Drawing Problem

[Stanley Gulavi]

Hi,
I am trying to solve a graphics problem. I need an algorithm for drawing an image made up of a large circle (100 pixel diameter) in the middle
and around this circle, there should be smaller (25 pixel diameter) circles. there should be a 5 pixel separation between the large circle and the orbiting circles.
The problem I am grappling with is that the outer circles need to be set at equal distances around the the circle at the center, and the number of orbiting
circles is not fixed and can be varied, hence varying the separation of the outer circles, and to be honest, I have
absolutely no idea on how to go about this. All I can do is draw basic shapes.
Any help would be appreciated.
Please pardon this long winded narrative.

-Stanley

[Omar Al Kababji]

Ok so the big circle is 100 pixel diameter and the orbiting ones should be 25 of diameter and a 5 pixels separation which leads that the orbiting circles should be placed on the circumference of a helping circle (lets named it X-circle) of a radius of 100/2 + 25/2 + 5 = 67.5 and concentric with the 100 pixel circle.


now you know where to place the orbits, but you need to put them at equal distances between each others to do this you need to make the following calculation where "n" is the number of orbiting circuits required. you could use the following pseudocode

stepAngle = 360 / n

for(int i=0; i<360; i+= stepAngle){

// draw a line from the center of the 100 pixel circle, with an angle equal to (i) and find where it intersects with the X-circle (using some trigonometry algebra).
// after obtaining the intersection point with X-circle circumference draw the first orbiting circle with that center.

}

if you try it on a piece of paper by hand you will get a clear idea, have fun with that

[Rob Camick]

Cross posted: http://forums.sun.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10802316

[Campbell Ritchie]

Rob Camick wrote:Cross posted: . . .

Thank you for noticing.

Stanley Gulavi Please read this.

[Stanley Gulavi]

Thanks guys. I have gotten it to work.
And sorry about the cross-posting. Won't happen again.