When you guys speak of "physics" in that context, what do you actually mean?
3D graphics can use a physics engine to simulate objects acting against each other realistically, taking into account properties such as gravity, mass etc. Video games use them a lot these days, for crumbling buildings, or smashing cars into each other, or pushing boxes around, etc.
I've used physics simulations for dominoes knocking each other down, or animating billiard balls etc.
You can set up the properties of each object (initial velocity, friction, mass) and then just let the program automatically simulate the outcome for you, so everything moves realistically.