Important Definition and 539 Threads

I've been reading through some of the literature on solutions of the Ising model, but I can't help but notice it doesn't provide that good a model for actual ferromagnetic systems. It seems that these models get a lot of attention and I'm just curious as to why? Also, why is an exact solution to...

I'm trying to decide between 2 courses, Electrical and Electronic Engineering or Software and Electronic Engineering. I haven't got the complete class lists for both to compare but going by the bits I've got and the descriptions, the software and electronics course is basically the same as...

I'm considering doing a philosophy physics double major at the expense of taking a few upper division physics electives or math/engineering classes like Plasma Physics, Nuclear and Particle Physics, Intro to Solid State Physics, fluid mechanics, statistics, etc. Will this hurt my chances of...

I'm waiting to hear back from grad schools, and I'm worried my writitng score on the GRE might keep me out of some schools... here is a breakdown of my scores: Verbal: 160 Quant: 159 Writing: 3.5 Physics Subject: 830 GPA: 3.92 I'm not sure why my writing score sucked so bad, but most...

This may sound like a dumb question, I heard that to understand Quantum Maths, I have to know Linear Algebra, Calculus, Differential Equations... I don't have any problems with Calculus and Differentials but Linear Algebra was a bit foggy sometimes... What are the topics in Linear Algebra that i...

i need to dissolve a copper nail completely what chemical can do that and how much time is enough to form the reaction , i thought about sulphuric acid as a reactant but i don;t know if it dissolve it completely or partially !

Hello Forum, a fiber optic cable has two components: a core and a surrounding layer called cladding. The core has an index of refraction n_cor sligthly larger than the cladding core c_clad. This allows total internal reflection to take place. The difference in index is small to avoid...

I'm having a lot of difficulty with proofs. I can understand them when I read them, but when asked to prove things myself, I usually fall flat on my face. How important are proofs for physics? Do I really need an intimate understand of the mathematics, or would that be irrelevant? I was...

Of the nineteen candidates, please choose the one(s) you think will prove most significant for future research in Loop-and-allied quantum gravity. Since the poll is multiple choice, it's possible to vote for several papers. Abstract summaries follow in the next post...

Here is a quote from Vanhees 71 in another thread on Lagrangians. I reposted here as a new thread because I fear going off-topic and redirecting a thread. In any case, in my study of Lagrangians and Hamiltonians, everywhere I go for tutelage it seems as though everyone is maniacally focused...

I'll be applying for graduate programs in physics and chemical physics in about 2 years, and I want to do research in statistical mechanics, particularly thermodynamics of fluids, non-equilibrium thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, nonlinear dynamics, and other fields related to this. I have time...

So I've just discovered that second year optics is entirely optional for physics majors (and we don't have to take it in third year, either). Since I'm mostly interested in atoms and how their interactions can explain the properties of bulk matter, is optics worth taking? It's my worst and...

Hello, I would like to know whether universities that ask for a PGRE score would eliminate an application outright if I have not appeared for the exam

At my university the program for a B.S. in Physics does not require students to take a senior thesis course, but I have been told it is recommended for people who want to go to graduate school in Physics. I'm not sure if I want to take the course because I have no idea what I would write the...

Hi, So here is the contents of this Elementary Particles course: introduction to families of particles , relativistic kinematics applied to reaction cross-sections and decay rates; symmetries and conservation laws, isospin, strangeness, charm, beauty; parity and CP violation in weak...

I realized that one of my main problem is remembering terms like, whole numbers, rational numbers, etc. I was just wondering how important was it that I actually know these terms? I can do the math, just have problems with some of the terms.

Of the nineteen candidates, please choose those you think will prove most significant for future research in Loop-and-allied quantum gravity. Since the poll is multiple choice, it's possible to vote for several papers. Abstract summaries follow in the next post. http://arxiv.org/abs/1207.0505...

Hello all, I'm a 17 year old Senior in high school, and this time next year I will hopefully be in a university somewhere. I have been debating with myself for the past few years as to what I really want to do once I get out of high school, and I think I've settled on Engineering, most...

Last night i did an experiment with a halogen bulb, rated at 12v 100w (8.33amps) dc. The exact model is this: http://inpcars.com/spotlights/motortrendmts43707-i.jpg I used to turn that bulb on, 3 serial batteries 1.5v "aaa" @ 0.4ah = 4.5 @ 0.4ah (1.8watts), and it turn on a little bit...

It must be, right? Obviously, if you're pushing a block by exerting a force F on it over a distance D on the ground, if you are in the frame of you or the block, your distance is 0 so it appears you're doing no work. I ask this question because I was doing a practice problem that should be...

Hi, I realize that this might be a silly question to ask without some proper background so: I'm a rising sophomore who is reviewing Calculus I-III right now. I first took Calculus as a junior in high school under the AP Calculus BC curriculum. I then took multivariate calculus and a semester of...

Of the twenty candidates, please choose those you think will prove most significant for future research in Loop-and-allied quantum gravity. Since the poll is multiple choice, it's possible to vote for several papers. Abstract summaries follow in the next post. http://arxiv.org/abs/1206.6736...

Hllo guyz please i want to know or better still get enlighten on the importance of programming in EEE. Cos i have a kid brother who wants to study EEE and wants to know if he would be needing programming. Thanks.

When graduate school admissions look at your undergrad research experience, does it matter that much whether the field research experience have any relevance to the field you want to pursue in graduate school? Or in other words, is actually doing research and acquiring research experience...

Hello Forum, According to general relativity, objects in a gravitational field behave similarly to objects within an accelerating enclosure. For example, an observer will see a ball fall the same way in a rocket as it does on Earth, provided that the acceleration of the rocket provides the...

super important for science- What's the relationship between Al and H2O Does the insertion of aluminum rods into a beaker of water affect the time it takes for the temperature of the water to reach 75 degrees Celsius when heated? I believe it would because there is more mass but I'm not...

Can an atom "give away" or "steal from another" an electron AND become an ion just to "satisfy" the Octet rule? Does an atom "prefer" to have 8 electrons in the outer shell MORE then it "wants" a neutral charge(not be an ion)? I imagine this varies from element to element. The elements i am...

Good afternoon! I will begin taking upper division mathematics in the fall, and I definitely wish to obtain a Master's right after undergrad, and as for PhD, I'm a bit iffy if I want one (I'll save that for another post in a couple years ^.^) Anyway, I have 4 electives where I get to choose what...

I have read many websites with different answers but most point to C and C++? I would really like the advice of someone in the field Thank you.

I'm planning on taking a bunch of math courses in next year's Fall semester. Here are courses I'm looking into: PDE Real Analysis Abstract Algebra Differential Geometry There's also Complex Analysis offered in the Spring semester. I know PDE is used extensively in physics, but I'm...

I know the main focus of Civil Engineers are the strength of the structures. I also know that Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics are important in designing dams or other structures related to fluid. But what about to Building structures? How is it important?

I've a graph similar to a 1/x^2 function, but it's only represents positive X values. The Y axis represents the duration in seconds, and X represents the number of objects. This graph shows that, as the number of objects grows, the time decreases. If I want to represent this graph in a semi-log...

Thanks for any replies!

So I'm taking quantum mechanics and I'm within the threshold of getting an A in the class. My professor assigned a problem set that we can either do for extra credit OR for honors in the class. Most "honors" physics classes at my university are kinda a joke in that they just require you...

I am really not all that intelligent and fairly new to the whole mathematical equation solving thing. So please bare with me, I came to the conclusion instead of reading the daily paper I will read daily articles, as I am reading I am unfamiliar of course with the symbols being undefined in the...

When reading tips on various websites of how to "study physics" I always see they bring up exercise as being one of the key things to success. But, is it really that integral to one's success? I'm quite skinny and frail, and I've noticed most of my professors and other classmates aren't in shape...

Guys, i would be really greatfull if someone help me with this because i really don't know how to deal with this math problem: Find the maximum and minimum values of f = x^(1/4) + y^(1/3) on the boundary of g = 4*x+ 6*y = 720. Please help me someone, i am desperate from this :(

hello all, I'm a physics major who's finishing up my second year as a physics major. I'm finishing up the 3 introductory physics course sequence and also the 4-semesters of calculus courses. In my community college, I was able to rank 1st on my physics courses and in the top 5 of my math...

hello everyone. I'm trying to plan my courses for next year, and I figured that I have room to take a foreign class (plus it's a requirement for me to graduate). now, I'm trying to decide to which one to take. i really want to learn mandarin, if nothing else matters, that is what I would...

Hey PF, I'm in a bit of a tight spot with respect to classes next year, and essentially I have to choose between: 1) Taking Statistical mechanics in fall, then abstract algebra I in spring (then representation theory in junior year spring) 2) Taking abstract 1 in fall, representation theory...

Creativity? Math Intellect? Other?

yeah, sort of, but I am unsure. So Is that possible, that supernova explosion of a star will cause another ray of fast moving stuff like photons, which is focused, so it has damaging effects far away from the stellar system? like for example there re at least 1000 of such stellar systems...

First, let me apologize for my bad English, it's not my native language. Most areas of math for me aren't really an issue. I'm actually quite good at it. But there's one thing I absolutely despise and also something I'm very bad at: geometry. I was planning on studying theoretical physics...

Is LISA the only option in detecting gravitational waves? Anyone have some insider info on the talks about cancelling, going with smaller scales, or just a general update on the situation? What else could LISA do other than observe that gravity waves are actually present? and what would it...

Dear Forum, let's consider a certain load. The load has its own internal structure (resistors, capacitors, etc...). I would think that to give the load the most power, we need to provide the load terminals with the largest voltage. The current in the load will then be a consequence. Power...

Hi, I know that (at least I have been told by advisers at my school so weather it's true or not idk) that if you sat in your room and hibernated and studied nonstop every single day and had a 4.0 but some other person didn't have as high of a average but did other stuff that they would select...

I've seen and heard some scary things when it comes to graduate school applications and for all I know, these could be complete rubbish. On the off chance that these claims are indeed correct, I'd like to know. In general, when a physics/math department is looking at applicant profiles, how...

Which paper or papers do you think will contribute most to future research in Loop-and-allied quantum gravity? Since the poll is multiple choice, it's possible to vote for several papers. Abstract summaries follow in the next post. http://arxiv.org/abs/1112.6391 Curvature invariants...

Alright, I know I'm kind of shaky when it comes to proving elementary things rigorously. I'm looking for for the most elementary (in the sense of using least possible mathematical knowledge) proof that x < \tan x, {} {} \forall \frac{\pi}{2}>x>0 Geometrically ? I can't prove...

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/22/cern_coverity/"]CERN's[/PLAIN] boson hunters tackle big data bug infestation It's the software or the science that's been wrong One's analysis when processing experimental data must account for possible errors in the tools used to identify and detect...