What every particle needs Each particle will need some properties to set it apart from all the other particles. In general all particles in a syatem will have the same collection of properties. Here are some examples of typical properties given to particles. Every particle system that deals with moving particles will need to keep track of the position of each particle. With position tends to come velocity.
Velocity is a vector which tells the system how fast and in what direction the particle is moving.
Each time step, the velocity is added to the position to move the particle. In the same way velocity affects position, so acceleration affects velocity. The acceleration of a particle is usually due to a force acting on it. This force is often gravity, or an attraction or repulsion to other particles. Frequently, because of computing power restraints, particles are given a limited lifespan.