Assignment 14 - Spreading Fire

Example Output

Source

This is a nifty assignment from 2007 proposed by Angela B. Shiflet. Source

Learning Outcomes

1. Loops
2. Recursion
3. Conditions
4. 2D Arrays

Goals

The purpose of this assignment is to learn to

• Organize data in two-dimensional arrays
• Use data from arrays to control conditional statements
• Practice recursion
• Practice simulation techniques
• Implement probabilities in code

Description

Tasks

• Use loops to populate and update a grid with values that represent trees, empty spaces, and fire.
• Define the behavior of a grid cell that contains a fire, trees, or an empty space.
• Update the color of the grid cell when the values change.
• Continue updating the grid until all trees are burned out or the fire has gone out.
• Try different probabilities to see the different behaviors of fire depending on the location of empty spaces, fire, and trees. For example, try making an X across the grid with empty spaces. Or make a grid with empty spaces around the edges.

Empty spaces

Empty spaces are represented with a yellow color and will not catch fire.

Trees

Trees are represented with green and can catch fire if there is a fire in an adjacent cell. However, the condition for catching fire is not only touching fire. There should also be a probability test that determines if it will ignite.

Fire

After a certain amount of time, a fire should go out and become an empty cell.

Extentions

Help

For Java

NonBlockingGame documentation

For C++

NonBlockingGame documentation

For Python

NonBlockingGame documentation