Abstract
It is shown here how to use Finite Differences to calculate displacement, velocity, and acceleration using a discretized approximation, that in a general undergraduate Physics course would be obtained by using derivatives and integrals. Both ways are illustrated (i) the calculation of the kinematic quantities from a known trajectory, and (ii) the calculation of the trajectory by knowing the acceleration field in the space. The possible errors that can be made are illustrated in detail, in particular how a small error in calculating a trajectory can amplify when solving for a long trajectory.
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© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG
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Morra, G. (2018). Mechanics I: Kinematics. In: Pythonic Geodynamics. Lecture Notes in Earth System Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55682-6_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55682-6_4
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Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-55680-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-55682-6
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