VPython in Physics

VPython is a module that can be used with the Python programming language to easily produce navigable 3D visualizations of physical phenomena. It was designed with many features that are relevant to doing physics.

Talk about VPython

Presentation at meeting of American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) in Boise, Idaho, August 2002
Talk (in PowerPoint), Student handouts (MS Word)

VPython in E&M

Here are several "simulations/demonstrations" that I use in class. In most cases we discuss what to expect in advance of showing the result.

Phenomena	Screenshot	Link to VPython source (coming soon)	Link to class handout (where available)
Integration to determine electric field of a straight charge segment	intfld.gif
Field of a straight charge segment	fldrod.gif
Velocity selector with one charge and position vs. time info	VelocitySelector.gif
Velocity selector with many charges	VelocitySelectorMany.gif
Two particles with same charge in B field	Chgs_in_Bfield.gif

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(this page last updated on Sep 5, 2002)