Python 3D Graphics Tutorial 5: Bouncing Ball Simulation in Visual Python

You guys can help me out over at Patreon, and that will help me keep my gear updated, and help me keep this quality content coming:
/ paulmcwhorter
In this video we show step-by-step instructions on how to understand and use parameters in 3D design and modeling in vpython, (visual python), and how to bring your models to life. I do not assume you are an expert, so these lessons are designed for complete beginners.
#Python
#Lessons
#Graphics

[@wankamkrys296]

How can this Course got just 160 likes ? these are golden lessons Mr PAUL is offering us!!

[@Zakey360]

Liked it new to programming Thank for ur comment on the video giving good review

[@danielsaenz5570]

I AM LEGNED!! It's so amazing how at first, I was a cheap lawn chair, and I could hardly code but with your AMAZING TUTORIALS, I am now a LEGEND!! Thanks SOOOO MUCH

[@paulmcwhorter]

LEGEND!

[@h.w.k.ishara8060]

The happiness and the satisfaction when a code is correct and it works properly ,is a amazing thing. Those who have experienced it knows how it feels .Finally I AM LEGEND.

[@paulmcwhorter]

LEGEND!

[@cbrombaugh]

I AM LEGEND! I was yelling so loudly about the duplicate variable names that I thought you could hear me in Africa, but I was wrong. :) it was easy to get confused about all those names. Thanks for another most excellent lesson, Paul.

[@fredfrancium]

I learned the whole Arduino with his videos. I am gonna do the same with Python

[@TheSudouser]

Fell short on this one like a folded-up lawn chair but learned a lot from the attempt. Not discouraged, more determined!

[@zaqk2]

I am Legend... Paul, your lessons have added a new dimension to my life...

[@patfacunla1687]

this is absolutely true!

[@zoltantakacs3812]

Always fun when you get something moving with code. I liked the home work. Took me a few moments...but got it to work. Thank you!

[@PapaKn]

Great example, Paul, of debugging using "divide and conquer". I am impressed you did it so quickly and under pressure of being online! My logic was that, for any wall, the ball always has to travel LESS than the original constraints by the marbleRadius + 1/2 wallThickness., which I called adjust. The constraint then becomes : if xpos > (roomWidth/2 - adjust) or xpos < -(roomWidth/2 - adjust):. For y use roomHeight and for z use roomDepth. I am really enjoying your lessons. You are a great teacher.

[@wankamkrys296]

WE LOVE YOU MR PAUL, THANKS SO MUCH !!

[@charlotteswift]

You're so brave to try to solve a problem, at the same time as teaching us, at the same time as drinking coffee!! I tend to use top, bot, left, right, back and front in variable names because my poor old brain forgets what t, b, l, r, b and f stand for. I added 3D movement to the original bouncing marble tutorial a while ago so obviously I am Legend. You are Legend too because you didn't hit your head repeatedly on your desk - you would have split your coffee. Good debugging!! Thanks for the advance notice as I need to dust off my Arduino and try to remember how to use it.

[@themisf5077]

Mr Mcwhorter, a really nice idea for a new episode would be a room full of bouncing spheres created in a class : ) (Thank you for the great content)

[@sciwater1642]

Amazing classics. This is the thing.

[@jaeyounghong8099]

Iamlegend, this assignment went pretty smoothly. Just needed to do the exact same calculations, but with y and z. I'm going to university in a month for electrical engineering Mr. Paul and I wanted to thank you for uploading these amazing videos for everyone. My goal is to finish your python and rasberry pi lessons before my program starts and possibly create something amazing with the Arduino knowledge, I gained from you in the meantime. Thank you once again for the lessons!

[@paulmcwhorter]

YOu are wise to take these classes to prep for college. You will be glad you did.

[@architjain1908]

I am LEGEND!! The best part is when you change the delta(x,y,z) and have each of them different. It actually looks like a bouncing ball! Thank you!!!!

[@opalprestonshirley1700]

It works, success never smells so sweet!!! I see the flaw in my thinking. Thanks, Paul.

[@paulmcwhorter]

Excellent!

[@peterhartshauser5176]

Great lesson!

[@paulmcwhorter]

Glad you liked it!

[@vaughntaylor2855]

Super lesson! thank you Paul!!

[@paulmcwhorter]

My pleasure!

[@shatterism3329]

I AM LEGEND!!! Thank you Mr. Paul for teaching us the way how REAL teachers should teach ♥

[@paulmcwhorter]

LEGEND!

[@leeg.1402]

Thanks, Paul. A real brain exerciser today!!

[@paulmcwhorter]

It was painful for me to watch.

[@wayneswan3092]

I was able to set up all the variables. I did that exactly the way you did it. (slightly different names, of course) but I was not able to get the "if" statements right to get it to actually work. But I did put in the effort before I watched this lesson! THank you once again for another great lesson!

[@Nick-xz1qq]

I am Legend! Thanks you paul for these Legend tutorials

[@maku5289]

This one was quick since I played a lot with the 3 dimensions of the sphere with the kiddos. On to the next one ! 💥

[@ernestomendoza4862]

i did a similar mistake at first, but have it fixed before looking at the video. I am a legend!

[@wayneswan3092]

Pauls having an off day today, I see. 🤣It's ok Paul, we all have our days! "were you guys screaming at me"... Yep! I was!

[@polito-yd8fp]

I made almost the same errors 😂😂spent about 2 HOURS decoding it in the morning, almost gave up and saw the problem in yPos, was glad to learn with you going through the same 😊

[@sharyarkhan690]

paul is legendarryyyyyy

[@fransvanenschot3286]

i am legend. Very good tutorial. i have learned a lot. go further with the good work. thanks a lot.

[@larryplatzek9017]

Good Lesson!

[@paulmcwhorter]

Thanks! 😃

[@petefontana1958]

I am legend. I am learning so much and having fun that I stopped the Raspberry Pi lessons to devote more time to Vpython.

[@paulmcwhorter]

Pi lessons will be waiting for you when you finish these.

[@pokerface68]

I am Legend - I got the homework from lesson 4 to work after some struggle. I had a jail break but after doing some basic trouble shooting I discovered a typo with a small letter instead of a capital letter in a variable. Worked fine after that! Thank you.

[@paulmcwhorter]

LEGEND!

[@pokerface68]

@@paulmcwhorter OK I have to admit watching this tutorial 5 really boosted my confidence! I made a similar error early with naming my wall variables (in fact if I remember correctly I did the SAME Fwe naming error) and I caught that fairly quickly, then a typo (uppercase vs lowercase) caught me for a bit... but after I figured it out and got it to work it was encouraging to see you struggle a bit to make it work and go through the same sort of trouble shooting I did to fix it. I figure if a master like you can run into snags like that I am not doing too bad if I hit the same sort of bump in the road and fix it like you do! Thank you for another fine lesson, and showing me that even someone like you struggles at times but perseverance will win out in the end. Makes me feel like I am on the right track and making progress! Thank you so much.

[@gordonspond]

The lawnchairs burst into flames when I showed them my code. Sono ancora una leggenda

[@sebastiancardozo591]

who's your huckleberry! 😂 love the excitement

[@philluvschips3787]

FINALLY! Got vpython working after a complete reload! Anyhoo, nailed this class and before I go to the next lesson, I was trying to create the ball as a class from the previous lessons. Got the ball on the screen but I just can't get it moving. Is this in future lessons, I might getting ahead of myself. Thanks excellent teachings.

[@thebrector3823]

I AM LEGEND!! This h.w was pretty easy!

[@paulmcwhorter]

LEGEND!

[@madsci6807]

I actually made a stupid mistake early on, by accidentally messing up my marble.pos vector. After doing that, I went off and made it way more complicated than it needed to be (added threads and everything). After being stumped, I started to watch the video. After I saw you start to include everything under the while loop, I realized my initial process had been correct, and returned to finally get the program working. So I only partially folded lol.

[@paulmcwhorter]

Sounds like success to me. We learn by making mistakes, and then figuring them out. Well done!

[@LiamAllbright]

I AM LEJEND! I figured that all I would have to do was make a Y and a Z for all parameters[That you are supposed to add a Y and Z to] and then just clone " The thing that does the marble.pos stuff " Man this is fun bro! At least I think I did what I was supposed to do. Will there be a tutorial on libraries for Vpython though, like NumPy? Or PyGame?

[@qzorn4440]

found these videos i was while really looking for line-scan camera and document optical line scanner sensors, so many opencv videos are based on XY-area cameras. thanks..:)

[@selo2410]

Yet again, I AM LEGEND, however I did struggle a bit on the dimensions because I had forgotten how to calculate things on the Z-Axis.

[@warrenscorner]

Boom! I AM LEGEND! I did my code slightly different. I created a formula that gave me the height and depth from the edges then used that variable divided by 2. Same result but just a different angle. I also didn’t use abbreviations for my variables. I saw in the last video how you were having a hard time keeping track of them so I spelled them out. Back in my PLC programming days I stayed away from abbreviations as much as possible to avoid confusion. It works when you first write the program but when you go back to it a year later you’re sitting there scratching your head wondering what that means. After I got x and y going I was wondering if I could make a paddle to play air hockey. Could I use the mouse to move the paddle? I think that’s a little beyond my capabilities right now.

[@eyal4]

Hey Paul :) Watching this series and the previous series about fusion 360, I thought to myself is it possible to import a 3D CAD object to python and animating it like you animate objects with VPython? that can be really cool and amazing. I didn't found any information about it.

[@steveholt8991]

Yes, did it.

[@bassman2162]

I was able to get it to work. Initially I thought I had a problem because I started the ball at 0,0,0 and I had the room dimensions all set to 10. The ball went to the top, right, front of the box then moved to the bottom, left, back and just moved between the two points. I thought I had screwed up. I changed the dimensions and it worked perfectly. The ball was doing what I told it to. LOL

[@juanmanuel5698]

I AM LEGEND!! AGAIN!!

[@paulmcwhorter]

LEGEND!

[@aman-sood]

I am legend. Oof! Debugging the clash in the variable names was a handful!

[@philippeheyvaert3742]

Hello Paul, I noticed your error right away. According to python conventions variables shouldn't have Uppercase letters or as it is called CamelCase. They use all lower case and underscores between the words. You had to think a few time what the 'R' was saying in Rwe or the 'r' was saying in Xrme. I used other variable names, sure they are longer but the autocomplete function doesn't make it an issue. Some examples of mine: x_pos / marble_radius / floor_wall_edge / front_wall_edge. Variable names that instantly let you know what they are. Nice program, I like these series. Best wishes from Belgium

[@makergc3d]

Went off the rails by thinking needed to use class-method-threads when only if statements were required. Making programming more complicated than it needs to be.

[@trevorrickard9451]

Hi just started your python 3D lessons, uploaded the vpython to vs code but it not work. It came back with a error message for line 22 of the library, as in a = 0.1/ zero ( can't divide a float by 0) so I changed it to a 1 and so far this has worked. Most excellent course has all your courses are. Just a note in case others have had the same problem, from Trevor in the U.K.

[@AudhumblaLab]

I am a legend. My code is a bit more clunky, but the ideas are the same.

[@paulmcwhorter]

LEGEND!

[@excelconcepts1014]

i tried to parameterize the ball marbel inside a room, and ball doesnot moves. if it moves it completes the given distance at once. but not slowly.

[@hughjardon5101]

This is fascinating (but frustrating at times when I see a coding error as you type it and then spend the next 15 minutes screaming at my screen 😁 ). Please let's have more of this 3D stuff. Maybe how to rotate an object - e.g. make a rod behave like a lever. For this marble problem... personally I would have the definitions of the wall edges outside the while loop - they never change once the code is running and so you are just wasting processor cycles calculating them on every iteration of the loop.

[@Ammaray]

I am legend! Ball bouncing in 3D-space - cool! Exactly where my brain (and code) went after tutorial #2. Thank you again for the superb tutorials, Paul - eagerly looking forward to more! **By the way, I am using PyCharm.

[@dvstarzzots]

I AM LEGEND! I added 3 balls going at the same time

[@marcdurbach7036]

I am Legend, nice tutorial

[@paulmcwhorter]

Yes you are

[@domcifarelli4898]

Hi Paul! Having issues loading your website, and the search function doesn't bring me to the page I was looking for. Been happening for a couple of days now. Am I doing something wrong? Total beginner here. Thanks for your videos btw, I am a patron and I do your lessons every morning!

[@paulmcwhorter]

Dom, The site is searching and loading properly from here. I am on windows 11, but have confirmed it is also working with linux and windows 10. Not sure what issue might be.

[@domcifarelli4898]

@@paulmcwhorter Thanks Paul! I am on mac catalina. Will keep trying but the search bar doesn't work for me. Weird.

[@mikew877]

I am legend!!

[@0Mr.Java0]

I Am 98% Legend and 2% cheap lawn chair. I had 98% code right I just had trouble with getting the ball to bounce randomly. Soooo I got a little hint... I skipped and glance quickly at the code just enough to see there was more than one if statement nothing else. After that I nailed it.

[@senpaizoro2592]

I am a legend !!!

[@paulmcwhorter]

LEGEND!

[@yusufguler1662]

I'm Legend!

[@jalexromero]

Iam legend! :)

[@paulmcwhorter]

LEGEND!

[@starRunnerX]

I am Legend. (Fixed it) for rate() I put roomWidth so that as the width of the room scales up, the marble moves a little faster. It got a little annoying to wait for it to move so slowly at large room scales. Now as I type this, I think I could put the room dimensions in an array, then use a for loop to set the rate() at what ever the largest room dimension is, now that we are bouncing in 3D. What do you all think? P.S. It works really well. Would an average be better?

[@paulmcwhorter]

You are only allowed one LEGEND per homesork assignment. Like the idea of scaling the rate with the room size. Thanks for posting

[@Godsbeloved05]

Hi Paul please teach on something on cloud computing and like connecting arduino and raspberry pi to cloud sevices like google cloud or aws

[@colinhubbard4826]

I’m screaming line 50 but realise you can’t hear me lol 😂

[@ellerycadel]

i am legend!!!

[@paulmcwhorter]

LEGEND!

[@Godsbeloved05]

Can I quickly say here that I am legend... :D

[@paulmcwhorter]

Yes you may!

[@ExplorewithAaric]

from ast import Pass from vpython import* front=box(pos=vector(5,0,0),width=10, height=10, length=0.1, opacity=0.1) back=box(pos=vector(-5,0,0), width=10, height=10, length=0.1, opacity=1) right=box(pos=vector(0,5,0), width=10, height=0.1, length=10, opacity=1) left=box(pos=vector(0,-5,0), width=10, height=0.1, length=10, opacity=1) top=box(pos=vector(0,0,5), width=0.1, height=10, length=10, opacity=0.0) bottom=box(pos=vector(0,0,-5), width=0.1, height=10, length=10, opacity=0.3,color=color.blue) gball=sphere(radius=0.5,color=color.green) rball=sphere(radius=0.5,color=color.red) gxpos=0 gypos=-1 gzpos=4 gxchange=0.1 gychange=0.1 gzchange=0.1 rxpos=2 rypos=1 rzpos=-1 rxchange=0.1 rychange=0.1 rzchange=0.1 while True: rate(30) gball.pos=vector(gxpos,gypos,gzpos) gxpos=gxpos+gxchange gypos=gzpos+gychange gzpos=gzpos+gzchange rball.pos=vector(rxpos,rypos,rzpos) rxpos=rxpos+rxchange rypos=rypos+rychange rzpos=rzpos+rzchange if gxpos>=4.5: gxchange=-0.1 if gxpos=4.5: gychange=-0.1 if gypos=4.5: gzchange=-0.1 if gzpos=4.5: rxchange=-0.1 if rxpos=4.5: rychange=-0.1 if rypos=4.5: rzchange=-0.1 if rzpos

[@jonathanlanders9406]

I am Legend!

[@paulmcwhorter]

LEGEND!

[@nakiros24]

AT the moment while writing this i kind of went ahead with the tutorials, but now I have some understanding of github and I would like to give back to the community. So here is a video with the supposed assignment (min 37:05) with creating 3 balls kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2XTZXmobdZnrpY

[@SaffatUllah]

I AM LEGEND!!!

[@paulmcwhorter]

LEGEND!

[@mrdhughes4635]

I was seeing how long ot would take to see that the"F"loor variable was the same name as the "F"ront variable....front fwe and floor fwe....two parameters with the same name...lets see how long it takes to spot it...

[@georgefideliso]

I'm a living legend, I've been watching your tutorials on Electronics

[@paulmcwhorter]

That's awesome!

[@colepdx187]

See my finished assignment> kzbin.info/www/bejne/naK1f2lpmMl-n9k

[@paulmcwhorter]

Epic!

[@markjosephcruz8834]

I am Legend.

[@wendygrant2735]

I am legend.

[@kevinmeeker6548]

Got it done, but was momentarily defeated by a misspelled “detla” 😅

[@polito-yd8fp]

I am Legend 😊

[@timwhite7127]

If you would utilize comments as you write your code you would find it much less challenging working your way back and forth through all your variables.

[@ShinzoSin]

Or you can do this: xPos=xPos+deltaX yPos=yPos+deltaY zPos=zPos+deltaZ offset=mRadius + wallThickness/2 if (xPos>roomWidth/2 - offset or xPosroomHeight/2 - offset or yPosroomDepth/2 - offset or zPos

[@structuralanalysis6885]

I am LEGEND

[@ardespmaker]

I am legend...

[@diegoalbertoduransalas2736]

i am legend

[@parthib.1555]

I am Legend

[@paulmcwhorter]

LEGEND!

[@aryanjain8284]

I folded up 🙂

[@daviddirac5942]

I am legend. But using slightly different if expression.

[@endrefidje5698]

Hmm, maybe have one file with working code prepared in advance and then run a "diff" between them to quickly spot typos, less time wasted with us screaming at the screen - "Line xx you &*%**" ... ;-)

[@lemonlover5011]

I AM LEGEND

[@paulmcwhorter]

LEGEND!

[@Mathfan002]

Ahhh the problaem was you defined Fwe twice for 2 different purposes

[@yuval9197]

I am legend

[@paulmcwhorter]

LEGEND!

[@davedave3631]

I tried being legend but ended up like the lawn chair. The step up from the last tutorial was just too large to understand it thoroughly. Trying to navigate your website on a mobile device didn’t help either. The search function doesn’t work and the drop down menu at the bottom took me to the 10th installment instead of the 1st. Plus they’re categorized by date so it took longer to find the correct code page. It is somewhat amazing that a guy with great coding skills like you has a website like that.

[@bigbogeyface]

Here's My Bouncing Ball: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJuVaaxtjdtohbs 😁👍

[@paulmcwhorter]

double chest thump to this most excelllent solution.

[@bigbogeyface]

@@paulmcwhorter One year later, here is The 3D Game Of Life: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqPJhIaXlMSYepY 🙂👍

[@J25_75]

Hi, i modified the homework a bit: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3ipZHyul5yEf8Usi=4GyByT6LIbs_QTa1

[@J25_75]

The "particles" collide with each other, but I have to upgrade them to spheres.

[@mannatkaur1146]

I folded up :(

[@paulmcwhorter]

Better to try and fold than to be one of those poor timid soles who never even entered the arena. Get up, dust yourself off, and try again.

[@mannatkaur1146]

@@paulmcwhorter Sure! Will do so :) Thank you for the encouragement

[@wendygrant2735]

Yes I see what's wrong; you use f twice: as front and as floor. Floor should be bottom for example. My yelling didn't help.

[@paulmcwhorter]

Louder next time?

[@arnaudmasse7839]

I am legend !!

[@paulmcwhorter]

LEGEND!

[@codecage9333]

I am Legend!

[@paulmcwhorter]

We already knew that! But thanks for commenting

[@oz5191]

I am LEGEND

[@paulmcwhorter]

LEGEND!

[@mahanmotaghiraad1790]

i am legend

[@paulmcwhorter]

LEGEND!