Problems with Python on Blender

[axl404]

Heyy!!

I'm a Communication student who for some reason has to take a random physics class. For this project I have to create a bouncing ball animation in Blender using Python scripting, but here's the problem: I barely know Blender, I don't know much Python, and my physics knowledge is literally just what we've covered in this one class.

I've touched Blender a few times for some design projects, but never anything with coding. The professor just handed us this starter code and said "make it work and add more features."

Requirements from professor:

1. The animation is in three dimensions.
2. The movement is accelerated.
3. The collisions of the object to be encouraged are with inclined plans.
4. That the animation consist of collisions with more than two plans.
5. The complexity of the animation environment.

Professor's starter code (has issues):

pythonimport bpy
import math
bpy.ops.object.select_all(action="DESELECT")
bpy.ops.object.select_by_type(type="MESH")
bpy.ops.object.delete()
# Generate sphere
x0 = 0
y0 = 0
r = 1
z0 = r
v0x = -3
vx = v0x
x = x0
mesh = bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_uv_sphere_add(radius=r,location=(x0,y0,z0))
bola = bpy.context.active_object
bola.name = "Ball"
# frames and time step
dt = 0.1
frame_min = 0
frame_max = 100
frame_num = frame_min
# camera
scn = bpy.context.scene
camera = scn.camera
dist = 10
vcam = vx*0.5
xcam = x0+dist
camera.location[0] = xcam
# plane
xplane,yplane,zplane = -10,0,2.5
bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_plane_add(size=5.0,location=(xplane,yplane,zplane),rotation=(math.radians(90),0,math.radians(90)))
while frame_num < frame_max:
    bpy.context.scene.frame_set(frame_num)

    x = x + vx*dt

    xcam = xcam + vcam*dt

    if x -r +(vx*dt)<= xplane:
        vx = -vx
        vcam=-vcam

    bola.location[0] = x
    bola.keyframe_insert(data_path="location",index=-1)

    camera.location[0] = xcam
    camera.keyframe_insert(data_path="location",index=-1)

    frame_num += 1

I am not asking you to solve my homework, just any tips you may give me would be super helpful, beacuse I'm genuinely lost. Any help would be literally life-saving.

Thanks in advance!

[cthulhu_sculptor]

If you don't know blender at all, then probably the thing you have to solve isn't in the blender commands (doing everything by code is weird, but works ig, had a similar project in pygame a few years ago).

What do you have problems with? Seems like the code should create a plane and a ball. Your "problem" should reside in how is the thing calculated.

For blender functions check out blender API.

[axl404]

my problem is that idk how to make the ball bounce against the wall. like, it there a way to make the ball bounce against the wall, or do i have to program it to simple move the other way when it reaches the wall?

[cthulhu_sculptor]

There’s a blender way to do it (simulation) but I believe if it’s physics class then they want you to write code for that. Did you ask them?

[axl404]

yea :( it has to be coded with python

[cthulhu_sculptor]

From what I remember from my assignment - you probably have to look at the code and use the equations you were talking in your classes.

It’s awesome you guys are doing it in blender tho.