Question

Suppose that you are going to program a computer to carry out an iterative calculation of motion involving electric forces. Assume that as usual we use the final velocity in each time interval as the approximate average velocity during that interval. Which of the following calculations should be done before starting the repetitive calculation loop? Which of the calculations listed above should go inside the repetitive loop, and in what order?

(a) Define constants such as $\frac{\mathbf{1}}{\mathbf{4}\mathbf{\pi }{\mathbf{\epsilon }}_{\mathbf{0}}}$

(b) Update the (vector) position of each object.

(c) Calculate the (vector) forces acting on the objects.

(d) Specify the initial (vector) momentum of each object.

(e) Specify an appropriate value for the time step.

(f) Specify the mass of each object.

(g) Update the (vector) momentum of each object.

(h) Specify the initial (vector) position of each object.

Short answer

Inside of the loop b,c,g

Outside of the loop is a,e,f,h,d.

Step-by-step solution

Momentum of an object

The formula for the momentum of an object is

$P=mv$

Where, $P$is the momentum of an object, $m$the mass of an object, $v$is the speed of the object.

Inside the loop

For a computer program to carry out an iterative calculation of motion involving electric forces. The following order for the inside the loop for calculation of motion.

1. Update the position of each object.
2. Calculate the forces acting on the objects.
3. Update the momentum of each object.

Outside the loop

The following order for outside the loop for calculation of motion.

Define constants

1. Specify an appropriate value for the time step.
2. Specify the mass of each object.
3. Specify the initial position of each object.
4. Specify the initial momentum of each object