ForceLink based Hierarchical Orbits

Attempt at simulation of multiple particles orbitting around each other in a hierarchical system (e.g. sun > planet > moon).

Uses D3 force-directed physics engine's forceLink to connect particles to their moving gravitational centers via fixed position anchor nodes.

The system fails to reach equilibrium due to the "spring" nature of forceLink, in which contrary to gravitational forces the intensity decreases with proximity, causing bodies to inevitably fall onto their attraction center. The forceMagnetic force is a better fit for modelling this type of motion.

Compare with the forceMagnetic version.

const gravity = 0.00005, // Regulates mechanics speed
            bodies = [
                { id: 'sun', r: 20, initialState: { x: 0, y: 0 } },
                { id: 'planet', r: 8, initialState: { y: -height / 4, vx: 0.5 * height * Math.sqrt(gravity) } },
                { id: 'moon', r: 2, initialState: { y: -height * 3/8, vx: 0.25 * height * Math.sqrt(gravity * 100) } }
            ],
            links = [
                { source: 'planet', target: 'sun-anchor', attraction: gravity },
                { source: 'moon', target: 'planet-anchor', attraction: gravity * 100 } // Higher attraction = more revolutions
            ];

// Generate body anchors
        const anchors = bodies.map(body => { return { id: body.id + '-anchor', body: body } });

d3.forceSimulation()
            .alphaDecay(0)
            .velocityDecay(0)
            .nodes([...bodies, ...anchors])
            .force("gravitate-around", d3.forceLink(links)
                .id(d => d.id)
                .distance(0)
                .strength(link => link.attraction || 0.1)
            )
            .on("tick", ticked);

// Set initial states
        bodies.forEach(body => {
            for (let k in body.initialState) {
                body[k] = body.initialState[k];
            }
        });

// Add orbit trails
        d3.timer(() => {
            d3.selectAll('g.trail')
                .append('circle')
                    .attr('r', 1.5)
                    .attr('cx', d => d.x)
                    .attr('cy', d => d.y)
                    .transition().duration(10000)
                        .style('opacity', 0)
                        .remove();
        });

// Size canvas
        d3.select('#canvas')
            .attr('width', width)
            .attr('height', height)
            .attr('viewBox', `${-width/2} ${-height/2} ${width} ${height}`);

function ticked() {
            var body = d3.select('#bodies').selectAll('.body')
                .data(bodies);

body.exit().remove();
            body.merge(
                body.enter().append('circle')
                    .attr('class', 'body')
                    .attr('id', d => d.id)
                    .attr('r', d => d.r)
            )
                .attr('cx', d => d.x)
                .attr('cy', d => d.y);

// Add trail elements
            var trails = d3.select('#trails').selectAll('.trail')
                .data(bodies);

trails.exit().remove();
            trails.enter().append('g').attr('class', 'trail');

fixAnchors();
        }

function fixAnchors() {
            anchors.forEach(anchor => {
                anchor.fx = anchor.body.x;
                anchor.fy = anchor.body.y;
            });
        }

</script>
</body>

https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/d3/4.7.0/d3.min.js