VPython & Python Programs

Visual Python (VPython) website  Not programming in VPython yet?  Try it today!  It's free, powerful, well-documented and easy for everyone to learn, even those who have never programmed.

Rocket dynamics & Listeria motility:  modeling exercises for intro physics

• Powerpoint Lecture on how to model rocket propulsion and listeria motility using VPython
• VPython Rocket code:  version 1 (thrust only); version 2 (air drag); version 3 (mass changes);  version 4 (time varying thrust from rocket burn profile); version 5 (gravity falls off with altitude); version 6 (air drag depends on altitude)
• Modeling with Vpython homework problem (solutions available to instructors on request via email)
• VPython code for Listeria motility in 2D

Listeria Motility & Predator-Prey trajectories Intro-level Lab

• Lab Manual
• Prelab exercise
• VPython code for Exercise 1 (Predator-Prey trajectories in 1D)
• VPython code for Exercise 2 (Listeria motility in 2D)
• Report form

GPS visualization  Take your own 2 or 3 D trajectory data to use in teaching intro physicsvusing cheap GPS and altimeter sensors (like those available from Vernier)!  (Or just use sample data below)

• VPython code & instructions on how to turn GPS files into either 3D visualizations or a set of Cartesian coordinates in units of meters, along with velocities, accelerations, etc. with adjustable data smoothing, plus a set of equipment recommendations and reviews about what to buy to do all this; sample GPS .csv data file to test it out; same data as .gpx GPS file and .kml file for Google Earth