Concept Definition and 1000 Threads

Concepts are defined as abstract ideas or general notions that occur in the mind, in speech, or in thought. They are understood to be the fundamental building blocks of thoughts and beliefs.
They play an important role in all aspects of cognition. As such, concepts are studied by several disciplines, such as linguistics, psychology, and philosophy, and these disciplines are interested in the logical and psychological structure of concepts, and how they are put together to form thoughts and sentences. The study of concepts has served as an important flagship of an emerging interdisciplinary approach called cognitive science.In contemporary philosophy, there are at least three prevailing ways to understand what a concept is:
Concepts as mental representations, where concepts are entities that exist in the mind (mental objects)
Concepts as abilities, where concepts are abilities peculiar to cognitive agents (mental states)
Concepts as Fregean senses (see sense and reference), where concepts are abstract objects, as opposed to mental objects and mental statesConcepts can be organized into a hierarchy, higher levels of which are termed "superordinate" and lower levels termed "subordinate". Additionally, there is the "basic" or "middle" level at which people will most readily categorize a concept. For example, a basic-level concept would be "chair", with its superordinate, "furniture", and its subordinate, "easy chair".

Concepts may be exact, or inexact.
When the mind makes a generalization such as the concept of tree, it extracts similarities from numerous examples; the simplification enables higher-level thinking.
A concept is instantiated (reified) by all of its actual or potential instances, whether these are things in the real world or other ideas.
Concepts are studied as components of human cognition in the cognitive science disciplines of linguistics, psychology and, philosophy, where an ongoing debate asks whether all cognition must occur through concepts. Concepts are used as formal tools or models in mathematics, computer science, databases and artificial intelligence where they are sometimes called classes, schema or categories. In informal use the word concept often just means any idea.

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  1. S

    How Do You Calculate the Volume Between a Cone and a Sphere?

    The question asks to find an integral that gives the specified volume below the cone z=r, above the xy-plane, and inside the sphere x^2 + y^2+z^2 = 8. So essentially, we're finding the volume inside the cone? I know that the very top of the cone would include the top of the sphere...
  2. D

    Is Work Done When a Gas Expands into a Vacuum?

    Homework Statement A gas is separated from vacuum by a membrane. Let the membrane rupture and the gas fill the entire volume. Neglecting any work associated with the rupturing of the membrane, is there work done in the process: a) If we take as our system the gas and the vacuum space b)...
  3. E

    Conjecture on superposition: simple concept, complex math

    I have conjectured that two different waves in the same region, will not exactly result in the superposition, or addition of both waves independently. The logic: Every point in a region which a wave propagates has a position, and an acceleration which partially, if not totally, depends on the...
  4. D

    Introduction to Work, do I have the right concept?

    I'm just learning work in my physics class and, for some reason, I'm having difficulty understanding it. The problem in my homework assignment asks: A particle moves 5 m in the positive x direction while being acted upon by a constant force F = <4,2,-4>.The work done on the particle by this...
  5. Q

    Differentiation concept problem

    Homework Statement i am suddenly stuck when differentiating. are my concepts right? if we integrate cosx/sinx, then since cosx is the differentiated form of sinx, then integrating d(sinx)/sinx = ln|sinx| so now, if i have : integrate z/(1-z2)1/2 since z is the differentiated form of the...
  6. C

    Kinetic energy and potential energy concept question

    i need a review. why does lifting a book at a constant speed result in a constant KE but changing PE? obviously KE = 1/2 mv^2 but I am looking for a conceptual answer. doesn't KE need to equal PE for energy to be conserved? im in e&m right now and there's a statement in my book saying that...
  7. M

    Comp Sci FORTRAN Help: Concept of User Defined Functions

    Alright, I have a situation where I need to create a user defined function (I've done that) next I need to write a subroutine that uses the bisection method to find the zeros of said function (I've also done that) but I can't figure out how to call on the user defined function to evaluate at...
  8. A

    What Is the Minimum Acceleration for a Mass to Fall Freely on a Wedge?

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  9. R

    Is There an Operator for the Existence of an Object in Quantum Mechanics?

    Before a measurement we don't have any information about a object. So we don't know about a existence of the object. But we are trying to measure something of the object. Is there operator of existence of a object? All operators commute with this?
  10. E

    Time: A Scientific Exploration

    What is time??
  11. L

    Arithmetics and algebra, what/ which is the main concept?

    could you explain if we can define a main/basic concept of math and if terminology corresponds to concepts or is chiefly due to historical reasons: set, set theory (ZF[C]) should be the founding concept, abstract algebra studies underlying sets, [elementary]arithmetics the result of logical...
  12. L

    Question about basic concept of solving system of equations

    why does adding equations solve the system of equations? I've taken matrix algebra but, to be honest, was too bashful to ask such a simple question. :P
  13. B

    I am trying to summarise the concept of divergence. Say I have a

    I am trying to summarise the concept of divergence. Say I have a vector field, that is radially spreading outwards from the (0,0), but all vectors are equal in each point. So there are no deviations in magnitude in vectors(is that even possible?), but the field lines are spreading like in...
  14. T

    B and H field concept question (saturation)

    Hi there! I need some help in understanding the relationship between B and H fields and their "physical" meaning (helps me visualize problems). I'll try to be as clear as possible about my current knowledge and my questions: "Fields" do not exist, they are just a mathematical...
  15. R

    Why is \frac{dN_i}{N}\neq dX_i when using the mole fraction concept?

    It looks like my first post on this did not make it on this forum some how. I came across this statement. Even though \frac{N_i}{N}=X_i, \frac{dN_i}{N}\neq dX_i How does this work? The book offered no help as well as searches on the internet.
  16. M

    Understanding Pressure in Static Fluids: Simple Tutorials and Illustrations

    hello world, We are studing about static fluids and i can't introduce the concept of pressure to my mind I can't imagine what is pressure?What is pressure at a point?I need images and iluustrations could you suggest for me some simple tutorials and some pages to read in order to fully imagine...
  17. S

    Special relativity concept question

    Homework Statement gammav is a reasonable measure of the size of relativistic effects. Roughly speaking, at what speed would observations deviate from classical expectations by 1%? Homework Equations gammav = 1/ [sqrt91.v2) / c2] The Attempt at a Solution I've honestly puzzled...
  18. B

    Calculating Work Done by a Gas Using the PV=1000 Equation | Thermo Help

    A gas expands according to the equation pv=1000. where p is pressure in kPa and v is specific volume m^3/kg. If the gas pressure drops from 1000 to 500kPa, how much work was done by the gas?? Ok I am new to thermo and given a question and can't figure it out. Do I use net flow work =...
  19. J

    The Draft of Poster of New Fusion Concept

    The Draft of Poster of New Fusion Concept that I am going to represent at 53rd Annual Meeting organized by Plasma Physics Division of American Physical Society (attached file .zip) Without drawings yet but I will complete drawings till mentioned event.
  20. Z

    Concept of the Electric Field(picture included)

    I did search for this problem found a few but they were all different and I couldn't follow the math Homework Statement http://session.masteringphysics.com/problemAsset/1169191/1/jfk.Figure.20.P24.jpg What is the strength of the electric field at the position indicated by the dot in...
  21. I

    Mass in Physics: Inertial & Gravitational Mass

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  22. 7

    Concept Evaluation-Single house computer

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  23. C

    How to prove an electrostatics concept mathematically

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  24. T

    Electrostatic Potential Concept

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  25. S

    Concept Check for two Green Theorems Problems

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  26. M

    Understanding Waves: Is There Hope?

    Hello World, These days, I'm trying to introduce the concept of waves into my stupid mind but It seems to be Hopeless..Whatever.. What are waves really?Can we see waves by any means in the world ?or they just do disturbance to the medium particles? Is there a real hope to understand waves...
  27. B

    Time Dilation Concept Confusion

    Recently I've watched a few videos and read over some explanations of time dilation and am quite confused by several aspects. In the video I watched, the clock tracked time by a beam of light bouncing between two metal plates, incrementing one second per touch of the bottom plate. The path of...
  28. T

    Concept : Capacitors in Parallel

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  29. T

    Exploring the Destructive Interference of Probability Waves in Quantum Mechanics

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  30. R

    Cold Turbofan Concept (Fluid Flow Concern)

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  31. I_am_learning

    What is the probability of 5 faulty flash-disks out of 100?

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  32. stevebd1

    NASA Nautilus-X - NASA's Multi-mission Space Exploration Vehicle Concept

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  33. K

    Peltier heat conductance concept question (PID)

    Hey, I am making a cooling system using a peltier junction with a cold finger on one side and a heat sink on the other. For my heat sink, I am depositing the heat into the phase change of a bismuth alloy (about 70 deg C). When the current across the peltier is increased and the hot side...
  34. J

    Why is 6k Ohms Reduced to 3k Ohms in Circuit Simplification?

    Hi, I have a question relating to the image below. http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/2173/elec.png/ From step 2 to 3, I get how 120V becomes 20mA but how is the 6k ohms affected? Why is it reduced to 3k ohms? And from step 1 to step 2, why isn't it like below? Case 2b instead of 2a...
  35. P

    Space Time Frame Drag Engine Concept

    This occurred to me when I first heard of the Space Time Frame Drag effect, which was confirmed by the results of Gravity Probe B (GP-B). http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/04may_epic/" I am not a scientist or a mathematician, so I turn to my fellow humans who are. Do...
  36. F

    Why Does Cramster Simplify Velocity Components Incorrectly in Physics Problems?

    Homework Statement This problem is from Modern Physics by Kenneth Krane 2nd ED The problem is: An atom of mass m moving in the x direction with speed v collides elastically with an atom of mass 3m at rest. After the collision the first atom moves in the y direction. Find the direction of...
  37. Saitama

    Chemistry Mole Concept Q: Volume of 5.25g Nitrogen @ 26\circ C, 74.2 cm

    Homework Statement Hello Everyone! I am solving a lots and lots of questions on Mole Concept but i am getting stuck in this:- Calculate the volume occupied by 5.25g of nitrogen at 26\circ C and 74.2 cm of pressure. The Attempt at a Solution I actually don't know from where should i...
  38. B

    Concept Decomposing of Partial Fractions

    I have a few questions about decomposing partial fractions. I know how to solve these problems, but I just don't understand why I'm doing some of the things. 1. Why does equating coefficients work? I don't understand the idea behind it. 2. When you are decomposing fractions into constants...
  39. S

    John Travoltage (Electo and magnatesim concept questions)

    Homework Statement http://enjoy.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/data/458/www/simulations/sims5326.html?sim=John_Travoltage#ideas" Hi, I am new here and I am taking Electro physics over at the University of Tennessee. I don't know how to integrate yet and i realized that i would need some help with this...
  40. A

    What is Torque and How Does it Relate to Uniform Circular Motion?

    If an object is undergoing uniform circular motion then the torque of the object is zero. this i'snt a homework question but I'm just trying to understand this concept and why this is. can anyone give me a good definition of torque?
  41. K

    Why is the relativistic mass a rejected concept?

    http://www.weburbia.com/physics/mass.html If it is not wrong, why not go about setting it straight and making it clear? Are we going to totally ignore the physical implications of having a relativistic mass, such as its dependence on the work done on the body relative to a given inertial...
  42. H

    Integration with x denominator plus a few antiderivative concept questions

    Homework Statement v(t) = (-2 / (1 + 2t)) + 2 I must find the antiderivative s(t) such that s(0) = 5. The Attempt at a Solution u = 1 + 2t du/dt = 2 dt = du/2 √(-2 / (1 + 2t dt)) + 2 =√(-2u^-1 du/2) + 2 =√(-u^-1 du) + 2 = -ln|1+2t| + 2t + C At t = 0 -ln(1 +...
  43. C

    Can someone please explain this concept for me? As I understand

    Can someone please explain this concept for me? As I understand it, you have a, let's say, a three-level atom with two hyperfine states and an excited state. Then you apply a pump source (perhaps a laser) to transfer the atom from one of the hyperfine states (say |g1>) to the excited state...
  44. A

    Need help with Quantinization of Charge concept and calculations

    Homework Statement An oil drop whose mass is 3.30x10-15kg moves at a constant speed of 1.70m/s upward between two horizontal parallel plates. The plates are 1.00cm apart and are connected to a 6.75x102V battery. If the oil drop is negative and the top plate is positive, calculate the number of...
  45. M

    Concept help. Friction, Work, Kinetic Energy

    I've been debating with myself on a certain question. For example, Two blocks. Block A has mass M and the other Block was .5M or M/2 is pushed from rest with force F at a constant rate. (Let's say a hand pushing them for a period of time). There is friction on the surface. Block B...
  46. K

    Understanding the Concept: Unchangeable Models

    Anyone can briefly tell me about this concept? Did it is a undeformable model?
  47. P

    Is the Force Exerted by the Box on the Earth the Normal Force?

    Heres a simple situation I can't seem to adequately explain to students. A box experiences a force exerted on it by the earth. The third law of Newton states that an object that feels a force exerts an equal and opposite force, which is the force that the box exerts onto the earth. If the box...
  48. A

    Need help understanding this concept on field intensity

    Homework Statement We are looking at gravitational field intensity in particular here, and using the Earth as an example. The question states: Calculate the gravitational field intensity at a height of 300.0 km from Earth's surface. Why is it that: Since the point in question is outside of...
  49. S

    Explore the Power of Concept Maps in Math: Metric Spaces to Geometry and Beyond

    I have posted this here for two reasons, one I think you all will really appreciate this as a teaching tool to hopefully increase your students understanding (and hopefully grades) & second because you all might find/make more concept maps on more advanced topics or with focus shifted in a...
  50. F

    Concept of Field Lines, how Electricity vs Gravity

    Homework Statement Take the Earth for instance, if I were to draw field lines, would it be field lines coming out of the mass or into the mass? I initially thought it would be going out because we could look at it as a "positive charge", but then I thought that was silly because gravity is...
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