VPNBody: Solar-System Dynamics using VPython
Home
Introduction
VPNBody (Visual Python N-body) is a collection of Python modules using symplectic integration algorithms to animate self-gravitating systems consisting of a gravitationally dominant object (a star) and several smaller objects (planets). VPNBody can be used for undergraduate research projects, classroom demonstrations, homework problems, and laboratory exercises. The underlying code can be used in upper-level physics and astronomy courses to introduce students to solar-system dynamics, or as a prototype for C or Fortran-90 software packages.
VPNBody is now in version 2.1, released 1 June 2007. The input files for version 1.0 will not work with version 2.1. Follow this link for a list of important changes between the two versions.
You do not have to edit any code and do not need any programming experience to create animations.
Follow these links for more information:
- Download VPNBody 2.1
- Getting Started (includes screen shots)
- Understanding the Input Files
- Examples from the "Data" Mode
- Available Integration Methods
- Known Issues
- Speed Tips
- Suggested Uses
- Other Codes
Contact Information
Please contact me if you have any problems downloading, running, or understanding these simulations.
Rodney Dunning
Assistant Professor of Physics
Longwood University
201 High Street
Farmville, VA 23909
E-mail: dunningrb@longwood.edu
Acknowledgements
VPNBody was developed with support from the Associated Colleges of the South. It was inspired in part by the excellent work at http://www.artcompsci.org/kali/.
References
- J. M. A. Danby. Fundamentals of Celestial Mechanics, 2nd edition. Richmond: Willmann-Bell, Inc., 1992.
- A. D. Dubyago. The Determination of Orbits. Translated by R. D. Burke, et. al. New York: McMillan, 1961.
- Forest Ray Moulton. Celestial Mechanics. 2nd edition. New York: McMillan, 1914.
- C. D. Murray and S. F. Dermott, Solar System Dynamics. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1999.
- H. C. Plummer. An Introductory Treatise on Dynamical Astronomy. New York: Dover, 1918.
- Harry Pollard. Celestial Mechanics. The Mathematical Association of America, 1976.
- Victor G. Szebehely. Adventures in Celestial Mechanics. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1989.
- Michael Zeilik. Astronomy, The Evolving Universe, 9th edition. New York: Cambridge, 2002.
- Michael Zeilik, Stephen A. Gregory, and Elske v. P. Smith. Introductory Astronomy & Astrophysics, 3rd edition. Fort Worth: Saunders, 1992.