Lab 2: Creating Visual Objects in Python

Introduction

The purposes of this lab are (1) to become familiar with the basics of animating simple objects using VPython, (2) investigate a simple numerical integration scheme, Euler's method, and (3) simulate the motion of vertically-launched rocket in the absence of air resistance.

Learning Goals

At the end of this lab, you should understand how to

1. create and manipulate visual objects in VPython
2. use a simple numerical integrator to simulation the motion of a rocket
3. compare the numerical integration to the analytic solution

What To Turn In

You will upload your final working program and an MS-Word document to the Digital Dropbox on Blackboard. Make sure you follow the filename convention outlined in the first lab.

Exercises

• Exercise 1: The Animation Scene
• Exercise 2: Variables and User Input
• Exercise 3: Flight-data Labels
• Exercise 4: Animation Objects
• Exercise 5: Launching the Rocket (Euler's Method)
• Exercise 6: Checking the Accuracy