[Visualpython-users] Helix transparency

[Robert B. <bei...@nc...>]

What objects will support transparency?  I noticed that the helix  
does not.  The crystal demo looks pretty neat when you can look  
through the vibrating spherical atoms to see those farther back, but  
the springs still get in the way since they are opaque.

I'm experimenting with modulating the transparency of a vector with  
its magnitude.  (In other words, little vectors are also more  
transparent.)  Fill space with a lot of these short, clear vectors  
may help get the idea across that electric and magnetic fields fill  
space and aren't just confined to the regions near charges, wires,  
etc.  It looks promising so far.  (I've modified Ruth's program that  
illustrates a B field near a straight wire, if anyone wants to see  
it.)  Conversely, I wonder if making Gaussian surfaces transparent  
would make them seem less "real" to students.

Any chance of a coordinate axes object going into the "final" new  
version?  It would be one less thing for students to have to worry  
about.  I use boilerplate, but an object would be cleaner.


Bob