What is Calculation: Definition and 1000 Discussions

A calculation is a deliberate process that transforms one or more inputs into one or more results. The term is used in a variety of senses, from the very definite arithmetical calculation of using an algorithm, to the vague heuristics of calculating a strategy in a competition, or calculating the chance of a successful relationship between two people.
For example, multiplying 7 by 6 is a simple algorithmic calculation. Estimating the fair price for financial instruments using the Black–Scholes model is a more complex algorithmic calculation.
Statistical estimations of the likely election results from opinion polls also involve algorithmic calculations, but produces ranges of possibilities rather than exact answers.
To calculate means to determine mathematically in the case of a number or amount, or in the case of an abstract problem to deduce the answer using logic, reason or common sense. The English word derives from the Latin calculus, which originally meant a small stone in the gall-bladder (from Latin calx). It also meant a pebble used for calculating, or a small stone used as a counter in an abacus (Latin abacus, Greek abax). The abacus was an instrument used by Greeks and Romans for arithmetic calculations, preceding the slide-rule and the electronic calculator, and consisted of perforated pebbles sliding on iron bars.

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  1. PrincessIceFall

    Review centre of gravity calculation

    <<Mentor note: Thread merged with duplicate from other forum.>> Half an octagonal prism. A small weight is placed 2 cm from the centreline of the vessel. The rod on which the weight is on is placed at (L/2) i.e at the center of the length of the vessel. The height of center of gravity from the...
  2. evinda

    MHB How Does Precision Affect Error in Euler's Method Calculations?

    Hello! (Wave) We consider the initial value problem $$\left\{\begin{matrix} y'=y &, 0 \leq t \leq 1 \\ y(0)=1 & \end{matrix}\right.$$ We apply the Euler method with $h=\frac{1}{N}$ and huge number of steps $N$ in order to calculate the approximation $y^N$ of the value of the solution $y$ at...
  3. E

    Rack and Pinion Calculation help

    Just to be aware this isn't homework this is a design concept and although calculations aren't required I'd like to assess a rough assessment of possible power generation figures. The concept is a weight which pushes down upon the rack hence turning a pinion on a shaft which has lots of of...
  4. M

    Integral Calc: Find My Mistake - 4.75

    Hi, I believe I have a calculation mistake but I don't know where. The correct answer is: 4.75
  5. N

    Calculation of particles by integral

    Hi, I would like to calculate total number of particles in one periodic wave-section whose radius varies by h(z)=1+A*sin(2*pi*z/L), where A is the profile amplitude and L is the wavelength of one wave-section. I thought, I will do by volume integration, say integral over V (volume of one...
  6. H

    Calculating Heat Transmission: Tips and Formulas for Scientists

    Hello, I have a few questions for calculating heat tranmission between materials ( i need some formulas and tips). First of all i need to find out how much energy a water pipe transmit to the concrete where it is in. I couldn't find a formula for this one. Then the concrete should store some...
  7. D

    Human capacity for G-forces, Energy calculation, and thrust

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  8. Femme_physics

    Calculating Projectile Motion for Cannon and Window Scenario

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  9. T

    Improving Frequency Resolution with Window Functions in FFT Calculations

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  10. F

    Angular velocity calculation from Schwarzschild metric

    Hello, I need to find the angular velocity using Schwarzschild metric. At first I wrote the metric in general form and omitted the co-latitude: ds2=T*dt2+R*dr2+Φ*dφ2 and wrote a Lagrangian over t variable: L = √(T+R*(dr/dt)2+Φ*(dφ/dt)2) now I can use the Euler–Lagrange equations for φ...
  11. M

    Calculation to launch a golf ball

    Hi, I need your help. Is my calculation correct? 1. Homework Statement We have to build a launcher that will be able to reach a target that is place anywhere in a prism 3m X 3m X 1m. The launcher have to used a golf ball and gravity as source of energy. I am trying to calculate what we need...
  12. R

    Calculation of Intensity of of AX crystals

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  13. B

    Calculate Water Loss in Broken Pipes: Formula/Equation

    Good day. Help me with a formula/equation to calculate water loss in broken pipes, e.g. a 63mm PVC pipe broken and spilling water.
  14. A

    Calculation of the force exerted by a liquid

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  15. shott92

    Need a calculation to find a relationship/correlation

    basically i have a system where force 1 + force 2 must equal force max they have the following ratio (these are the ultimate forces as in 100% of force 1 needs to be used or 100% of force 2) force1 = 1906.901 force2 = 1760.033 simple, but to really throw me off... force 1 has to be 29% of...
  16. T

    Torque Calculation for Sweeper machine Broom

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  17. S

    MHB Square Roots Calculation Tricks

    hi all... i have problem about square roots for fast calculation, like below sample : is there fast calculation method not commonly/usually ways. it's possible? please, see my picture? thanks in advance.. susanto
  18. A

    Bearing load calculation in Ansys workbench

    Hi dears I am doing a random vibration analysis on a reciprocating rotary system and I need to calculate the load that applied to the bearing during the analysis. the picture is attached to post. thanks
  19. S

    MHB Fast Calculation [sum] problem

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  20. N

    Quick calculation check please

    Could someone just check these calculation results for me please. I know this is really basic, and I'm assuming they aren't right but I couldn't see where they were wrong, so any help would be appreciated. (I know I've been given loads on this forum already, and I am grateful). v =...
  21. Laplas

    DOS calculation in a photonic crystal

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  22. Aileen Gordola

    Error in Calculation of EDissolution?

    I calculated the Edissolution of a reaction and resulted in a negative number. However, during the wet lab the reaction was clearly endothermic since there was a drop in temperature. I used the equation: ∆Edissolution = Ccup∆Tcup/mass of salt What is the reason for the negative number? Would i...
  23. P

    Overall Power Factor of three motors for transformer voltage drop calculation

    Hi Suppose I have three motors connected to a single busbar which is fed by a single transformer and suppose that the current into the busbar (i.e. the total current of the transformer secondary) is known. If I wish to calculate the transformer voltage drop the I will obviously need the load...
  24. K

    Torque calculation on drive half shaft in coast downshift condition

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  25. D

    Height and Weight: Impact on Cycling Speed Formulae

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  26. T

    Pressure and velocity calculation for microchannel. pls help

    Me and my friends have been trying (b) for soooo long! we have gone to PhD students and some fluid dynamic doctors for held and they cannot figure this out. 1. Homework Statement 2) This question concerns the design of a ‘micro-chemostat’ device. E. coli exhibiting chemotaxis can swim up to...
  27. E

    Variable mass calculation of thrust for a water rocket

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  28. A

    Gas Volume Calc: Find Out Rate of LPG Cylinder Reduction

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  29. C

    Calculation of phase shift from reflectance data

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  30. Fantini

    MHB Calculation of the commutator of the hamiltonian and position

    The book calculates the commutator $[H,x_i]$ as $$[H,x_i] = \left[ \sum_j \frac{p_j^2}{2m}, x_i \right] = \frac{2}{2m} \sum_j p_j \frac{\hbar}{i} \delta_{ij} = - \frac{i \hbar p_i}{m},$$ where the hamiltonian operator $H$ is $$H = \sum_j \frac{{\mathbf p}_j^2}{2m_j} + V({\mathbf x}).$$ The book...
  31. B

    Questions about metal-semiconductor-metal calculation

    Dear all Pls contact me if you can provide some help for the calculation on the M-S-M model. Using equation: https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/upload_2015-1-20_10-10-27-png.77997/ After plotting LnI vs.V, I use the slope to get Eo, where Eo is in the unit of mV. While if I continue...
  32. marellasunny

    Front crash with crumple zone: relative velocity calculation

    EURONCAP front crash test involves crashing a car moving at 64 kph onto a deformable barrier at 40% of the total vehicle width. According to the EURONCAP website, this is equivalent to two vehicles crashing into each other at 55 kph. How did they arrive at this figure? I presumed that the...
  33. A

    How Is Entropy Change Calculated in a Heat Transfer Problem?

    Homework Statement A solid metallic cube of heat capacity S is at temperature 300K. It is brought in contact with a reservoir at 600K. If the heat transfer takes place only between the reservoir and the cube, the entropy change of the universe after reaching the thermal equillibrium is A...
  34. K

    Calculate Yaw Angle: Best Sensor for Device Movement

    i want to calculate YAW angle for the device movement(consider car turning angle), anyone suggest me the good sensor to calculate the YAW angle...
  35. J

    Calculation and application of dyadic Green's function

    Hello everyone: I'm confusing with the construction and application of dyadic green's function. If we are in the ideal resonant system where only certain resonant mode is supported in this space (such as cavity), the Green's function can be constructed by the mode expansion that is: Gij(r,r')...
  36. J

    Power-split planetary gear set power calculation

    I think we have a problem with this rule. This is my understanding of the existing rule. Am I close? The rule for calculating the power distribution on a power split planetary gear system is based on the equal force rule. To calculate the power on the sun and ring of a planet set with input...
  37. Y

    Velocity calculation in US system from acceleration

    I've been working exclusively in SI units up until now, so using the US System trips me up. Given force in pounds-force, I divide it by mass (units are pound-mass) to get acceleration. I take the integral of acceleration to get velocity, which, according to the US Units, are in mph. Am I...
  38. J

    How to Calculate Sliding Friction in Chain Conveyors?

    Hi All... I have to design a chain conveyor. I am new for this conveyor design. Here i have to find friction between chain and bottom . But i have mass and velocity only .How can i calculate this .please help me
  39. arpon

    Calculating Magnetic Field in a Square with Varying Resistances

    Homework Statement [/B] Consider a square whose successive sides of length L has resistances R, 2R, 2R, R respectively. If a potential difference V is applied between the points (call them , say , A and B) where the sides with R and 2R meet. Find the magnetic field B at the center of the...
  40. A

    Calculation of fluid pressure through water flowing pipe?

    HI. I'm confused in how to find pressure in horizontal Pipe theoretical. Pipe having 90mm dia and water flowing through 3m/s. If I'm insert one plate in pipe having surface area 'x', then how much pressure acting on the surface of plate by water? please explain me.
  41. K

    Reflection coefficient calculation

    Hi there, I am wondering how to calculate the reflection coefficient of walls upon incident light versus wavelengths,, thanks
  42. B

    Calculating Box Stability: An Energy Approach

    Ok I know this should be easy but it's been a few years since my physics lessons at college and I'm stumped. I work in packaging. I'm working on a tool that will tell me if a box will fall over when it is subjected to an edge drop test. That means that a block is placed under one edge of a box...
  43. A

    Calculation of the pulse energy and pulse duration in Nd:yaq

    How to Calculate the pulse energy and pulse duration in repetitively Q-Switched ND:YAG Laser ? Please help me , I make my graduation research and need some references . 1- Pulse energy (explanations and drawing and rules ) 2- Pulse Duration (explanations and drawing and rules )
  44. B

    How Do You Calculate the Diameter of a Camera Lens Based on a Photograph?

    Homework Statement How we can determine The diameter of the lens of the camera approximitly that this picture took with that? ( we know that lens of the camera made by some parts but we count them as a thin one in Practical calculations ) Homework Equations m = q / p 1/f = 1/q + 1/p f =...
  45. L

    Second Moment of Area calculation?

    Hi there, I am covering a topic on welding at university and I am struggling with deriving the second moment area for the structure attached. The desired second moment of area is also given in the attached image. The first part is particularly confusing to me as I know that the total second...
  46. K

    How Do You Calculate the Kinetic Energy of a Moving Body?

    Homework Statement A body, which has mass of m = 1 kg , is dropped with a horizontal speed of vo = 20 m/s . What is its kinetic energy after 4 s ? Homework Equations Ek = mv2/2 s = vot + gt2/2 The Attempt at a Solution Is it correct? P. S. There is a mistake: Ek = 3200 J
  47. gracy

    Calculating Work Done for Decomposition of 2 moles NH4NO3 at 100°C

    Homework Statement Decomposition of 2 moles of NH4NO3 at 100 degrees C.calculate work done Homework Equations NH4NO3 (s)→N2O(g)+2H2O (g) work done= - RT delta n here R=universal gas constant T=temperature in kelvin and delta n=difference in number of moles of products and reactants. The...
  48. marellasunny

    Calculation of the battery pack voltage for an EV

    I'm a Automotive engineer and hence lack the electrical engineering expertise that you might expect. This is related to a doubt I have in calculating the final battery voltage for an electrical vehicle. This is just a calculation query. I have a module consisting of 12 individual Li-ion cells...
  49. R

    Photodiode : ask help too find 10x calculation error

    Hello Can anybody help me find my mistake in the following reasoning for light falling on a photodiode : "When 0.1464 watts/m2 fall on a 7.34 mm2 window, 1.07E-06 watts will penetrate and for a 0.38 A/W photodiode will produce 4.08E-07 amps which, across a 100k resistance will produce 0.0408...
  50. R

    Calculation of friction coefficient between wheel and road

    Hi all, I need to calculate the friction coefficient between road and the tyre of the car. I came across few answers like which solves as from the following torque equation. Engine torque = braking torque + acceleration troque + Inertial torque + drag torque + rolling resistance. For...
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