Re: [Phys-l] the role of simulation

[Ludwik Kowalski <kowalskil@mail.montclair.edu>]

On Jan 19, 2008, at 3:28 PM, Hugh Haskell wrote:

> . . . To come back to what originally launched this thread,
> a simulation can show what a 1/r^3 or 1/r law of gravity
> would do. I know that IP can also simulate a short duration
> perturbation of an orbit (I think the original discussion got
> sidetracked on changes that were not what we normally
> consider "perturbations" but altered initial conditions). . . .

In my opinion by changing initial conditions one can study the effects 
of a perturbations. A perturbation is a sudden change of parameters (or 
parameter), such as speed, velocity, location, mass, etc. I am thinking 
about comparisons of subsequent motion without perturbations and 
subsequent motion with perturbations. Is it not true that any 
subsequent moment can be considered to be initial (in classical 
physics)?
_______________________________________________________
Ludwik Kowalski, a retired physicist
5 Horizon Road, apt. 2702, Fort Lee, NJ, 07024, USA
Also an amateur journalist at http://csam.montclair.edu/~kowalski/cf/