Rodney Dunning's Home Page | Research and Scholarship | VPython Programs

---

VPython is a software package that includes the Python programming language; the IDLE interactive development environment; "visual," a Python module that allows you to create real-time 3D programs; and "numeric," a Python module for fast processing of arrays.

Very little programming experience is needed to created sophisticated 3D animations!

Visit http://www.vpython.org and click on "Downloads" to get the software. After the installation, you will be able to run any of the programs on this site, and create your own 3D programs!

Follow the links below to programs I have written.  For each, you will find a description of the animation, some suggestions on how to use them in class, and the Python source code.

General physics:

• Doppler effect
• Simple harmonic motion
• Refraction Example (coming soon)
• Angular momentum vector--single object (coming soon)
• Angular momentum vectors--two objects (coming soon)

Modern physics:

• Relativity of simultaneity
• Twin paradox
• Clock synchronization

Astronomy:

• Kepler's 1st & 2nd Laws
• The Moon's orbit

Numerical:

• Approximating π
• Finding prime numbers