Re: [Phys-l] accurate numerical solution of equations of motion

[Vern Lindberg <vwlsps@rit.edu>]

I see two approaches. Both have their merits.

1. Learn how to do your own coding to solve the DE in a language of  
your choice, Excel, C, Basic, Fortran, ...

2. Use a package that does the grunt work for the numerical solutions  
and provides nice outputs including graphs and visualizations. For  
this Maple, Mathematica do th trick, although they are not always  
cheap. For free you can get either VPython or Easy Java Simulations.  
For an example of the latter, here is a rigid body rotator done in EJS
http://faculty.ifmo.ru/butikov/Applets/Precession.html

Vern


On Nov 4, 2009, at 9:17 AM, Jeffrey Schnick wrote:

> Octave functions as a freeware version of MatLab.
> http://www.gnu.org/software/octave/download.html
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [mailto:phys-l-
> > bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of Polvani, Donald G.
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 8:42 AM
> > To: Forum for Physics Educators
> > Subject: Re: [Phys-l] accurate numerical solution of equations of
> > motion
> >
> > Thanks to Rick Tarara for sending the TrueBASIC reminder.  I used
> > TrueBASIC for many years at work and was very satisfied with it.  I
> > found it to be powerful and easy to use.  It also provided good
> graphic
> > capabilities.  Nowadays, the Corporation provides MATLAB for  
> > technical
> > work, so  I use that with no complaints.  However, with retirement
> > coming soon, the low cost of TrueBASIC compared to MATLAB is a big
> > consideration.
> >
> > Also, I hope to continue part time teaching of physics in retirement
> at
> > a local community college, where a low cost, easy to learn, but
> > powerful, programming language for numerical simulations of physical
> > phenomena would be most welcome.
> >
> > Don Polvani
> > Northrop Grumman Corp.
> > Undersea Systems
> > Annapolis, MD 21401
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
> > [mailto:phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of Rick
> > Tarara
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 7:40 AM
> > To: Forum for Physics Educators
> > Subject: Re: [Phys-l] accurate numerical solution of equations of
> > motion
> >
> > In terms of numerical accuracy, TrueBASIC (a compiled version of  
> > basic
> > straight from the originators--Kemeny & Kurtz) has the following
> system
> > limits:
> >
> > Accuracy of numbers   16 bits
> > Accuracy of Sin, Cos, Tan, Atan, Log, Exp   16 bits
> > Smallest positive number Eps(0)    2.2250739e-308
> > Largest positive numbe (Maxnum)  1.7976931e+308
> > Maximum string length    448Mb
> > Maximum dimensions for an array    255
> >
> > Suspect this should be sufficient for most applications.
> >
> > For more info see www.TrueBasic.com
> >
> > Rick (all my software is done with this language--actually is very
> > powerful,
> > very good for calculations and you can do high quality animations)
> >
> > ***************************
> > Richard W. Tarara
> > Professor of Physics
> > Saint Mary's College
> > Notre Dame, IN
> > rtarara@saintmarys.edu
> > ******************************
> > Free Physics Software
> > PC & Mac
> > www.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara/software.html
> > *******************************
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Bernard Cleyet" <bernardcleyet@redshift.com>
> > To: "Forum for Physics Educators" <phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu>
> > Cc: "Nancy Seese" <nancyseese@redshift.com>
> > Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 11:22 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Phys-l] accurate numerical solution of equations of
> > motion
> >
> >
> > > Ha, My first PC was a Sinclair ZX80.  I still have one w/ the
> > > external (64k?) memory.
> > >
> > > Best Basic for me;  written, IIRC, at MIT, so lay in the hand of
> this
> > > physicist well.
> > >
> > >
> > > bc after graduation from a Librascope LGP-30,  PDP8, and Elliott
> > > Automation (probably a 4100)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On 2009, Nov 03, , at 19:06, Brian Blais wrote:
> > >
> > > > I'd say, learn Python...the best language.  ;)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > bb - brought up with BASIC on the VIC20 and TRS80, Pascal, then
> > > > Fortran and C...then saw the light.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Brian Blais
> > > > bblais@bryant.edu
> > > > http://web.bryant.edu/~bblais
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Forum for Physics Educators
> > > Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
> > > https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l
> >
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Vern Lindberg
vern.lindberg@rit.edu
585-475-2546
http://people.rit.edu/vwlsps/