1. A computer-based method of identifying a potential collision event for a first body and a second body, the method comprising the steps of: generating an instance of a physics engine, the physics engine running on a computer; simulating the first body and the second body in a simulated environment using the physics engine; calculating an initial separation distance and an initial separation direction between the bodies using the physics engine; updating a distance value associated with each body as each body moves; and determining if a potential collision event may occur between the first body and the second body using the physics engine and the distance value, the initial separating distance and the initial separation direction, wherein the distance value is based on linear movement in a direction of the separation distance and a worst case rotational movement.