Drawing a Rotating Windmill with Python’s Turtle Module

In this blog post, we will explore how to create a rotating windmill using Python’s turtle graphics module. The windmill will consist of a central pole and several blades that rotate around it, giving a realistic impression of a working windmill.

Why Draw a Rotating Windmill?

Drawing a rotating windmill with Python is not only a fun and engaging activity, but it also helps us to understand the fundamentals of graphics programming and animation. It teaches us about the concepts of loops, angles, and animation control, all while allowing us to create a visually appealing result.

Step 1: Importing the Turtle Module

To begin, we need to import the turtle module, which provides the necessary functionality for graphics programming in Python.

pythonimport turtle

Step 2: Setting up the Turtle and Drawing the Static Parts
Next, we’ll create a turtle object and configure it to draw the static parts of the windmill, such as the central pole.
python# Create a turtle object
windmill = turtle.Turtle()

# Set the speed of the turtle to the fastest
windmill.speed(0)

# Draw the central pole of the windmill
windmill.penup()
windmill.goto(0, -100)
windmill.pendown()
windmill.fillcolor("brown")
windmill.begin_fill()
windmill.forward(20)
windmill.circle(10, 180)  # Draw the top part of the pole
windmill.backward(20)
windmill.circle(-10, 180)  # Draw the bottom part of the pole
windmill.end_fill()

# Set the starting angle for the blades
angle = 0

Step 3: Drawing and Animating the Rotating Blades
Now, we’ll define a function to draw a single blade and use a loop to draw multiple blades around the central pole. We’ll also animate the rotation of the blades by changing their angle in each iteration.
python# Define a function to draw a single blade
def draw_blade(color):
    windmill.penup()
    windmill.goto(0, 0)  # Move to the center of the pole
    windmill.setheading(angle)  # Set the heading to the current blade angle
    windmill.pendown()
    windmill.color(color)
    windmill.begin_fill()
    for _ in range(2):
        windmill.forward(100)
        windmill.right(120)
    windmill.end_fill()

# Define the colors for the blades
colors = ["red", "orange", "yellow", "green", "blue", "purple"]

# Draw and animate the blades
for _ in range(36):  # Rotate 360 degrees
    for i in range(6):  # Draw 6 blades
        draw_blade(colors[i % len(colors)])
        angle += 60  # Rotate the next blade by 60 degrees

    # Rotate the entire windmill by a small amount to create a smooth rotation effect
    windmill.setheading(windmill.heading() + 5)

    # Pause briefly to control the animation speed
    turtle.ontimer(lambda: None, 50)  # Use ontimer to pause briefly

# Keep the window open
turtle.done()

Note: In the above code, we use turtle.ontimer() with a lambda function that does nothing to introduce a brief pause between each iteration of the loop. This helps to control the animation speed and create a smoother rotation effect.
Extensions and Variations

Experiment with different colors and patterns for the blades.
Add more details to the windmill, such as a shadow or a rotating vane at the top.
Combine multiple windmills with different sizes and positions to create a windmill farm.

Conclusion
Drawing a rotating windmill with Python’s turtle module is a great way to learn about graphics programming and animation. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can create your own rotating windmill and explore the possibilities of graphics programming with Python. I hope you enjoy this project and find it as exciting as I do!