Quote:
Originally Posted by Coen
Another factor is that computers resort to numbers and simulations use real numbers (non-integer), for irrational numbers it is impossible to store them accurately in a computer thus any errors have the potential to compound as time goes on (see chaos theory: an early met simulation led to the "butterfly flapping its wings" comment based on the very different results obtained from a very small change in initial conditions). Plenty of books on the topic.
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You make a good point here.
Rounding off numbers can produce large errors over many iterations. For those not familiar with the term, an iteration is where data produced from one run is then re-used and modified again on the next run. I would also think that any small change in initial conditions could produce a markedly different final outcome in a simulation that has a large number of iterations, the so called Butterfly Effect in Chaos Theory. A danger which can arise from scientists being rather selective of initial data that may be in question.
Regards, Rob.