3D Graphics | Technology Tutorials

In this lesson we show how to make an animated ball properly bounce off a wall using Visual Python (Vpython).

from vpython import *
from time import *
mRadius=2
wallThickness=1
roomWidth=15
roomDepth=12
roomHeight=8
floor=box(pos=vector(0,-roomHeight/2,0),size=vector(roomWidth,wallThickness,roomDepth), color=color.white)
ceiling=box(pos=vector(0,roomHeight/2,0),size=vector(roomWidth,wallThickness,roomDepth), color=color.white)
backWall=box(pos=vector(0,0,-roomDepth/2),size=vector(roomWidth,roomHeight,wallThickness), color=color.white)
leftWall=box(pos=vector(-roomWidth/2,0,0),size=vector(wallThickness,roomHeight,roomDepth), color=color.white)
rightWall=box(pos=vector(roomWidth/2,0,0),size=vector(wallThickness,roomHeight,roomDepth), color=color.white)
marble=sphere(radius=mRadius,color=color.red)
deltaX=.1
xPos=0
while True:
    rate(25)
    xPos=xPos+deltaX
    Xrme=xPos+mRadius
    Xlme=xPos-mRadius
    Rwe=roomWidth/2-wallThickness/2
    Lwe=-roomWidth/2+wallThickness/2
    if (Xrme>=Rwe or Xlme<Lwe):
        deltaX=deltaX*(-1)
    marble.pos=vector(xPos,0,0)

from vpython import *

from time import *

mRadius=2

wallThickness=1

roomWidth=15

roomDepth=12

roomHeight=8

floor=box(pos=vector(0,-roomHeight/2,0),size=vector(roomWidth,wallThickness,roomDepth), color=color.white)

ceiling=box(pos=vector(0,roomHeight/2,0),size=vector(roomWidth,wallThickness,roomDepth), color=color.white)

backWall=box(pos=vector(0,0,-roomDepth/2),size=vector(roomWidth,roomHeight,wallThickness), color=color.white)

leftWall=box(pos=vector(-roomWidth/2,0,0),size=vector(wallThickness,roomHeight,roomDepth), color=color.white)

rightWall=box(pos=vector(roomWidth/2,0,0),size=vector(wallThickness,roomHeight,roomDepth), color=color.white)

marble=sphere(radius=mRadius,color=color.red)

deltaX=.1

xPos=0

while True:

rate(25)

xPos=xPos+deltaX

Xrme=xPos+mRadius

Xlme=xPos-mRadius

Rwe=roomWidth/2-wallThickness/2

Lwe=-roomWidth/2+wallThickness/2

if (Xrme>=Rwe or Xlme<Lwe):

deltaX=deltaX*(-1)

marble.pos=vector(xPos,0,0)

In this lesson we show you the importance of building a parameterized model for your 3D graphics in Python using Visual Python. You can manage large scenes unless you are doing it with parameterized dimensions. The video above takes you through it step by step. Here is the code for the parameterized box and marble we developed in Lesson 3:

from vpython import *
from time import *
mRadius=.75
wallThickness=.1
roomWidth=10
roomDepth=5
roomHeight=10
floor=box(pos=vector(0,-roomHeight/2,0),size=vector(roomWidth,wallThickness,roomDepth), color=color.white)
ceiling=box(pos=vector(0,roomHeight/2,0),size=vector(roomWidth,wallThickness,roomDepth), color=color.white)
backWall=box(pos=vector(0,0,-roomDepth/2),size=vector(roomWidth,roomHeight,wallThickness), color=color.white)
leftWall=box(pos=vector(-roomWidth/2,0,0),size=vector(wallThickness,roomHeight,roomDepth), color=color.white)
rightWall=box(pos=vector(roomWidth/2,0,0),size=vector(wallThickness,roomHeight,roomDepth), color=color.white)
marble=sphere(radius=mRadius,color=color.red)
deltaX=.1
xPos=0
while True:
    rate(10)
    xPos=xPos+deltaX
    if (xPos>roomWidth/2 or xPos<-roomWidth/2):
        deltaX=deltaX*(-1)
    marble.pos=vector(xPos,0,0)

from vpython import *

from time import *

mRadius=.75

wallThickness=.1

roomWidth=10

roomDepth=5

roomHeight=10

floor=box(pos=vector(0,-roomHeight/2,0),size=vector(roomWidth,wallThickness,roomDepth), color=color.white)

ceiling=box(pos=vector(0,roomHeight/2,0),size=vector(roomWidth,wallThickness,roomDepth), color=color.white)

backWall=box(pos=vector(0,0,-roomDepth/2),size=vector(roomWidth,roomHeight,wallThickness), color=color.white)

leftWall=box(pos=vector(-roomWidth/2,0,0),size=vector(wallThickness,roomHeight,roomDepth), color=color.white)

rightWall=box(pos=vector(roomWidth/2,0,0),size=vector(wallThickness,roomHeight,roomDepth), color=color.white)

marble=sphere(radius=mRadius,color=color.red)

deltaX=.1

xPos=0

while True:

rate(10)

xPos=xPos+deltaX

if (xPos>roomWidth/2 or xPos<-roomWidth/2):

deltaX=deltaX*(-1)

marble.pos=vector(xPos,0,0)

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Technology Tutorials

Tag Archives: 3D Graphics

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Python 3D Graphics LESSON 3: Parameterizing your 3D Model

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