roll balls down notched, inclined ramps and listen for the clicks.
8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64

Start

4
4=2x2

16

25
25=5x5

36
36=6x6

49
49=7x7

64
64=8x8

9=3x3 16=4x4

Sliding with Friction

Sliding this way
5
1 2

Block stops here 3

3

1
4

Sliding with friction is another example of accelerating motion but in this case the object slows in. Draw last key (where object stops) first and draw keys leading up to it in the ratios 1:3:5:7:9:

In-betweens of Accelerated Motion

Shooting on Twos (2 frames per key)
1 3 5

Accelerating this way

1 2 3 4 5 6

1 frame per key

7

1/4 3/4

5/4

7/4

9/4

11/4

5/4+7/4 = 12/4 = 3

To draw in-betweens of accelerating motion, divide first distance by 4, then keep the same ratios of 1:3:5:7.

Falling a la Chai
1 3
1 2 3

1 3

1
2 3

An approximation to real falling thats easy to use for pose-to-pose animation Recipe for Falling a la Chai: Draw interval from first & last keys. Divide interval in half. Mark a key. Divide top part in half. Mark a key. Divide top part in half. Divide top part in half. Mark a key.

5
4

4
4

7
5
Real Falling

8
5
Falling

Key #4 is a bit too high but wholl notice?

a la Chai

Falling a la Chai (Extended)

Real Falling

Accelerating this way

11

1
a la Chai
Falling

4
Slowing out

8
Uniform

The most noticeable acceleration occurs in the initial slowing out.

Though the separations increase as an object accelerates, you can approximate the motion as uniform for the second half of the fall.

Falling and Floating

1 3

Accelerating Motion

Light objects, such as a beach ball, initially fall with accelerating motion. Due to air resistance, the motion transitions to uniform motion after falling a certain distance. For very light objects, such as a leaf, this transition is almost immediate.

Uniform Motion

Squirrels cannot die from a fall.

Hyper-acceleration
Release 1

1
2

3
3

Constant acceleration
5
4

1
Release 2 3

Hyper-acceleration
4

If the slope of an incline increases, the acceleration itself accelerates.

Tipping Over
A good example of hyperacceleration is an object tipping over when offbalance.

Brick tipped 2 offbalance then released.

No simple way to compute hyper-acceleration.

Acceleration Stretch
Objects visually stretch as they gain speed due to motion blur.
Objects do not physically stretch as they fall (not even raindrops). Motion blur does not depend on the objects material, however, it will look more natural for rigid objects to stretch less than elastic objects.

High-speed camera

Human eye

Moving & Falling

1 2 3 4 5

Arbitrary

Ball rolling off of a table combines horizontal and vertical motion.

Falling starts with key #4, with vertical distances increasing as 1:3:5:7:
Horizontal distances equally spaced as with uniform motion. Arc is the combination of uniform horizontal motion and accelerating vertical motion.
5

Demo: Fall and Fire

1

FALL

FIRE
2

One ball is released and falls straight down. Other ball is fired horizontally. At all times the balls are at the same height. Hit the ground at the same time.

3
3 3

Parabolic Arc of Motion

4

1 3
Arbitrary

Apex

Up and down motion is symmetric, as shown. Key #4 is highest point of the arc of motion.
1 7

Bouncing
4

1 3
2

Bouncing ball losses energy so it doesnt bounce up to its original height.

6

Simple way to do bouncing is to copy upper part of the arc.

1

10

3
7 11

Bouncing with Squash & Stretch

Stretch is added where motion is the fastest. Squash is used to emphasize impact on bounce.

Parabolic Arc in Perspective

Maximum height (ball at midpoint)
VP
HL

Ball starts and ends on the ground.

Parabolic Arc in Perspective (cont.)

1
VP
HL

Add points to the curve by tweening from the point of maximum height.

Spinning and Tumbling

Arbitrary
4

1 3
2

A spinning object turns by the same (arbitrary) angle between keys. Spinning occurs about the objects center of mass. General tumbling motion (e.g., throw a chair) is very complicated!

Note: If axe is about 10 long then 4 frames between keys.

Brick Drop
A brick tipping off of a table combines all the elements described above: Hyper acceleration as the brick tips over. Constant acceleration in the vertical falling. Uniform velocity in the horizontal motion. Constant rotation as the brick falls.

3 4

1 3
5

What creates action?

Various types of physical motion are: Uniform motion (no acceleration) Constant acceleration Hyper-acceleration (non-constant) But why do objects accelerate? Answer: Forces!

Newtons First Law of Motion

An object moves with constant, uniform motion until acted on by a force.
No force

FORCE

First Law (Full Version)

An object at rest remains at rest & an object in motion remains in uniform motion*, unless a force acts on the object.
*Moving in a straight line with constant speed.
First Law is also known as principle of inertia.

Demo: Tablecloth Pull

Flower Vase
Yank quickly

Tablecloth

Due to the vases inertia it remains at rest since almost no force acts on the vase if one pulls quickly & straight.

Demo: Riding Light Rail

When a moving train stops, you continue moving forward.

When the stopped train starts moving again, you remain stationary and are thrown backwards.
In both cases, its due to your inertia.

Follow-through & Inertia

Follow-through is a good example of the principle of inertia. An object wont move until a force acts on it so long hair trails behind as head turns.
Hair then remains in motion even after the head stops turning.

Newtons Second Law (Part 1)

The greater the force on acting on an object, the greater the acceleration of that object.

Newtons Second Law (Part 2)

The greater the mass of an object, the less it accelerates when acted on by the same force.

Free Fall Acceleration

Newtons Second Law explains why heavy and light objects fall with same acceleration.
Ratio of weight to mass always the same since weight depends on mass.

Demo: Drop the Sheet

A flat sheet of paper falls slowly because of air resistance. What happens if we place it on top of a book, blocking the air from reaching it?
Air Resistance

Weight

Book and sheet fall together

Settle, Squash & Force of Impact

The shorter the settle the greater the force of impact (since the deceleration is large if an object stops suddenly). Similarly, less squash, means a greater force of impact.

Demo: Bed of Nails

One may safely lay or sit on a bed of nails, as long as there are enough nails since the force per nail is small. Weight of 150 pounds is distributed over 300 nails. Force per nail is lb. Need 5 lb per nail to pierce skin. The one thing you never want to do with a bed of nails is jump into bed! Big deceleration means big force. Ouch!

Demo: Vampire Stake

Safest when slowly moving stake placed on a soft, fleshy spot on the chest.
Slow settle, small force Quick stop, BIG FORCE X X Ouch!

Not safe if stake strikes hard skull

Newtons Third Law of Motion

For every action force there is an equal reaction force in the opposite direction.

Walking, Running & Jumping

What forces accelerate us into motion when we walk, run, or jump?

Forces when Walking or Jumping

For a person walking, running, or jumping, the three main forces on the person are: Gravity (Downward) Support of the floor (Upward) Frictional force of the floor (Horizontal) Only these forces can accelerate the person. Gravity is constant but the force exerted by the floor can increase in reaction to the person exerting a force on the floor.

Walking Forward
Back foot pushing back on the floor. Reaction is the friction of the floor, which pushes your body forward. If floor is frictionless then it is impossible to move forward.
Action Reaction

Walk Cycle Timing

Right foot pushes back to accelerate forward

Right foot plants, pushing forward. Reaction of floor accelerates you rearward.

Action
Action Reaction Reaction

Jumping
Jumping is done by pushing downward on the ground (action) so the ground pushes upward on you (reaction). How high you jump depends on the force and on the distance over which you apply that force.
Can only push while in contact with the ground so squatting helps by increasing distance.

Swinging Arms and Jumping

You swing your arms upward as you jump to increase the force pushing down on the ground.

Try jumping and swinging your arms upward after you leave the ground; you wont jump as high.

Dont be discouraged
This may seem complicated (and its only Part I) but its no harder than learning anatomy.

Drawing of skeletal arms by Chuck Jones (from Chuck Amock)

Animation Books with Physics

The Most Important Law of Motion

The art director is always right.