course_planning:184_projects:f18_project_4 [Projects & Practices in Physics]

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~~NOTOC~~

===== Project 4 =====
==== Project 4A: Better Thundercloud Model ====
{{  184_projects:project4b.png?300}}
The storms over Lakeview have gotten worse, with an almost permanent pitch black cloud system hovering overhead. A new model for the thundercloud needs to be produced to obtain a better understansding of how it is functioning. While they greatly appreciated the model you created last week for the Mapping N$\vec{E}$twork Sensory Array (MNSA), the data they are collecting from the sensors are simply not matching the model's predictions. They have concluded that modeling storm clouds as point charges was, in fact, problematic. Based on some research from the [[184_notes:lightning|National Weather Service]], it looks like a better model for clouds would be two flat sheets of charge since the negative charges in the cloud collect on the bottom of the cloud and the positive charges collect near the top. 

Given that the negative charge is much closer to the ground (and headquarters), the Lakeviewians want to prioritize what the Mapping N$\vec{E}$twork Sensory Array (MNSA) around HQ will show based on the bottom of the cloud. (If you have time though, they'd be interested in whether the top of the cloud has any effect.) They have shared their model of the bottom of the most recent storm cloud (which is thankfully fully functioning, well-commented code), but they are having trouble getting the electric field on the ground. The Lakeviewians have asked your team for your help completing the code.    

<code>
#Set up of the objects
ground = box(pos = vec(0,0,0), width=5000, length=5000, height=0.1, color=color.green)
mountains = [cone(pos=vec(-1800,0,0), axis=vec(0,1000,0), radius=700, color=vec(1,0.7,0.2)),
            cone(pos=vec(-1800,0,-1600), axis=vec(0,1000,0), radius=700, color=vec(1,0.7,0.2)), 
            cone(pos=vec(-1800,0,1600), axis=vec(0,1000,0), radius=700, color=vec(1,0.7,0.2))]
HQ = box(pos = vec(-100,100,0), width = 15, length = 15, height= 200, color = color.blue)
cloud = box(pos = vector(0,1000,0), size = vector(500, 1, 500), color = color.white)


#Lines 13-48 create a grid of spheres to represent the bottom of the cloud (this part of the code doesn't need be modified):

#Define how many chunks to split the cloud in the x direction (define x size of the cloud grid)
nx = 10
#Define how many chunks to split the cloud in the z direction (define z size of the cloud grid)
nz = 10

#Define where the cloud should start/stop in the x direction
startx = -250
endx = 250
#Define the spacing between each chunk in the x, based on where the cloud start/stops and how many chunks there are
stepx = (endx - startx)/nx

#Define where the cloud should start/stop in the z direction
startz = -250
endz = 250
#Define the spacing between each chunk in the z, based on where the cloud start/stops and how many chunks there are
stepz = (endz - startz)/nz

#Create an empty list to store each cloud chunk
listOfCloudChunks = []

#For each cloud chunk in the x-direction
for i in range(0,nx):
    
    #Define the x-location of the cloud chunk
    xloc = startx + i*stepx
    
    #For each cloud chunk in the z-direction
    for j in range(0,nz):
        
        #Define the z-location of the cloud chunk
        zloc = startz + j*stepz
    
        #Make a sphere at that x-z location
        cloudChunk = sphere(pos = vector(xloc,1000,zloc), radius = 50, color = color.red)

        #Add the sphere to the list of cloud chunks (so we can use it later)
        listOfCloudChunks.append(cloudChunk)

#This part needs to be fixed and commented...
obsLocation = vector(0,0,0)
Enet = vector(0,0,0)


Q = -15
dQ = Q/(nx*nz)
k = 9e9


for chunk in listOfCloudChunks:
    
    Enet = vector(0,0,0)
</code>

<WRAP INFO>
=== Learning Goals ===
  * Visualize the electric field from a 2D plane of charge
  * Use multiple loops to create many observation points from many charges
  * Identify patterns in the electric fields between 1D, 2D, and 3D charge distributions
  * Compare/contrast process for a 2D charge distribution with a 1D charge distribution
</WRAP>