Rutherford and the Atom vs Shock Math Calculator
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Rutherford and the Atom
Explore Ernest Rutherford's groundbreaking atomic model, crucial for understanding matter. This app serves as a revision aid and classroom tool for GCSE and High School Physics students, making atomic structure engaging and educational.
- Explains Rutherford's atomic model
- Companion to GCSE/High School Physics
- Revision aid
- Classroom demonstration tool
- Teaches atomic structure
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In the early 20th century scientists wanted to know more about atoms. They knew that atoms were electrically neutral and that for every negative particle there must be a positive particle. The scientist Ernest Rutherford made a massive contribution to our understanding of the nature of matter by suggesting a model which fitted experimental data. ---------------------------------- This app forms a companion to GCSE level / High School Physics for Students and anyone interested in the fascinating experiment that shaped our current understanding of the structure of the atom. An ideal revision aid, or classroom demonstration, Rutherford and the Atom will entertain and teach.
Shock Math Calculator
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Shock Math is a fast, accurate compressible-aerodynamics calculator for students, engineers, and anyone working in high-speed gas dynamics. Solve isentropic, shock, and duct-flow relations in seconds — from any input variable, for any gas. COMPRESSIBLE FLOW, SOLVED • Isentropic flow — pressure, temperature, density, and area ratios, Mach angle, and Prandtl–Meyer angle • Normal shock relations — downstream Mach, static and stagnation pressure, temperature, and density ratios • Oblique shock relations — weak and strong solutions, wave angle, deflection angle, and normal Mach components • Conical shock relations — Taylor–Maccoll solution for cone angle, surface Mach number, and surface property ratios • Fanno flow — adiabatic flow with friction in a constant-area duct • Rayleigh flow — frictionless flow with heat addition • Standard atmosphere — U.S. Standard Atmosphere 1976 from sea level to 86 km: temperature, pressure, density, speed of sound and viscosity, from altitude, pressure or density • Ideal gas law — p = ρRT and pV = nRT, solve for any quantity in the units you work in • Scratch Pad — a quick built-in calculator for the numbers in between SEE THE PHYSICS Every result comes with a chart: property ratios across the Mach range with your answer marked, the full θ-β-M oblique shock diagram with your case on it, the cone-angle curve for conical shocks, and atmosphere profiles by altitude. SOLVE FROM ANY VARIABLE Don't just go forward from Mach number. Enter a pressure ratio, temperature ratio, area ratio, wave angle, or Prandtl–Meyer angle and Shock Math finds the Mach number for you — subsonic or supersonic branch, your choice. ANY GAS, ANY GAMMA Set the ratio of specific heats (γ) to model air, combustion products, monatomic gases, or anything in between. Every relation respects your γ. PROVEN-ACCURATE MATH Version 1.6 rebuilt and independently verified the calculation engine. Every relation is cross-checked against the classic NACA Report 1135 tables and against independent reference implementations across a wide range of Mach numbers and specific-heat ratios — hundreds of checks, zero discrepancies. Forward and inverse solutions round-trip exactly. BUILT FOR REAL WORK • Clean, consistent calculators that remember your inputs • Theory & Equations: assumptions and key equations for every calculator, one tap away • History and saved cases — reload any past calculation • Export results as text, CSV or PDF • iPad layout with a sidebar, plus Split View and Stage Manager • Apple Watch app: isentropic flow, normal shock, ideal gas and a scratch pad, set with the Digital Crown • Siri and Shortcuts actions for isentropic ratios, normal shocks and the standard atmosphere • Light and dark mode, VoiceOver, and every text size • Show or hide the calculators you use Whether you're checking homework in a gas dynamics course, sizing a supersonic nozzle, or sanity-checking a CFD result, Shock Math gives you trustworthy numbers fast. Feedback and feature requests are always welcome from the in-app form.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Shock Math Calculator at every 3 weeks against Rutherford and the Atom's every 18 months. Rutherford and the Atom's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Rutherford and the Atom ships an update every 18 months, Shock Math Calculator every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Rutherford and the Atom | Shock Math Calculator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 18 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | John Kennedy | Gregory Manley |
In-app purchases
Rutherford and the Atom
No in-app purchases
Shock Math Calculator
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Rutherford and the Atom free?
Is Shock Math Calculator free?
Do Rutherford and the Atom or Shock Math Calculator have ads?
Which is updated more often, Rutherford and the Atom or Shock Math Calculator?
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