VPython Functions

Created by Natalie Standish Traded to Kevin Randrup

Introduction to functions in Python and applying them to write shorter and more understandable code.

The Main Idea

The main idea of this page is to serve as an aid for future physics students in writing python code during lab. Python, especially for students who are not very experienced with coding, can be a little confusing and sometimes stressful. This page should help give students the information that they would have to look up outside of the lab instructions but all in one place so that they can focus on the physics aspect of the course and not take too much time worrying about the coding in lab.

Basic Functions

Basic Python function syntax:

def functionName(argumentOne, argumentTwo):
    functionReturnValue = argumentOne + argumentTwo
    return functionReturnValue

Example function that adds three numbers together

def addNumbers(a, b, c):
    return a + b + c

Example use of that function

seven = addNumbers(1, 2, 4)

Vectors

vector = vector(x,y,z)

Spheres

sphere = sphere(pos=POS, color=color.COLOR, radius=RADIUS ) POS: a vector giving the sphere location COLOR: Options can be found on http://matplotlib.org/examples/color/named_colors.html RADIUS: The radius of the sphere (usually given by the lab instructions)

Arrows

arrow = arrow(pos=POS, axis=AXIS color=color.COLOR) POS: where the head of the arrow is to be placed AXIS: the line that we want the axis to go along (generally some position - * position) COLOR: Options can be found on http://matplotlib.org/examples/color/named_colors.html

Connectedness

VPython is an important tool in PHYS 2211 and PHYS 2212 because it is able to take a very abstract concept and give a visual explanation to the student.

See also

Are there related topics or categories in this wiki resource for the curious reader to explore? How does this topic fit into that context?

Further reading

Books, Articles or other print media on this topic

External links

Phython colors: http://matplotlib.org/examples/color/named_colors.html

References

This section contains the the references you used while writing this page http://matplotlib.org/examples/color/named_colors.html n?