Here are a set of step-by-step instructions for getting the Anaconda Python Distribution running on your computer and writing a simple few lines of Python code using the a Jupyter Notebook.
anaconda-navigator. Once you have launched Anaconda Navigator you should see a window like the one shown below. Be patient! It may take Anaconda Navigator a few minutes to launch the first time.
Run a Jupyter Notebook by clicking the Launch button. This will launch a notebook page in your default web browser that will look like the page below.
You can now navigate to a notebook on your computer and open it. You can create a new page using the New button circled in red in the image above.
A Jupyter Notebook is a single document where you can run Python code, view the output, and even document your work with text and graphics.
The screenshot below shows an example notebook. If you wish, you can download a ZIP file containing this notebook and run it yourself.
A good resource for learning how to use Python to solve physics problems is the Scientific Computing Toolbox website. The website consists of several online tutorials containing example code and exercises with solutions. The list below contains links to some specific Toolbox webpages that contain example code that you can use to solve the assigned computer problems and a link to a tutorial on using Python to fit the data you will take in the lab.