Modeling a Bouncing Stick with Python

Photo: Rhett Allain. A bouncing stick

What happens when a stick falls and hits the ground? Really, this is only part of a bigger problem. I’m working on modeling this awesome Veritasium short showing two falling ladders. But in order to that, I need a simpler model — just a stick that hits the ground at a tilted angle.

OK, let’s get started. Note: I have no idea if this will even work.

Here is my initial plan (yes, I’m going to build this in GlowScript python).

• Start with a falling stick (that’s obvious).
• Create a numerical calculation (break the motion into tiny steps of time and make some simplifications during this interval).
• Check if either end of the stick gets below the level of the ground, if yes the there will be an upward pushing force that’s proportional to the distance it travels below ground. The ground is a spring.
• Now that I have the force, I can also calculate the torque. With force I can find the change in momentum, the torque gives the change in angular momentum.