VPython Loops - Revision history

Krish katariya: /* How to Write Loops */

2026-04-27T22:53:01Z

How to Write Loops

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:53, 27 April 2026
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	A smaller deltat updates the motion more frequently, so the simulated motion stays closer to the exact solution. This shows why loops are useful in VPython: they approximate continuous motion by repeatedly updating momentum and position over small time intervals. This is also why we want to use relatively small values for delta t!		A smaller deltat updates the motion more frequently, so the simulated motion stays closer to the exact solution. This shows why loops are useful in VPython: they approximate continuous motion by repeatedly updating momentum and position over small time intervals. This is also why we want to use relatively small values for delta t!

	===How to Write Loops===		===Computational Model: How to Write Loops===

	A loop repeats a block of code until a condition is no longer true. In Python/VPython, the loop statement ends with a colon, and the repeated lines must be indented underneath it.		A loop repeats a block of code until a condition is no longer true. In Python/VPython, the loop statement ends with a colon, and the repeated lines must be indented underneath it.

Krish katariya: /* Why Loops Work for Motion */

2026-04-27T22:52:38Z

Why Loops Work for Motion

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:52, 27 April 2026
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	Loops are generally used in VPython in order to repeat a set of specific instructions without writing the same code many times over and over. The two most common loop structures are the 'for' loop and the 'while' loop. A 'for' loop is usually used when the number of times we need to loop is known, while a 'while' loop is used when code is supposed to repeat until a condition is no longer true.		Loops are generally used in VPython in order to repeat a set of specific instructions without writing the same code many times over and over. The two most common loop structures are the 'for' loop and the 'while' loop. A 'for' loop is usually used when the number of times we need to loop is known, while a 'while' loop is used when code is supposed to repeat until a condition is no longer true.

	===Why Loops Work for Motion===		===Mathematical Model: Why Loops Work for Motion===

	In physics, motion is usually described using continuous equations, such as Newton’s Second Law, which will relate force and momentum with: <pre> dP/dt = Fnet </pre> This equation tells us how momentum changes continuously over time.		In physics, motion is usually described using continuous equations, such as Newton’s Second Law, which will relate force and momentum with: <pre> dP/dt = Fnet </pre> This equation tells us how momentum changes continuously over time.

Krish katariya at 22:51, 27 April 2026

2026-04-27T22:51:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:51, 27 April 2026
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	Krish Katariya, Spring 2026 Editing This Page! Please don't remove until wiki resource is graded! For my contribution, I noticed the page didn't really explain why we need to use loops with small time steps for physics, so I explained the importance of loops for motion. I also created a simulation using glowscript+trinket, which highlights the importance of using smaller time steps instead of large ones for the motion of objects. I also added a section explaining how to actually write the loops using syntax, a section on common mistakes one would make when writing loops. I noticed that some of the examples given were using python 2 instead of python 3 syntax (or the syntax was just wrong), so I fixed that and generally improved the other sections as well when I saw fit.		<strong>Krish Katariya, Spring 2026 Editing This Page!</Strong> Please don't remove until wiki resource is graded! For my contribution, I noticed the page didn't really explain why we need to use loops with small time steps for physics, so I explained the importance of loops for motion. I also created a simulation using glowscript+trinket, which highlights the importance of using smaller time steps instead of large ones for the motion of objects. I also added a section explaining how to actually write the loops using syntax, a section on common mistakes one would make when writing loops. I noticed that some of the examples given were using python 2 instead of python 3 syntax (or the syntax was just wrong), so I fixed that and generally improved the other sections as well when I saw fit.

	An introduction to creating and using loops in VPython.		An introduction to creating and using loops in VPython.

Krish katariya at 22:50, 27 April 2026

2026-04-27T22:50:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:50, 27 April 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	Krish Katariya, Spring 2026 Editing This Page! Please don't remove until wiki resource is graded! For my contribution, I noticed the page didn't really explain why we need to use loops with small time steps for physics, so I explained the importance of loops for motion. I also created a simulation using glowscript+trinket, which highlights the importance of using smaller time steps instead of large ones for the motion of objects. I also added a section explaining how to actually write the loops using syntax, a section on common mistakes one would make when writing loops. I noticed that some of the examples given were using python 2 instead of python 3 syntax (or the syntax was just wrong), so I fixed that and generally improved the other sections as well when I saw fit.		Krish Katariya, Spring 2026 Editing This Page! Please don't remove until wiki resource is graded! For my contribution, I noticed the page didn't really explain why we need to use loops with small time steps for physics, so I explained the importance of loops for motion. I also created a simulation using glowscript+trinket, which highlights the importance of using smaller time steps instead of large ones for the motion of objects. I also added a section explaining how to actually write the loops using syntax, a section on common mistakes one would make when writing loops. I noticed that some of the examples given were using python 2 instead of python 3 syntax (or the syntax was just wrong), so I fixed that and generally improved the other sections as well when I saw fit.

	An introduction to creating and using loops in VPython.		An introduction to creating and using loops in VPython.

Krish katariya at 22:50, 27 April 2026

2026-04-27T22:50:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:50, 27 April 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	Krish Katariya, Spring 2026 Editing This Page! Please don't remove until wiki resource is graded! For my contribution, I noticed the page didn't really explain why we need to use loops with small time steps for physics, so I explained the importance of loops for motion. I also created a simulation using glowscript+trinket, which highlights the importance of using smaller time steps instead of large ones for the motion of objects. I also added a section explaining how to actually write the loops using syntax, a section on common mistakes one would make when writing loops. I noticed that some of the examples given were using python 2 instead of python 3 syntax (or the syntax was just wrong), so I fixed that and generally improved the other sections as well when I saw fit.		Krish Katariya, Spring 2026 Editing This Page! Please don't remove until wiki resource is graded! For my contribution, I noticed the page didn't really explain why we need to use loops with small time steps for physics, so I explained the importance of loops for motion. I also created a simulation using glowscript+trinket, which highlights the importance of using smaller time steps instead of large ones for the motion of objects. I also added a section explaining how to actually write the loops using syntax, a section on common mistakes one would make when writing loops. I noticed that some of the examples given were using python 2 instead of python 3 syntax (or the syntax was just wrong), so I fixed that and generally improved the other sections as well when I saw fit.

	An introduction to creating and using loops in VPython.		An introduction to creating and using loops in VPython.

Krish katariya: /* Simple */

2026-04-27T22:49:33Z

Simple

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:49, 27 April 2026
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	<pre>		<pre>
	for i in range(0,10):		for i in range(0,10):
	print i		print(i)
	</pre>		</pre>

Line 84:		Line 84:
	i = 0		i = 0
	while i < 10:		while i < 10:
	print i		print(i)
	i += 1		i += 1
	</pre>		</pre>

Krish katariya at 22:49, 27 April 2026

2026-04-27T22:49:25Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:49, 27 April 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	Krish Katariya, Spring 2026 Editing This Page! Please don't remove until wiki resource is graded! For my contribution, I noticed the page didn't really explain why we need to use loops with small time steps for physics, so I explained the importance of loops for motion. I also created a simulation using glowscript+trinket, which highlights the importance of using smaller time steps instead of large ones for the motion of objects. I also added a section explaining how to actually write the loops using syntax, and generally improved the other sections as well.		Krish Katariya, Spring 2026 Editing This Page! Please don't remove until wiki resource is graded! For my contribution, I noticed the page didn't really explain why we need to use loops with small time steps for physics, so I explained the importance of loops for motion. I also created a simulation using glowscript+trinket, which highlights the importance of using smaller time steps instead of large ones for the motion of objects. I also added a section explaining how to actually write the loops using syntax, a section on common mistakes one would make when writing loops. I noticed that some of the examples given were using python 2 instead of python 3 syntax (or the syntax was just wrong), so I fixed that and generally improved the other sections as well when I saw fit.

	An introduction to creating and using loops in VPython.		An introduction to creating and using loops in VPython.

Krish katariya at 22:47, 27 April 2026

2026-04-27T22:47:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:47, 27 April 2026
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	print(i)		print(i)
	</pre>		</pre>

			===Common Mistakes When Writing Loops===

			There are a lot of small mistakes that can happen when writing loops, and hare are some of the more common ones.

			The most common mistake is forgetting to indent the lines that should be repeated, if you don't do this, the code will not run. If you don't indent all parts of the loop, the un-indented parts will only run once.

			Another common mistake one might make is forgetting to update the loop variable within the loop itself. For example, in a while loop where we are using time, the variable t must increase inside the loop. If t is never updated, the loop condition will never be satisfied so the loop will run forever.

	==Examples==		==Examples==

Krish katariya at 22:44, 27 April 2026

2026-04-27T22:44:19Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:44, 27 April 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	Krish Katariya, Spring 2026 Editing This Page! Please don't remove.		Krish Katariya, Spring 2026 Editing This Page! Please don't remove until wiki resource is graded! For my contribution, I noticed the page didn't really explain why we need to use loops with small time steps for physics, so I explained the importance of loops for motion. I also created a simulation using glowscript+trinket, which highlights the importance of using smaller time steps instead of large ones for the motion of objects. I also added a section explaining how to actually write the loops using syntax, and generally improved the other sections as well.

	An introduction to creating and using loops in VPython.		An introduction to creating and using loops in VPython.

Krish katariya: /* How to Write Loops */

2026-04-27T22:41:46Z

How to Write Loops

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:41, 27 April 2026
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	===How to Write Loops===		===How to Write Loops===

	A loop repeats a block of code until a condition is no longer true. In Python/VPython, the loop statement ends with a colon, and the repeated lines must be indented underneath it. We write while loops by typing 'while' and entering a mathematical condition after it:		A loop repeats a block of code until a condition is no longer true. In Python/VPython, the loop statement ends with a colon, and the repeated lines must be indented underneath it.

			We write while loops by typing 'while' and entering a mathematical condition after it:

	<pre>		<pre>
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	In this example, the loop continues as long as t is less than 2. Each time the loop runs, t increases by deltat, so the condition eventually becomes false and the loop stops.		In this example, the loop continues as long as t is less than 2. Each time the loop runs, t increases by deltat, so the condition eventually becomes false and the loop stops.

	A 'for' loop repeats over a set sequence, such as a range of numbers. Use the range(start, end) function to determine what points we iterate over.		A for loop repeats over a set sequence, such as a range of numbers. Use the range(start, end) function to determine what points we iterate over.

	<pre>		<pre>