A convenient simulation of snowflakes based on OpenGL

During Computer drafting teaching, we present an easy three-dimensional simulation platform, on which 3D modeling and animation are illustrated. A simulation on natural scene is implemented through decomposable and order steps on the platform. Falling snowflakes, as an example, are simulated to show how a natural phenomenon is realized by using simple OpenGL functions, and water and swing are designed for lively illustration as well. The platform gives us a convenient method to analyze the process of 3D simulation, and the basic principles of virtual reality involving 3D-modeling, visualization and animation are implemented.