2) Set heading block

Set heading block

We have been moving the turtle around the screen by using the direction commands: Forward, Backward, left and Right. There are two other ways to move the turtle around and they are headings and coordinates commands. These commands are found in the 'Turtle' palette

Set heading Command:

Set heading command is used to change the direction of the turtle's head to the prescribed angle. The angle can be determined as as given below:

Instead of giving the command 'Right 45 - forward 100 - turn left 45, we can also say 'set heading 45 – forward 100 – set heading 0' as below. Both the commands gives the same output

 

Though 'set heading' can be used to move the turtle in the similar way, it doesn't behave as right and left. In the above command 'set heading 0' is used instead of 'left 45'. While using 'set heading' the direction in which the head turns depends on the angle given, whereas 'right' and 'left' commands clearly define the direction to turn. The angle can also be given in anticlockwise direction as below:

 

'set heading 330' and 'set heading -30' will give the same output. This command is more useful when polar coordinates are used.