Launch: A Physics Engine from Scratch
Step gravity through time and watch a launched object arc, peak, and fall. You build the numerical engine behind every simulation, one line at a time.
What you'll be able to build
Step gravity through time and watch a launched object arc, peak, and fall. You build the numerical engine behind every simulation, one line at a time. Along the way you pick up real, transferable Python skills, not just this one project:
- floats & numerical state variables
- while loops with a termination condition
- discrete time-stepping (Euler integration)
- updating coupled state (position & velocity)
- formatted numeric output
- translating math/physics into code
A course like this one
Yours is built from your own placement, so module count and depth will differ. This map shows what a beginner-level Python learner building Launch actually gets.
- Module 1: Values and output6 lessons
Builds the script for your launch.
- Module 2: Collections and data6 lessons
Builds the data flow workflow for your launch.
- Module 3: Branching and state6 lessons
Builds the function that powers your launch.
- Module 4: Functions and tests6 lessons
Builds the reusable module for your launch.
- Module 5: Files, APIs, and persistence6 lessons
Builds the service boundary for your launch.
- Module 6: Packaging and review3 lessons
Builds the release package for your launch.
How the lessons actually work
Every lesson has you predict what a piece of Python code will output before you run it, then run it for real in your browser and fix what you got wrong. Each module ends in a challenge gate with hidden tests, so you can't advance until your code actually works. The course closes with a capstone that assembles everything into Launch, and a runnable proof page tied to your own code.
Common questions
How long does the Launch: A Physics Engine from Scratch course take?
about 8.5 hours, across 6 modules and 33 lessons, at roughly 15 minutes per lesson. Your own course may run shorter or longer, since it's sized to your placement result, not a fixed template.
Do I need experience?
No. This is a beginner-tier Python project, built for someone writing their first real Python programs.
How much does it cost?
$15 one-time, no subscription. The first module is free, so you can see exactly how the course teaches before you pay for the rest.