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I'm trying to make an animation of a time-varying 2D vector field. However, I'm got a difficulty in that Mathematica normalises the length of the vectors with each call to VectorPlot.

A (very simple) example:

myField = {Cos[2 π t], 0};

Animate[
        VectorPlot[myField /. t -> TT, {x, -1, 1}, {y, -1, 1}],
        {TT, 0, 1}]

Expected result: The arrows grow and shrink in time

The actual result: The arrows remain the same size, but flick direction

Is there some way to fix the length of the arrows relative to the field value?

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2 Answers 2

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As @Ox4A4D mentioned in the comment, you could use the option VectorScale to set the length of vectors, here is an example code:

myField = {Cos[2 \[Pi] t], 0};
Animate[VectorPlot[myField /. t -> TT, {x, -1, 1}, {y, -1, 1}, 
          VectorScale -> Abs[0.05 Cos[2 Pi TT]]], {TT, 0, 1}]
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  • $\begingroup$ Ah, I see -- it's making use of the fact that you know what the maximum value is with this simple function. Perhaps that will put me on the right track... $\endgroup$
    – Gremlin
    Jun 11, 2013 at 15:04
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With a slightly more interesting function, and cleaner syntax:

myField[x_, y_, t_] := {Cos[2 Pi x t], Sin[2 Pi y t]};

Animate[VectorPlot[myField[x, y, t], {x, -1, 1}, {y, -1, 1}, 
  VectorScale -> {Small, 1, None}], {t, 0, 1}]

Check the documentation and play around with the arguments to VectorScale as required.

EDIT:

I had indeed misunderstood your requirements. mm.Jang's answer is what you're looking for. 0.05*Norm[myField[t]] should generalize it.

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  • $\begingroup$ Your code somehow doesn't work for me... I'm using MMA 9.0.1.0 by the way... $\endgroup$
    – Rod
    Jun 11, 2013 at 13:53
  • $\begingroup$ Any error? I'm on 9.0.0.0 on 64-bit Linux. $\endgroup$
    – Corey Kelly
    Jun 11, 2013 at 13:59
  • $\begingroup$ @RodLm you must run Clear[myField]; first. $\endgroup$
    – mmjang
    Jun 11, 2013 at 14:00
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    $\begingroup$ @CoreyKelly Yes, when I run your code nothing happens. I mean, the slider t moves itself but no vector plot is shown. $\endgroup$
    – Rod
    Jun 11, 2013 at 14:00
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    $\begingroup$ @mm.Jang Thank you... problem solved! Corey, please forget what I've written before. $\endgroup$
    – Rod
    Jun 11, 2013 at 14:02

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