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. R

    Unable to visualize the concept of Torque.

    Hi guys, I find it quite difficult to visualize torque. The picture I use as reference could be found here. http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/tord.html I have had this disk with spindle thing & had tried rotating it. But I did not feel anything in the direction of torque.(red arrow)...
  2. B

    Can Math Help Predict Binding Energies in Enzymology and Crystallography?

    This is a concept that has always eluded me. I'm a Biologist who works in the Pharmaceutical Industry and I need to get a better understanding of Biophysics with respect to enzymology, specifically with regards to crystallography, electron microscopy, and catalytic site binding physics. I...
  3. D

    Simple gravity concept question

    When an aircraft begins to nose up the effects of gravity begin to slow its velocity. By dividing 100% by 90 degrees you get the number 1.11. So for each 1 degree incline the force of gravity increases by 1.11%? So at 1 degree the force of gravity is 1.11% 45 degrees the force of...
  4. C

    Least-Squares fit for a line Concept

    Homework Statement Prove the following useful fact: the least-squares fit for a line through any set of points (x_1,y_1) ...,(x_N, y_N) always passes through the "center of gravity" (x-bar, y-bar) of the points, where the bar denotes the average of the N values concerned. [Hint: you know...
  5. B

    Massless photons is a hard concept to grasp

    how can an elementary particle like a photon be massless? How can physicist measure and detect a photon if the don't know its inherent properties? I know a photon travels at the speed of light , but wouldn't you have to know a particle mass , in order to know its speed? Or are physicists...
  6. N

    Polarization Ellipse: Formula and Angle α Explained

    Homework Statement In the context of elliptical polarization,every book writes out this formula: (E_y/E_0y)^2 + (E_x/E_0x)^2 -2(E_y/E_0y)(E_x/E_0x) cos ε= (sinε)^2 where ε is the initial phase difference. After that they write this is the equation of an ellipse making an angle α...
  7. U

    Exploring the Concept of Tensors: Are You Interested?

    Any interested in this topic?
  8. C

    Same string, two differents tensions. A concept clarification

    In problems which have a pulley with a certain mass and radius, and a massless string over it, we often consider the tension of the left part of the string different than the tension of the right part of the string. I thought that since the string is massless, the tensions should be the...
  9. R

    Refractive Properties of Light: Exploring Refraction in Different Scenarios

    Homework Statement In which of the following situations will light from a laser be refracted? a. traveling from air into a diamond at an angle of 30° to the normal b. traveling from water into ice along the normal c. upon striking a metal surface d. traveling form air into a glass of...
  10. P

    Understanding the Concept of Phonons

    How should I think about the concept of phonons? As I understand it, it is a wave which propagates with a speed similar to sound and models the movement of atoms in crystals. However how many atoms per phonon? And isn't phonons meant to be analogous to photons which are single units hence one...
  11. C

    Does Ohm's Law Equate to the Resistivity Formula R = ρ(L/A)?

    1st question Ohm's Law is R = V/I; however there is another law that states : R = p (L/A) (the p should be a rho, i know) so this means that V/I = p (L/A) ? 2nd question A resistor in a circuit can have a smaller current in it than the actual wire because of a higher resistivity...
  12. T

    Smoothing Concept Example and Inequalities

    Hi, I am curious to kow about this smoothing concept that I've seen mentioned somewhere but do not understand. It would be great if someone could explain it to me, preferably through a solution to this problem. Thanks for any comments. (Latex did not generate in the preview, so if it seems there...
  13. S

    What is the Meaning of dx in Definite and Indefinite Integrals?

    I am studying 'Integration' These are the questions I have been thinking of, but i still did not get it. 1.I understood the basic concept of dx and dy But I don't know what exactly does dx stand for in the definite and indefinite Integrals. \int x^3\, dx\right)2. I have read a proof in...
  14. H

    Concept of resistive touch screen, anyone an IEEE member?

    concept of resistive touch screen, anyone an IEEE member? hi, i am having a problem with my 8 wire resistive touch screen the cursor keeps drifting about due to analog noise i suppose i would need to program an algorithm to clean up the noise to keep it stationary. i have tried putting a...
  15. A

    Does Mass Affect Falling Speed with No Air Resistance?

    Please help, I'm confused with an "easy" concept. Suppose you drop an object off a cliff. Does increasing the mass of the object you drop decrease the time it takes the object to reach the ground? (Assume that air friction is neglected) Is this true to infinite extent? So if there was no air...
  16. E

    Is the soulmate concept reality or myth?

    reality or myth? what traits make someone a soulmate? do you have one? i dont! and i even don't know what's that!:cool:
  17. K

    Understand Archimedes' Buoyant Force Concept

    i just don't understand why an object will experience buoyant force equal to the weight displaced when it is partially or wholly immersed in a fluid.I don't want to memorize this,i want to understand and get the idea.But i just don't seem to understand.
  18. N

    Exploring the Concept of "Infinite Points in a Straight Line"

    Hi My thought might be a bit weird or maybe childish, but I can not find anything to object it or to prove that it is wrong. As a basic definition of a straight line that it is an infinite number of points that are connected together. Regardless the length of that straight line, it consists...
  19. P

    Understanding Tension: Confusion about Coupling & Forces

    Hello, I have read over many textbooks and websites (including posts on this forum) relating to the concept of tension but I am still a bit confused. Many sources seems to only define tension rather than explain it. They seem to assume that you know it the way you know 1+1 =2. Here is the...
  20. DocZaius

    Concept of the constant speed of light

    I am having trouble wrapping my head around the concept of the constant speed of light. Imagine I am moving in a ship at a certain speed (let's say 1/4 the speed of light). I send two probes out at the same speed, one directly ahead of me, one directly behind me. They are set to activate a...
  21. P

    Current Electricity: Help understanding concept of potential energy

    Current Electricity: Help understanding concept of "potential energy" This is not a problem that I need help with. I rambled on and on for 5 minutes with teacher, eventually giving in and pretending that I understood.. http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/pugfug90/CEPE.gif Umm.. Perhaps...
  22. S

    Working of BJT as an amplifier: concept

    How does a small change in base current result in a large change in collector current in a BJT? Please explain in terms of movement of electrons (in NPN). Most textbooks I have referred say that the reason is low resistance of emitter-base and high resistance of collecter-base. However i cannot...
  23. I

    Need engineering assistance on a new concept product

    Hey guys, I’m currently working with a personal water craft docking company that is trying to redesign there current port series models into something that can capture the market as well as be designed to hold future personal water crafts i.e. jet skis and there future bulkier sizes and...
  24. S

    Divergence- Useful Concept? Why?

    I am studying divergence and curl in my E&M class. I was wondering, why is divergence a useful concept? I mean, for point charges, the divergence is zero everywhere except where the charge is located. Even for charged surfaces, \nabla\cdot E = \frac{\rho}{\epsilon} Loooking at this it seems...
  25. G

    Confusion over concept of 'radiance'.

    I have some confusion about what 'radiance' means as used in radiometry; specifically, I don't understand what it is a function of. For example: radiant energy is specified over some region, radiant energy density is specified at a point, radiant flux is specified across some surface...
  26. A

    Understanding the concept of the effects on an orbit

    I am having trouble understanding the concept of the effects on an orbit. The question asks if we replaced the sun with a rock of the same mass, would Earth's orbit change? I think it doesn't because orbits don't change because of its orbital energy. but I'm not sure because i wonder if the...
  27. S

    What is Effective Potential in Physics?

    Hi, I'm looking for some information about effective potential, but I haven't found any (Wikipedia, Googled...). I was just willing to get a rough understanding of the concept, and understand what it is. Could you explain/link to good info please? Thank you very much.
  28. W

    Apply the concept of relative velocity

    I cannot understand how to apply the concept of relative velocity in certaijn questions like the below one the question is Two trains A and B of length 400m each are moving on two parallel tracks with a uniform speed of 72km/hr in the same direction with A ahead of B The driver of B decides to...
  29. B

    Kondo resonance - need concept help.

    I've come across the Kondo effect in my research and specifically measuring the Kondo resonance. Now I'm sure I don't need to be an expert but I having some trouble clearing the concepts, the actual physics in my head. I know the Kondo effect is an exchange of spin do to an interaction...
  30. F

    Work Energy Concept Homework: Solving Statement

    Homework Statement http://xs511.xs.to/xs511/07046/workenergy.JPG Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution Ok I am all confused on this one. ok so leave part (I) and (II) onto part (III) word done by the pulling force acting on the block = the loss of energy + work...
  31. T

    Why Is the Frequency of the Standing Wave in the Wire 2f?

    Homework Statement This is more like a concept question. If you have a solenoid with AC frequency f, placed in close proximity on top of a wire with both ends fixed, and projected parallel to it, why is the frequency of the standing wave observed in the wire equal to 2f? The Attempt...
  32. M

    Understanding the Taylor Series Concept: Exploring its Uses and Applications

    hi everyone, I am just learning the taylor series at school. I am slightly confused. in my textbook, one of hte exercises is to find hte nth degree taylor polynomial of x^4 about a=-1. n is 4 in this case so this gives me a long polynomial. i understand that inputting any x value into this...
  33. P

    Green's Theorem (integration problem, not concept)

    So a previous problem said to show that the area of some simple closed curve C was: A= \frac{1}{2} \oint_{C} (xdy - ydx) Simple enough. My problem says to find the area of the curve x^{2/3} + y^{2/3} = 4 using that formula. So off to polar coordinate land I go. r = 4, x = cos(t), dx =...
  34. R

    Don`t understand concept of function,limit

    sir i haven`t good idea about function analysis &limit&continuity pls send me the message containing all this thankyou sir
  35. B

    Why Doesn't a Dropped Ball Bounce Back to Its Original Height?

    "When a ball is dropped to the floor from a height h, it strikes the ground and briefly undergoes a change of shape before rebounding to a max ht. less than h. Explain why it does not return to the same height h." Is this because some of the kinetic energy is transferred to heat?? What does...
  36. C

    What is the relationship between the Wronskian and linear independence?

    hmm I don't think I have the concept of the wronksian down all the way yet. mainly I'm having trouble seeing how the the wronksian not equaling zero implies that all the solutions are linearly independant of each other.
  37. I

    General Concept Question-work done by gravitational force.

    OK, I'm having trouble with this and can't seem to find an explanation for it. So To start off, i understand gravitational force, which is always just m*g (mass * -9.8 m/s). Now, when an object is moved by a force either horizontally or up an incline, etc. how do you figure out the work done...
  38. B

    Why is push gravity concept considered not viable by mainstream science?

    [SOLVED] Why is push gravity concept considered not viable by mainstream science? Hello guys, I would like to know the main reasons why the push gravity concept is not considered as a viable concept by mainstream science. I know it gave rise to numerous published works, amongst which we have...
  39. R

    Thermodynamics concept question

    Here's the question: ------- A 0.5m3 rigid tank contains refrigerant-134a initially at 200kPa and 40% quality. Heat is now transferred to the refrigerant until the pressure reaches 800kPa. Determine (a) the mass of the refrigerant in the tank and (b) the amount of heat transferred. Also, show...
  40. D

    How to solve for final velocity of object pushed by spring using concept of engergy

    Here is the given problem: http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/6781/problemtk6.jpg Here is my incorrect solution: http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/6698/solutionzm3.jpg Why should distance even matter for the final velocity in this problem since once the spring is uncompressed...
  41. D

    The Utility of Apparent Weight in Accelerating Reference Frames

    I'm trying to understand the utility of the concept of apparent weight. I'm not trying to over throw centuries of science, but it just seems not to be very useful to me. Why is it useful to say 'the apparent weight in an accelerating elevator is more (less)' rather than to just say 'you weigh...
  42. A

    Why Is Relative Velocity in Two Dimensions So Confusing?

    I guess this is going to be my worst thread. I'm so sick of this stupid concept "relative velocity" that I'm in no mood to present this thread in my "exemplary style" for which i have been included in the "best homework threads" section. I'm sorry for that, but its true. I have no problems...
  43. C

    Help With A Concept on Work: Should be Easy

    A 0.6 kg baseball is dropped out of a window that is 6.1 m above the ground. The ball is caught by a person whose hands are 1.5m above the ground. Questions What is the gravitational potential energy of the baseball, relative to the ground --When it is caught? (Is this -27.05 J ?) --when...
  44. B

    Solving Energy Concept Problem: Masses m1, m2, m3 Speed of m3 After 2.5m

    Three objects with masses m1 = 4.0 kg, m2 = 10.0 kg, and m3 = 15.0 kg, respectively, are attached by strings over frictionless pulleys, as indicated in Figure P5.32. The horizontal surface is frictionless and the system is released from rest. Using energy concepts, find the speed of m3 after it...
  45. T

    Explain to me the concept of equilibrium

    Can someone please explain to me the concept of equilibrium because i am having trouble understanding it. Thanks
  46. T

    Struggling with Derivative of Exponential Function in Calculus?

    Hi all (it has been a while again), I have just started Universtiy and after my second lecture I was given a question sheet to complete in two weeks. I have completed 14 out of the 16 questions set, 2 of which I just haven't done yet and another will require a little more thought before I...
  47. K

    NH Science Bulletin: Ranking Forces in a Stack of Blocks

    The problem is to rank the forces exerted from three blocks on top of each other. Like so: [10 kg] #3 [5 kg] #2 [2kg] #1 -------- Here is my reasoning, From least force, to most force: a. Force of block #1 on #3; They don't touch, so net force = 0 b. Force of #3 on #1; same thing...
  48. M

    Where Can I Find Good Physics Concept Questions Online?

    Does anyone know of a good site that has good physics concept questions because our tests in class are 10 multiple choice questions--usually concept questions (since we can't use a calculator just like the AP Exam) and two free response questions. i need a little help with those concept...
  49. D

    Understanding the concept of impulse

    Hey. I am having a little trouble understanding the concept of impulse. The textbook i am using doesn't really shed much light onto the topic. I know that impulse is equal to the change in momentum of an object, or the product of a force applied to an object and the time it is applied for...
  50. P

    Concept problems. multi choice check my answers.

    Ok i am studing and the book doesn't give answers. Here are a few questions i gave. What do you think. I will list pictures and test. For pic/question 1 - Will the answer be d - roatating the loop 90 degree ? Would it make sense that since the magnetic field is going into the paper i...
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