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Implementing initial conditions for a numerically solved differential equation

Imagine someone jumping off a balcony under a certain angle theta and velocity v0 (the height of the balcony is denoted as ystar). Looking at this problem in 2D and considering drag you get a system of differential equations which can be solved with a Runge-Kutta method (I choose explicit-midpoint, not sure what the butcher tableu for this one is). I implemented this and it works perfectly fine, for some given initial conditions I get the trajectory of the moving particle.
My problem is that I want to fix two of the initial conditions (starting point on the x-axis is zero and on the y-axis is ystar) and make sure that the trajectory goes trough a certain point on the x-axis (let's call it xstar). For this of course exist multiple combinations of the other two initial conditions, which in this case are the velocities in the x- and y-direction. The problem is that I don't know how to implement that.
The code that I used to solve the problem up to this point:
1) Implementation of the Runge-Kutta method
import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
def integrate(methode_step, rhs, y0, T, N):
star = (int(N+1),y0.size)
y= np.empty(star)
t0, dt = 0, 1.* T/N
y[0,...] = y0
for i in range(0,int(N)):
y[i+1,...]=methode_step(rhs,y[i,...], t0+i*dt, dt)
t = np.arange(N+1) * dt
return t,y
def explicit_midpoint_step(rhs, y0, t0, dt):
return y0 + dt * rhs(t0+0.5*dt,y0+0.5*dt*rhs(t0,y0))
def explicit_midpoint(rhs,y0,T,N):
return integrate(explicit_midpoint_step,rhs,y0,T,N)
2) Implementation of the right-hand-side of the differential equation and the nessecery parameters
A = 1.9/2.
cw = 0.78
rho = 1.293
g = 9.81
# Mass and referece length
l = 1.95
m = 118
# Position
xstar = 8*l
ystar = 4*l
def rhs(t,y):
lam = cw * A * rho /(2 * m)
return np.array([y[1],-lam*y[1]*np.sqrt(y[1]**2+y[3]**2),y[3],-lam*y[3]*np.sqrt(y[1]**2+y[3]**2)-g])
3) solving the problem with it
# Parametrize the two dimensional velocity with an angle theta and speed v0
v0 = 30
theta = np.pi/6
v0x = v0 * np.cos(theta)
v0y = v0 * np.sin(theta)
# Initial condintions
z0 = np.array([0, v0x, ystar, v0y])
# Calculate solution
t, z = explicit_midpoint(rhs, z0, 5, 1000)
4) Visualization
plt.figure()
plt.plot(0,ystar,"ro")
plt.plot(x,0,"ro")
plt.plot(z[:,0],z[:,1])
plt.grid(True)
plt.xlabel(r"$x$")
plt.ylabel(r"$y$")
plt.show()
To make the question concrete: With this set up in mind, how do I find all possible combinations of v0 and theta such that z[some_element,0]==xstar
I tried of course some things, mainly the brute force method of fixing theta and then trying out all the possible velocities (in an intervall that makes sense) but finally didn't know how to compare the resulting arrays with the desired result...
Since this is mainly a coding issue I hope stack overflow is the right place to ask for help...
EDIT:
As requested here is my try to solve the problem (replacing 3) and 4) from above)..
theta = np.pi/4.
xy = np.zeros((50,1001,2))
z1 = np.zeros((1001,2))
count=0
for v0 in range(0,50):
v0x = v0 * np.cos(theta)
v0y = v0 * np.sin(theta)
z0 = np.array([0, v0x, ystar, v0y])
# Calculate solution
t, z = explicit_midpoint(rhs, z0, 5, 1000)
if np.around(z[:,0],3).any() == round(xstar,3):
z1[:,0] = z[:,0]
z1[:,1] = z[:,2]
break
else:
xy[count,:,0] = z[:,0]
xy[count,:,1] = z[:,2]
count+=1
plt.figure()
plt.plot(0,ystar,"ro")
plt.plot(xstar,0,"ro")
for k in range(0,50):
plt.plot(xy[k,:,0],xy[k,:,1])
plt.plot(z[:,0],z[:,1])
plt.grid(True)
plt.xlabel(r"$x$")
plt.ylabel(r"$y$")
plt.show()
I'm sure that I'm using the .any() function wrong, the idea there is to round the values of z[:,0] to three digits and than compare them to xstar, if it matches the loop should terminate and retrun the current z, if not it should save it in another array and then increase v0.

Edit 2018-07-16
Here I post a corrected answer taking into account the drag by air.
Below is a python script to compute the set of (v0,theta) values so that the air-dragged trajectory passes through (x,y) = (xstar,0) at some time t=tstar. I used the trajectory without air-drag as the initial guess and also to guess the dependence of x(tstar) on v0 for the first refinement. The number of iterations needed to arrive at the correct v0 was typically 3 to 4. The script finished in 0.99 seconds on my laptop, including the time for generating figures.
The script generates two figures and one text file.
fig_xdrop_v0_theta.png
The black dots indicates the solution set (v0,theta)
The yellow line indicates the reference (v0,theta) which would be a solution if there were no air drag.
fig_traj_sample.png
Checking that the trajectory (blue solid line) passes through (x,y)=(xstar,0) when (v0,theta) is sampled from the solution set.
The black dashed line shows a trajectory without drag by air as a reference.
output.dat
contains the numerical data of (v0,theta) as well as the landing time tstar and number of iteration needed to find v0.
Here begins script.
#!/usr/bin/env python3
import numpy as np
import scipy.integrate
import matplotlib as mpl
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import matplotlib.image as img
mpl.rcParams['lines.linewidth'] = 2
mpl.rcParams['lines.markeredgewidth'] = 1.0
mpl.rcParams['axes.formatter.limits'] = (-4,4)
#mpl.rcParams['axes.formatter.limits'] = (-2,2)
mpl.rcParams['axes.labelsize'] = 'large'
mpl.rcParams['xtick.labelsize'] = 'large'
mpl.rcParams['ytick.labelsize'] = 'large'
mpl.rcParams['xtick.direction'] = 'out'
mpl.rcParams['ytick.direction'] = 'out'
############################################
len_ref = 1.95
xstar = 8.0*len_ref
ystar = 4.0*len_ref
g_earth = 9.81
#
mass = 118
area = 1.9/2.
cw = 0.78
rho = 1.293
lam = cw * area * rho /(2.0 * mass)
############################################
ngtheta=51
theta_min = -0.1*np.pi
theta_max = 0.4*np.pi
theta_grid = np.linspace(theta_min, theta_max, ngtheta)
#
ngv0=100
v0min =6.0
v0max =18.0
v0_grid=np.linspace(v0min, v0max, ngv0)
# .. this grid is used for the initial coarse scan by reference trajecotry
############################################
outf=open('output.dat','w')
print('data file generated: output.dat')
###########################################
def calc_tstar_ref_and_x_ref_at_tstar_ref(v0, theta, ystar, g_earth):
'''return the drop time t* and drop point x(t*) of a reference trajectory
without air drag.
'''
vx = v0*np.cos(theta)
vy = v0*np.sin(theta)
ts_ref = (vy+np.sqrt(vy**2+2.0*g_earth*ystar))/g_earth
x_ref = vx*ts_ref
return (ts_ref, x_ref)
def rhs_drag(yvec, time, g_eath, lamb):
'''
dx/dt = v_x
dy/dt = v_y
du_x/dt = -lambda v_x sqrt(u_x^2 + u_y^2)
du_y/dt = -lambda v_y sqrt(u_x^2 + u_y^2) -g
yvec[0] .. x
yvec[1] .. y
yvec[2] .. v_x
yvec[3] .. v_y
'''
vnorm = (yvec[2]**2+yvec[3]**2)**0.5
return [ yvec[2], yvec[3], -lamb*yvec[2]*vnorm, -lamb*yvec[3]*vnorm -g_earth]
def try_tstar_drag(v0, theta, ystar, g_earth, lamb, tstar_search_grid):
'''one trial run to find the drop point x(t*), y(t*) of a trajectory
under the air drag.
'''
tinit=0.0
tgrid = [tinit]+list(tstar_search_grid)
yvec_list = scipy.integrate.odeint(rhs_drag,
[0.0, ystar, v0*np.cos(theta), v0*np.sin(theta)],
tgrid, args=(g_earth, lam))
y_drag = [yvec[1] for yvec in yvec_list]
x_drag = [yvec[0] for yvec in yvec_list]
if y_drag[0]<0.0:
ierr=-1
jtstar=0
tstar_braket=None
elif y_drag[-1]>0.0:
ierr=1
jtstar=len(y_drag)-1
tstar_braket=None
else:
ierr=0
for jt in range(len(y_drag)-1):
if y_drag[jt+1]*y_drag[jt]<=0.0:
tstar_braket=[tgrid[jt],tgrid[jt+1]]
if abs(y_drag[jt+1])<abs(y_drag[jt]):
jtstar = jt+1
else:
jtstar = jt
break
tstar_est = tgrid[jtstar]
x_drag_at_tstar_est = x_drag[jtstar]
y_drag_at_tstar_est = y_drag[jtstar]
return (tstar_est, x_drag_at_tstar_est, y_drag_at_tstar_est, ierr, tstar_braket)
def calc_x_drag_at_tstar(v0, theta, ystar, g_earth, lamb, tstar_est,
eps_y=1.0e-3, ngt_search=20,
rel_range_lower=0.8, rel_range_upper=1.2,
num_try=5):
'''compute the dop point x(t*) of a trajectory under the air drag.
'''
flg_success=False
tstar_est_lower=tstar_est*rel_range_lower
tstar_est_upper=tstar_est*rel_range_upper
for jtry in range(num_try):
tstar_search_grid = np.linspace(tstar_est_lower, tstar_est_upper, ngt_search)
tstar_est, x_drag_at_tstar_est, y_drag_at_tstar_est, ierr, tstar_braket \
= try_tstar_drag(v0, theta, ystar, g_earth, lamb, tstar_search_grid)
if ierr==-1:
tstar_est_upper = tstar_est_lower
tstar_est_lower = tstar_est_lower*rel_range_lower
elif ierr==1:
tstar_est_lower = tstar_est_upper
tstar_est_upper = tstar_est_upper*rel_range_upper
else:
if abs(y_drag_at_tstar_est)<eps_y:
flg_success=True
break
else:
tstar_est_lower=tstar_braket[0]
tstar_est_upper=tstar_braket[1]
return (tstar_est, x_drag_at_tstar_est, y_drag_at_tstar_est, flg_success)
def find_v0(xstar, v0_est, theta, ystar, g_earth, lamb, tstar_est,
eps_x=1.0e-3, num_try=6):
'''solve for v0 so that x(t*)==x*.
'''
flg_success=False
v0_hist=[]
x_drag_at_tstar_hist=[]
jtry_end=None
for jtry in range(num_try):
tstar_est, x_drag_at_tstar_est, y_drag_at_tstar_est, flg_success_x_drag \
= calc_x_drag_at_tstar(v0_est, theta, ystar, g_earth, lamb, tstar_est)
v0_hist.append(v0_est)
x_drag_at_tstar_hist.append(x_drag_at_tstar_est)
if not flg_success_x_drag:
break
elif abs(x_drag_at_tstar_est-xstar)<eps_x:
flg_success=True
jtry_end=jtry
break
else:
# adjust v0
# better if tstar_est is also adjusted, but maybe that is too much.
if len(v0_hist)<2:
# This is the first run. Use the analytical expression of
# dx(tstar)/dv0 of the refernece trajectory
dx = xstar - x_drag_at_tstar_est
dv0 = dx/(tstar_est*np.cos(theta))
v0_est += dv0
else:
# use linear interpolation
v0_est = v0_hist[-2] \
+ (v0_hist[-1]-v0_hist[-2]) \
*(xstar -x_drag_at_tstar_hist[-2])\
/(x_drag_at_tstar_hist[-1]-x_drag_at_tstar_hist[-2])
return (v0_est, tstar_est, flg_success, jtry_end)
# make a reference table of t* and x(t*) of a trajectory without air drag
# as a function of v0 and theta.
tstar_ref=np.empty((ngtheta,ngv0))
xdrop_ref=np.empty((ngtheta,ngv0))
for j1 in range(ngtheta):
for j2 in range(ngv0):
tt, xx = calc_tstar_ref_and_x_ref_at_tstar_ref(v0_grid[j2], theta_grid[j1], ystar, g_earth)
tstar_ref[j1,j2] = tt
xdrop_ref[j1,j2] = xx
# make an estimate of v0 and t* of a dragged trajectory for each theta
# based on the reference trajectroy's landing position xdrop_ref.
tstar_est=np.empty((ngtheta,))
v0_est=np.empty((ngtheta,))
v0_est[:]=-1.0
# .. null value
for j1 in range(ngtheta):
for j2 in range(ngv0-1):
if (xdrop_ref[j1,j2+1]-xstar)*(xdrop_ref[j1,j2]-xstar)<=0.0:
tstar_est[j1] = tstar_ref[j1,j2]
# .. lazy
v0_est[j1] \
= v0_grid[j2] \
+ (v0_grid[j2+1]-v0_grid[j2])\
*(xstar-xdrop_ref[j1,j2])/(xdrop_ref[j1,j2+1]-xdrop_ref[j1,j2])
# .. linear interpolation
break
print('compute v0 for each theta under air drag..')
# compute v0 for each theta under air drag
theta_sol_list=[]
tstar_sol_list=[]
v0_sol_list=[]
outf.write('# theta v0 tstar numiter_v0\n')
for j1 in range(ngtheta):
if v0_est[j1]>0.0:
v0, tstar, flg_success, jtry_end \
= find_v0(xstar, v0_est[j1], theta_grid[j1], ystar, g_earth, lam, tstar_est[j1])
if flg_success:
theta_sol_list.append(theta_grid[j1])
v0_sol_list.append(v0)
tstar_sol_list.append(tstar)
outf.write('%26.16e %26.16e %26.16e %10i\n'
%(theta_grid[j1], v0, tstar, jtry_end+1))
theta_sol = np.array(theta_sol_list)
v0_sol = np.array(v0_sol_list)
tstar_sol = np.array(tstar_sol_list)
### Check a sample
jsample=np.size(v0_sol)//3
theta_sol_sample= theta_sol[jsample]
v0_sol_sample = v0_sol[jsample]
tstar_sol_sample= tstar_sol[jsample]
ngt_chk = 50
tgrid = np.linspace(0.0, tstar_sol_sample, ngt_chk)
yvec_list = scipy.integrate.odeint(rhs_drag,
[0.0, ystar,
v0_sol_sample*np.cos(theta_sol_sample),
v0_sol_sample*np.sin(theta_sol_sample)],
tgrid, args=(g_earth, lam))
y_drag_sol_sample = [yvec[1] for yvec in yvec_list]
x_drag_sol_sample = [yvec[0] for yvec in yvec_list]
# compute also the trajectory without drag starting form the same initial
# condiiton by setting lambda=0.
yvec_list = scipy.integrate.odeint(rhs_drag,
[0.0, ystar,
v0_sol_sample*np.cos(theta_sol_sample),
v0_sol_sample*np.sin(theta_sol_sample)],
tgrid, args=(g_earth, 0.0))
y_ref_sample = [yvec[1] for yvec in yvec_list]
x_ref_sample = [yvec[0] for yvec in yvec_list]
#######################################################################
# canvas setting
#######################################################################
f_size = (8,5)
#
a1_left = 0.15
a1_bottom = 0.15
a1_width = 0.65
a1_height = 0.80
#
hspace=0.02
#
ac_left = a1_left+a1_width+hspace
ac_bottom = a1_bottom
ac_width = 0.03
ac_height = a1_height
###########################################
############################################
# plot
############################################
#------------------------------------------------
print('plotting the solution..')
fig1=plt.figure(figsize=f_size)
ax1 =plt.axes([a1_left, a1_bottom, a1_width, a1_height], axisbg='w')
im1=img.NonUniformImage(ax1,
interpolation='bilinear', \
cmap=mpl.cm.Blues, \
norm=mpl.colors.Normalize(vmin=0.0,
vmax=np.max(xdrop_ref), clip=True))
im1.set_data(v0_grid, theta_grid/np.pi, xdrop_ref )
ax1.images.append(im1)
plt.contour(v0_grid, theta_grid/np.pi, xdrop_ref, [xstar], colors='y')
plt.plot(v0_sol, theta_sol/np.pi, 'ok', lw=4, label='Init Cond with Drag')
plt.legend(loc='lower left')
plt.xlabel(r'Initial Velocity $v_0$', fontsize=18)
plt.ylabel(r'Angle of Projection $\theta/\pi$', fontsize=18)
plt.yticks([-0.50, -0.25, 0.0, 0.25, 0.50])
ax1.set_xlim([v0min, v0max])
ax1.set_ylim([theta_min/np.pi, theta_max/np.pi])
axc =plt.axes([ac_left, ac_bottom, ac_width, ac_height], axisbg='w')
mpl.colorbar.Colorbar(axc,im1)
axc.set_ylabel('Distance from Blacony without Drag')
# 'Distance from Blacony $x(t^*)$'
plt.savefig('fig_xdrop_v0_theta.png')
print('figure file genereated: fig_xdrop_v0_theta.png')
plt.close()
#------------------------------------------------
print('plotting a sample trajectory..')
fig1=plt.figure(figsize=f_size)
ax1 =plt.axes([a1_left, a1_bottom, a1_width, a1_height], axisbg='w')
plt.plot(x_drag_sol_sample, y_drag_sol_sample, '-b', lw=2, label='with drag')
plt.plot(x_ref_sample, y_ref_sample, '--k', lw=2, label='without drag')
plt.axvline(x=xstar, color=[0.3, 0.3, 0.3], lw=1.0)
plt.axhline(y=0.0, color=[0.3, 0.3, 0.3], lw=1.0)
plt.legend()
plt.text(0.1*xstar, 0.6*ystar,
r'$v_0=%5.2f$'%(v0_sol_sample)+'\n'+r'$\theta=%5.2f \pi$'%(theta_sol_sample/np.pi),
fontsize=18)
plt.text(xstar, 0.5*ystar, 'xstar', fontsize=18)
plt.xlabel(r'Horizontal Distance $x$', fontsize=18)
plt.ylabel(r'Height $y$', fontsize=18)
ax1.set_xlim([0.0, 1.5*xstar])
ax1.set_ylim([-0.1*ystar, 1.5*ystar])
plt.savefig('fig_traj_sample.png')
print('figure file genereated: fig_traj_sample.png')
plt.close()
outf.close()
Here is the figure fig_xdrop_v0_theta.png.
Here is the figure fig_traj_sample.png.
Edit 2018-07-15
I realized that I overlooked that the question considers the drag by air. What a shame on me. So, my answer below is not correct. I'm afraid that deleting my answer by myself looks like hiding a mistake, and I leave it below for now. If people think it's annoying that an incorrect answer hanging around, I'm O.K. someone delete it.
The differential equation can actually be solved by hand,
and it does not require much computational resource
to map out how far the person reach from the balcony
on the ground as a function of the initial velocity v0 and the
angle theta. Then, you can select the condition (v0,theta)
such that distance_from_balcony_on_the_ground(v0,theta) = xstar
from this data table.
Let's write the horizontal and vertical coordinates of the
person at time t is x(t) and y(t), respectively.
I think you took x=0 at the wall of the building and y=0
as the ground level, and I do so here, too. Let's say the
horizontal and vertical velocity of the person at time t
are v_x(t) and v_y(t), respectively.
The initial conditions at t=0 are given as
x(0) = 0
y(0) = ystar
v_x(0) = v0 cos theta
v_y(0) = v0 sin theta
The Newton eqution you are solving is,
dx/dt = v_x .. (1)
dy/dt = v_y .. (2)
m d v_x /dt = 0 .. (3)
m d v_y /dt = -m g .. (4)
where m is the mass of the person,
and g is the constant which I don't know the English name of,
but we all know what it is.
From eq. (3),
v_x(t) = v_x(0) = v0 cos theta.
Using this with eq. (1),
x(t) = x(0) + \int_0^t dt' v_x(t') = t v0 cos theta,
where we also used the initial condition. \int_0^t means
integral from 0 to t.
From eq. (4),
v_y(t)
= v_y (0) + \int_0^t dt' (-g)
= v0 sin theta -g t,
where we used the initial condition.
Using this with eq. (3) and also using the initial condition,
y(t)
= y(0) + \int_0^t dt' v_y(t')
= ystar + t v0 sin theta -t^2 (g/2).
where t^2 means t squared.
From the expression for y(t), we can get the time tstar
at which the person hits the ground. That is, y(tstar) =0.
This equation can be solved by quadratic formula
(or something similar name) as
tstar = (v0 sin theta + sqrt((v0 sin theta)^2 + 2g ystar)/g,
where I used a condition tstar>0. Now we know
the distance from the balcony the person reached when he hit
the ground as x(tstar). Using the expression for x(t) above,
x(tstar) = (v0 cos theta) (v0 sin theta + sqrt((v0 sin theta)^2 + 2g ystar))/g.
.. (5)
Actually x(tstar) depends on v0 and theta as well as g and ystar.
You hold g and ystar as constants, and you want to find
all (v0,theta) such that x(tstar) = xstar for a given xstar value.
Since the right hand side of eq. (5) can be computed cheaply,
you can set up grids for v0 and theta and compute xstar
on this 2D grid. Then, you can see where roughly is the solution set
of (v0,theta) lies. If you need precise solution, you can pick up
a segment which encloses the solution from this data table.
Below is a python script that demonstrates this idea.
I also attach here a figure generated by this script.
The yellow curve is the solution set (v0,theta) such that the
person hit the ground at xstar from the wall
when xstar = 8.0*1.95 and ystar=4.0*1.95 as you set.
The blue color coordinate indicates x(tstar), i.e., how far the
person jumped from the balcony horizontally.
Note that at a given v0 (higher than a threshold value aruond v0=9.9),
the there are two theta values (two directions for the person
to project himself) to reach the aimed point (x,y) = (xstar,0).
The smaller branch of the theta value can be negative, meaning that the person can jump downward to reach the aimed point, as long as the initial velocity is sufficiently high.
The script also generates a data file output.dat, which has
the solution-enclosing segments.
#!/usr/bin/python3
import numpy as np
import matplotlib as mpl
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import matplotlib.image as img
mpl.rcParams['lines.linewidth'] = 2
mpl.rcParams['lines.markeredgewidth'] = 1.0
mpl.rcParams['axes.formatter.limits'] = (-4,4)
#mpl.rcParams['axes.formatter.limits'] = (-2,2)
mpl.rcParams['axes.labelsize'] = 'large'
mpl.rcParams['xtick.labelsize'] = 'large'
mpl.rcParams['ytick.labelsize'] = 'large'
mpl.rcParams['xtick.direction'] = 'out'
mpl.rcParams['ytick.direction'] = 'out'
############################################
len_ref = 1.95
xstar = 8.0*len_ref
ystar = 4.0*len_ref
g_earth = 9.81
############################################
ngv0=100
v0min =0.0
v0max =20.0
v0_grid=np.linspace(v0min, v0max, ngv0)
############################################
outf=open('output.dat','w')
print('data file generated: output.dat')
###########################################
def x_at_tstar(v0, theta, ystar, g_earth):
vx = v0*np.cos(theta)
vy = v0*np.sin(theta)
return (vy+np.sqrt(vy**2+2.0*g_earth*ystar))*vx/g_earth
ngtheta=100
theta_min = -0.5*np.pi
theta_max = 0.5*np.pi
theta_grid = np.linspace(theta_min, theta_max, ngtheta)
xdrop=np.empty((ngv0,ngtheta))
# x(t*) as a function of v0 and theta.
for j1 in range(ngv0):
for j2 in range(ngtheta):
xdrop[j1,j2] = x_at_tstar(v0_grid[j1], theta_grid[j2], ystar, g_earth)
outf.write('# domain [theta_lower, theta_upper] that encloses the solution\n')
outf.write('# theta such that x_at_tstart(v0,theta, ystart, g_earth)=xstar\n')
outf.write('# v0 theta_lower theta_upper x_lower x_upper\n')
for j1 in range(ngv0):
for j2 in range(ngtheta-1):
if (xdrop[j1,j2+1]-xstar)*(xdrop[j1,j2]-xstar)<=0.0:
outf.write('%26.16e %26.16e %26.16e %26.16e %26.16e\n'
%(v0_grid[j1], theta_grid[j2], theta_grid[j2+1],
xdrop[j1,j2], xdrop[j1,j2+1]))
print('See output.dat for the segments enclosing solutions.')
print('You can hunt further for precise solutions using this data.')
#######################################################################
# canvas setting
#######################################################################
f_size = (8,5)
#
a1_left = 0.15
a1_bottom = 0.15
a1_width = 0.65
a1_height = 0.80
#
hspace=0.02
#
ac_left = a1_left+a1_width+hspace
ac_bottom = a1_bottom
ac_width = 0.03
ac_height = a1_height
###########################################
############################################
# plot
############################################
print('plotting..')
fig1=plt.figure(figsize=f_size)
ax1 =plt.axes([a1_left, a1_bottom, a1_width, a1_height], axisbg='w')
im1=img.NonUniformImage(ax1,
interpolation='bilinear', \
cmap=mpl.cm.Blues, \
norm=mpl.colors.Normalize(vmin=0.0,
vmax=np.max(xdrop), clip=True))
im1.set_data(v0_grid, theta_grid/np.pi, np.transpose(xdrop))
ax1.images.append(im1)
plt.contour(v0_grid, theta_grid/np.pi, np.transpose(xdrop), [xstar], colors='y')
plt.xlabel(r'Initial Velocity $v_0$', fontsize=18)
plt.ylabel(r'Angle of Projection $\theta/\pi$', fontsize=18)
plt.yticks([-0.50, -0.25, 0.0, 0.25, 0.50])
ax1.set_xlim([v0min, v0max])
ax1.set_ylim([theta_min/np.pi, theta_max/np.pi])
axc =plt.axes([ac_left, ac_bottom, ac_width, ac_height], axisbg='w')
mpl.colorbar.Colorbar(axc,im1)
# 'Distance from Blacony $x(t^*)$'
plt.savefig('fig_xdrop_v0_theta.png')
print('figure file genereated: fig_xdrop_v0_theta.png')
plt.close()
outf.close()

So after some trying out I found a way to achieve what I wanted... It is the brute force method that I mentioned in my starting post, but at least now it works...
The idea is quite simple: define a function find_v0 which finds for a given theta a v0. In this function you take a starting value for v0 (I choose 8 but this was just a guess from me), then take the starting value and check with the difference function how far away the interesting point is from (xstar,0). The interesting point in this case can be determined by setting all points on the x-axis that are bigger than xstar to zero (and their corresponding y-values) and then trimming of all the zeros with trim_zeros, now the last element of correspond to the desired output. If the output of the difference function is smaller than a critical value (in my case 0.1) pass the current v0 on, if not, increase it by 0.01 and do the same thing again.
The code for this looks like this (again replacing 3) and 4) ):
th = np.linspace(0,np.pi/3,100)
def find_v0(theta):
v0=8
while(True):
v0x = v0 * np.cos(theta)
v0y = v0 * np.sin(theta)
z0 = np.array([0, v0x, ystar, v0y])
# Calculate solution
t, z = explicit_midpoint(rhs, z0, 5, 1000)
for k in range(1001):
if z[k,0] > xstar:
z[k,0] = 0
z[k,2] = 0
x = np.trim_zeros(z[:,0])
y = np.trim_zeros(z[:,2])
diff = difference(x[-1],y[-1])
if diff < 0.1:
break
else: v0+=0.01
return v0#,x,y[0:]
v0 = np.zeros_like(th)
from tqdm import tqdm
count=0
for k in tqdm(th):
v0[count] = find_v0(k)
count+=1
v0_interp = interpolate.interp1d(th,v0)
plt.figure()
plt.plot(th,v0_interp(th),"g")
plt.grid(True)
plt.xlabel(r"$\theta$")
plt.ylabel(r"$v_0$")
plt.show()
The problem with this thing is that it takes forever to compute (with the current settings around 5-6 mins). If anyone has some hints how to improve the code to get a little bit faster or has a different approach it would be still appreciated.

Assuming that the velocity in x direction never goes down to zero, you can take x as independent parameter instead of the time. The state vector is then time, position, velocity and the vector field in this state space is scaled so that the vx component is always 1. Then integrate from zero to xstar to compute the state (approximation) where the trajectory meets xstar as x-value.
def derivs(u,x):
t,x,y,vx,vy = u
v = hypot(vx,vy)
ax = -lam*v*vx
ay = -lam*v*vy - g
return [ 1/vx, 1, vy/vx, ax/vx, ay/vx ]
odeint(derivs, [0, x0, y0, vx0, vy0], [0, xstar])
or with your own integration method. I used odeint as documented interface to show how this derivatives function is used in the integration.
The resulting time and y-value can be extreme

Projectile Motion in Python: How to generate list giving vertical velocity over time?

I'm trying to find how the vertical velocity Vy of a spherical particle falling vertically with drag changes as a function of time t. I would like to generate a list of values that state what Vy is for several points in time from the time at which is is released to some t_max as well as plot Vy vs time.
The equation I've been given to solve for ∆Vy is:
dVy = -g*dt - (b/m)*Vy*dt
and I've been given a suggested algorithm for finding the values
"The code should ask for the values of m, g, b and ∆t. Once these values are defined, the code should provide a series of values of Vy for each time t."
Here's my attempt so far:
import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import math
g = 9.81 #acceleration due to gravity
b = 1.6*10**-8 #linear drag coefficient
m = 1.04*10**-9 #mass of particle
dt = 10**-3 #time step
t_max = 10 #final time
t = 0 #initial time
Vy = 0 #initial velocity
t_list = [t]
Vy_list = [Vy]
dVy = -g*dt - (b/m)*Vy*dt
while t <= t_max:
t += dt
Vy += dVy
t_list.append(t)
Vy_list.append(Vy)
print(t, Vy)
plt.plot(t_list, Vy_list)
plt.show()
I'm not sure that the values it generates are quite right considering that no matter what size I set the mass to the change in velocity remains the same when I'd expect it to affect the velocity quite a bit for infinitesimally smaller masses.
I'll admit that I'm replicating a solution that was given to me for a completely different problem, but am I right in thinking that a while loop is the way to go?

You need to update dVy in the while loop:
while t <= t_max:
dVy = -g*dt - (b/m)*Vy*dt
t += dt
Vy += dVy
Otherwise it will be a constant and not update as you expect over time.

Show how a projectile (turtle) travels over time

I am new to Python, and currently having a rough time with turtle graphics. This is what I am trying to solve
On Turtellini (the planet where Python turtles live) the
transportation system propels turtles with a giant slingshot. A
particular turtle's original location (x0, y0) is (-180, -100). He is
then shot upward at an initial vertical velocity (vy) of 88 units per
second and a horizontal velocity (vx) of 20 units per second to the
right. He travels for 16 seconds. The acceleration due to gravity (g)
is 11 units per second squared. The the location of the turtle at a
given second (t) is calculated as follows: x = x0 + vx * t and y = y0
+ vy * t - g/2 * t2 . This program is to show how a turtle travels over this period of time.
The output should be like this:
Here is what I should do;
set up the constants (vertical velocity, horizontal velocity,
gravity) and variables (x and y coordinates) set up the turtle by
giving him a proper shape, putting his tail up, moving him to the
initial position, putting his tail down make a loop that repeats for
seconds 1 through 16 inclusive. in each iteration of the loop display
the the values of the x and y variables (in the shell window), move
the turtle to those coordinates, have the turtle stamp his shape,
calculate the new values for the x and y variables after the loop
terminates, move the turtle to the last calculated coordinates,
change his color, and stamp his shape, then wait for a mouse click
My code so far:
import turtle
def main():
wn = turtle.Screen()
turtellini = turtle.Turtle()
t = int(input("Blab blab blab: "))
x0 = -180
y0 = -100
vx = 20
vy = 88
g = 11
x = (float(x0 + vx * t))
y = (float(y0 + vy * t - g / 2 * t**2))
turtellini.color("black")
turtellini.shape("turtle")
turtellini.up()
turtellini.goto(-180,-100)
turtellini.down()
for i in range(1,16,1):
turtellini.stamp()
turtellini.forward(i)
turtellini.right(i)
print(x)
print(y)
if __name__ == "__main__":
main()
I know I am doing bad; but can anyone help me to solve this problem?

You seem to have most of the parts and pieces. The biggest issue I see is you didn't put your x,y calculation in the loop. The loop iteration variable i is really t in your motion equations. Each time you calculate a new x,y you simply move the turtle to that position:
import turtle
from math import pi, atan
x0, y0 = -180, -100 # initial location
vx, vy = 20.0, 88.0 # initial velocity in units per second
travel_time = 16 # seconds
g = 11.0 # acceleration due to gravity in units per second squared
turtellini = turtle.Turtle(shape='turtle', visible=False)
turtellini.penup()
turtellini.radians() # to make turtle compatible with math.atan()
turtellini.setheading(pi / 2) # straight up
turtellini.goto(x0, y0)
turtellini.pendown()
turtellini.showturtle()
turtellini.stamp()
for t in range(1, travel_time + 1):
x = x0 + vx * t
y = y0 + vy * t - g / 2 * t**2
turtellini.goto(x, y)
print(x, y)
angle = atan((vy * t - g * t**2) / (vx * t)) # a guess!
turtellini.setheading(angle)
turtellini.stamp()
turtle.exitonclick()
Unlike the gold standard image, I assumed the turtle was aerodynamic like a bullet and travelled head first through the flight. I don't know, and couldn't quickly find, the formula for the flight angle of a projectile so I guessed from the existing formulas:

Projectile motion - gravity varying with height

The question is having to make a projectile motion where gravity isn't constant. So the position s(t) = -0.5 g t2 + v0 t and g(s) = G∙ME / (RE + s)2. Where G, ME, and RE are all constants. Therefore the new equation is s(t) = -0.5 g(s) t2 + v0 t.
I get to make the assumption that every .005 seconds velocity is constant so the equation has to update itself every .005 seconds. So s(t) = s(t-∆t) + v(t)∙∆t where v(t) = v(t-∆t) - g(s(t-∆t)) ∙ ∆t.
My code right now is
# Assigning Variables
G = 6.6742*10**(-11) # Gravitational Constant
M_e = 5.9736*10**(24) # Mass of Earth
R_e = 6371000 # Radius of Earth
t = float(input('Time (in seconds)')) # Asking user to input total time, t
v_0 = float(input('initial velocity')) # Asking user to input initial velocity
t_0 = .005 # Time before first recalculation
g = 9.81 # initial gravity
# Derivative of s(t) = s't = v(t)
# v(t) = -g(s)*t+v_o
while t != t_0:
s = v_0*t_0
g = (g*M_e)/(R_e+s)**2
v = -g*s*t_0+v_0
t_0=t_0+.005
if int(t_0) == t_0:
print'Gravity is {%f}, position is {%f}, and velocity is {%f} at time {%.0f}' %(g, s, v, t_0)
print'Projectile has reached your time {%f}, with gravity {%f}, position {%f}, and velocity {%f}'%(t,g,s,v)
I really don't know how I am supposed to change it so it will work.
So I updated it as the suggestions that I got. Now when I run it my program asks for time and initial velocity and time (in seconds). However it does not even produce an output.
Time (in seconds)5
initial velocity5
That's how the result looks like when I input 5 for both.

I've added comments to your code, along with some changes so the program will run (at least on 2.7.6). However, while it will run, it won't truly work. You should look at your functions for s, g, and v - they are not correct. For example R_e * s will not give you the distance from the center of the earth, as its units are now metres^2.
# Assigning Variables
G = 6.6742*10**(-11) # Gravitational Constant
M_e = 5.9736*10**(24) # Mass of Earth
##### In your code the commas are making this a tuple, not an integer - it needs to be defined without commas.
R_e = 6371000 # Radius of Earth
t = float(input('Time (in seconds)'))
v_0 = float(input('initial velocity'))
t_0 = .005
#You need to define an initial g
g = 9.81
while t != t_0:
####In your code you had a typo here - t_o instead of t_0
s = v_0*t_0
####If you don't initialise g, this function does not know what g is.
g = (g*M_e)/(R_e*s)**2
v = -g*s*t_0+v_0
t_0=t_0+.005
#####If you want to check if the type of t_0 is an integer, you need to use the type function. It will also never be an integer, as you are always adding a float to a float in the line above this.
if type(t_0) == int:
print('Gravity is {%f}, position is {%f}, and velocity is {%f} at time {%.0f}' %(g, s, v, t_0))
####No need for an if statement to tell if the while loop is finished - just put the print statement after the while loop.
print('Projectile has reached your time {%f}, with gravity {%f}, position {%f}, and velocity {%f}'%(t,g,s,v))

VPython: Iterating a function to create a new curve every run

I'm creating a program to find the optimum angle to launch a projectile at a given speed, in order to hit a target a given distance away.
i have this code:
def Trajectory(angle):
position = vector(0,0,0)
poscurve.plot(pos=position)
velocity = v0 * vector(cos(angle*pi/180), sin(angle*pi/180), 0)
while (position.y > 0) or (velocity.y > 0):
dx = velocity * dt # update dx and dv
dv = g * dt
position = position + dx # apply the updates to velocity and position
velocity = velocity + dv
poscurve.plot(pos=position)
return position
The problem is, this program repeats this function multiple times, with different angles. When it repeats it, it connects the first point of the new curve to the last point of the previous curve, because the function uses the same poscurve.plot(pos=position) every time. How do I make the function generate a new curve each time it iterates this function?
(there are variables defined outside of this code snippet, the program conceptually works fine, just how the graph looks)

Add poscurve as a parameter:
def Trajectory(angle,poscurve):
position = vector(0,0,0)
poscurve.plot(pos=position)
velocity = v0 * vector(cos(angle*pi/180), sin(angle*pi/180), 0)
while (position.y > 0) or (velocity.y > 0):
dx = velocity * dt # update dx and dv
dv = g * dt
position = position + dx # apply the updates to velocity and position
velocity = velocity + dv
poscurve.plot(pos=position)
return position
Then, pass in a new poscurve every time. You can just call gcurve again to create a new object.