title: Caching performance of serial vs padded data
body: <p>I got some objects with certain values, for example:
  (1)</p>
  
  <pre><code>struct massPoint {
      double pos;
      double vel;
      double acc;
  } objects[LOTS];
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>or the same in arrays:</p>
  
  <p>(2)</p>
  
  <pre><code>double pos[LOTS];
  double vel[LOTS];
  double acc[LOTS];
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>First question: Is it right if i call (1) padded data and (2) serial data?</p>
  
  <p>Second question: If i do some operations which would only affect vel and acc and no pos, and i have LOTS of them, would (2) be preferable since it would be better in terms of caching performance because the pos[] dont have to be cached this way and in (1) it has to? Or do i not get the concept at all?</p>