Python Syntax

The Main Idea

This page discusses basic vPython functions and how they can be used to produce a model. vPython uses the same syntax as regular Python; however, vPython also allows you to produce a 3D model simulating the equations and computations your code is producing.

Mathematical Model

Vpython can be used with any equation. However, you may find some of the following useful:

Momentum Update:

pf = pi + Fnet*deltat

Position Update:

objectf.pos = objecti.pos + (pcart/mcart)*deltat

Gravitational Force:

CONSTANTS

G = 6.7e-11

mEarth = 6e24

mcraft = 15e3

deltat = 60

t = 0

Finds the change in position:

r=craft.pos-Earth.pos m=mcraft

Finds the magnitude of change in position:

rmag= mag(r)

Calculates the new magnitude of gravitational force:

Fmag=(G*mcraft*mEarth)/(rmag**2)

Calculates the direction of tbe change in position:

rhat=r/rmag

Calculates net force:

Fnet=-Fmag*rhat

Spring Force:

L0 = 0.3 Lvec = ball.pos - ceiling.pos Lhat = norm(Lvec) Lmag = mag(Lvec) Fspr = (-ks)*(Lmag - L0)*(Lhat)

Kinetic Energy:

Kinetic = (1/2)*(mball*(vel**2))

Computational Model

VPython is used to create computational models of various real world situations so that we can see how these equations used in the code can manipulate these situations.

Examples

Simple:

Creating Shapes:

Sphere:

sphere= sphere(pos=vector(-4,-2,5), radius=.4, color=color.red)

Arrow:

bt=arrow(pos=sphere.pos, axis=sphere2.pos-sphere.pos, color=color.cyan)

Vector:

vector=vector(0, 0, 0)

Trail:

trail = curve(color=sphere.color)

trail.append(pos=sphere.pos)

Setting Scene Range:

scene.range=11*sphere.radius

Helix:

spring = helix(pos=ceiling.pos, color=color.cyan, thickness=.003, coils=40, radius=0.015)

Intermediate:

Graphs:

Setup graphing windows:

gdisplay(width=500, height=250, x=600, y=1)

ygraph = gcurve(color=color.yellow)

gdisplay(width=500, height=250, x=600, y=300)

Plotting:

pgraph = gcurve(color=color.blue)

ygraph.plot(pos=(time, Fnet.y))

pgraph.plot(pos=(time, sphere.y))

Difficult:

Using Loops to update Equations:

CONSTANTS:

G = ?

mEarth = ?

mmoon = ?

mcraft = ?

deltat = ?

t = ?

OBJECTS AND INITIAL VALUES:

Earth = sphere(pos=vector(0,0,0), radius=6.4e6, color=color.cyan)

scene.range=11*Earth.radius

Moon = sphere(pos=(4e8, 0, 0), radius=1.75e6, color=color.white)

Add a radius for the spacecraft. It should be BIG, so it can be seen:

craft = sphere(pos=vector(-6.656e7,-3.648e6,0), radius= 10000, color=color.yellow) vcraft = vector(206, 2645,0) pcraft = mcraft*vcraft pArrow=arrow(color=color.green) fArrow=arrow(color=color.cyan) dpArrow=arrow(color=color.red) Fnet_tangent_arrow = arrow(color=color.yellow) Fnet_perp_arrow= arrow(color=color.magenta)

This creates a trail for the spacecraft:

trail = curve(color=craft.color)

And this prevents zooming in or out:

scene.autoscale = 0 pscale=Earth.radius/mag(pcraft) fscale=Earth.radius/((G*mEarth*mcraft)*mag(craft.pos-Earth.pos)**2) dpscale=500*Earth.radius/mag(pcraft) print("p=", pcraft)

CALCULATIONS:

Sets time for loop to run:

while t < 165240: This slows down the animation (runs faster with bigger number):

   rate(10000)   

    Add statements here for the iterative update of gravitational
   force, momentum, and position.

   r = craft.pos-Earth.pos
   rmag = sqrt(r.x**(2)+r.y**(2)+r.z**(2))
   Fmag= G*mEarth*mcraft/(rmag**2)
   rhat= r/rmag
   rmoon= craft.pos - Moon.pos
   rmoonmag= mag(rmoon)
   rmoonhat= norm(rmoon)
   Fmoonmag= G*mmoon*mcraft/(rmoonmag**2)
   Fmoon= -Fmoonmag*rmoonhat
   p_init= mag(pcraft)
   pcraft_i=pcraft+vector(0,0,0)
   Fearth= -Fmag*rhat
   Fnet= Fearth + Fmoon
   pcraft=Fnet*deltat+pcraft
   p_final=mag(pcraft)

   Fnet_tangent = (p_final-p_init)*norm(pcraft)/deltat
   Fnet_tangent_arrow.pos=craft.pos
   Fnet_tangent_arrow.axis=Fnet_tangent*fscale
   Fnet_perp = Fnet-Fnet_tangent
   Fnet_perp_arrow.pos=craft.pos
   Fnet_perp_arrow.axis=Fnet_perp*fscale
   vcraft=pcraft/mcraft
   craft.pos=vcraft*deltat+craft.pos
   pArrow.pos=craft.pos
   pArrow.axis=pcraft*pscale
   fArrow.pos=craft.pos
   fArrow.axis=Fnet*fscale
   deltap= pcraft-pcraft_i
   dpArrow.pos=craft.pos
   dpArrow.axis=deltap*dpscale
   scene.center=craft.pos
   scene.range=craft.radius*600
   

  Uncomment these two lines to exit the loop if
  the spacecraft crashes onto the Earth.

   if rmag < Earth.radius: 
       break

   trail.append(pos=craft.pos)  
   t = t+deltat

Connectedness

vPython codes are extremely useful for modeling physics situations. However, the coding skills learned in this class can be applied to almost anything. For example, Aerospace Engineers are becoming increasingly dependent on computer simulations to test ideas before prototyping to reduce costs.

History

vPython was released in 2008. It was developed by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University. It is largely used for educational purposes especially producing physics models.

References

http://vpython.org/contents/history.html