Python Programming in Context, 4th Edition

10.6 Animating the Solar System

Now that we can create a solar system, it is a natural next step to consider whether we can draw the solar system and then place the planets in motion. Thus, we will be using our software model to create a simulation of the solar system. To do that, we construct an animation based on the laws of motion discovered by Sir Isaac Newton. Although we will not attempt to handle every possible variable in nature’s complex interaction of planetary objects, the resulting simulation will still rely on the basic laws of physics.

Understanding planetary movement requires an understanding of Newton’s basic laws of motion. In particular, we must understand how objects that are in motion interact with one another and how those ...