CPE 471 Final Project - Alec James

Applying Graphics to Chemistry

Goal

Create a real world example add-on to a unit cell visualizing program.

Graphics Tech Explored

Hierarchical Modeling
Procedural Generation
Transparency

Overview

This project served two purposes for me: getting me off the hook for a graphics final project, and also getting me off the hook for a CHEM 466 fianl project. But what's CHEM 466, you ask? Well, it's a class that all general chemistry TAs at Cal Poly take. We discuss teaching methodology, as well as discuss lab activities in the classroom for the upcoming week. The course has a final project attached to it - make a tutoring video highlighting solution techniques for common problems in general chemistry. As the only resident CS chemistry TA, I figured I could do something a little more unique. It turns out that one of our prior seniors (his name's Corbin) built a unit cell visualizing program, and I've added on to it, following his design.

New Features

Generation of a Sodium Chloride Unit Cell
Layering Animation for the cell
Correct Expansion/Contraction of said cell
Transparency View
Inspection View
Seamlessly integrated into the original system

Beginning of cell layering.

Middle of cell layering, screenshot of the two seperate atom layers coming together.

Completed cell layering.

Expanded view showing the repeating unit cell pattern.

transparency view. (The image at the top show transparency along with expansion,)

Inspection View.

Technologies Used

This project runs on WebGL, similar to OpenGL but for web development. It is written in Javascript, with the page itself controlled by HTML and CSS styling. Under the hood is glm, a matrix and vector manipulation library. Page interactions are controlled through JavaScript.

Current Location

As this is a web project, it is currently accessible through my portal.

The current release of the Unit Cell Visualizer can be found here . Contact ajames08@calpoly.edu if it is not found there, it may be relocated in the future.