We will need to use two arrays to keep track of temperatures in
our program.
float oldtemps[20];
float newtemps[20];
When we are ready to simulate the next tick of simulated time,
oldtemps will hold the current temperature of each segment. As we
calculate the new temperatures for each segment, we will store those
temperatures into newtemps. After we have calculated each of
the new temperatures, we will copy them back into oldtemps in
preparation for the next tick of the simulated clock.
Why do we need two arrays? As we calculate new temperatures, why
can't we simply store them back into oldtemps?
Click here for the answer
Notice that we arrange for each array to be large enough to represent
up to 20 segments. This does not mean that we will use every entry in
each array. If the user asks to user fewer than 20 segments, we will
only use a portion of each array.
Eric N. Eide
Hamlet Project
Department of Computer Science
University of Utah