Back to Physics in Simulations
IntermediateAdults
Vectors for Game Development
In physics and game development, a **vector** is an object that has both a magnitude (length/size) and a direction. We use vectors to represent things like position, velocity, and acceleration.
A 2D vector has two components: an x component and a y component. You might see it written as
**Position:** A vector from the origin (0,0) to a point in space. The vector
**Velocity:** A vector representing the change in position over time. A velocity vector of
**Vector Math:**
- **Addition:** To add two vectors, you add their components.
- **Scalar Multiplication:** To multiply a vector by a single number (a scalar), you multiply each component.
Understanding vectors is essential for creating movement and interactions in any physics simulation.
A 2D vector has two components: an x component and a y component. You might see it written as
(x, y).**Position:** A vector from the origin (0,0) to a point in space. The vector
(10, 20) represents the point 10 units right and 20 units down.**Velocity:** A vector representing the change in position over time. A velocity vector of
(5, -2) means the object moves 5 units right and 2 units up every second.**Vector Math:**
- **Addition:** To add two vectors, you add their components.
(2, 3) + (4, 1) = (6, 4). This is used to combine forces or velocities.- **Scalar Multiplication:** To multiply a vector by a single number (a scalar), you multiply each component.
3 * (2, 5) = (6, 15). This is used to scale forces or speed.Understanding vectors is essential for creating movement and interactions in any physics simulation.
Vector Addition
Create a function `add_vectors` that takes two vectors (represented as dictionaries) and returns their sum as a new vector.