Negative Definition and 1000 Threads

  1. B

    Why is potential energy negative?

    If a particle is moving with kinetic energy T(x) in a potential field of energy V(x), why is the total energy E(x) = T(x) - V(x), i.e. why is potential energy negative? The way I have seen it explained is that the potential energy is less than if the particle was an infinite distance from the...
  2. M

    What are Negative Reaction Orders and How Do They Affect Reaction Rates?

    We were just going over examples of reaction orders in class and I was told 2 things: 1.) Negative reaction orders are possible 2.) An order of 0 says the reaction rate is independent of the reactant concentration(s) I had a few questions, though. 1.) What exactly constitutes a...
  3. D

    Question regarding negative atomic numbers.

    Hello my name is Dax, I'm currently in the world building stage of a science fiction I am writing and I came here to bounce some questions off of you fine people. My question is regarding atomic numbers of elements on the periodic table and weather it could be possible that negative atomic...
  4. Entanglement

    Can potential energy be negative at infinity?

    When can the potential be in a negative value especially when it come to atoms and bind formation?
  5. N

    Linear ALgebra: Showing negative definteness

    Homework Statement If M is a real anti-symmetric n x n matrix, M^2 is a real symmetric matrix. Show that M^2 is a non-positive matrix, i.e. x(transposed) M^2 x <= 0, for all vectors x. Homework Equations det(M) = (-1)^n det (M) The Attempt at a Solution I attempted to use the...
  6. V

    Can a phasor have a negative magnitude?

    Would it be preferred to write ##-60\angle 10°\quad or\quad 60\angle 190°?## Would one or the other be incorrect? Those two phasors are equivalent, right?
  7. R

    Integrating with Negative Signs: Effects on Solutions

    While working on an integration problem I found that I will arrive at two different solutions depending on how I approach it. I'm finding the arc length of y=ln(1-x2) on the interval [0,0.5] The formula for finding the arc length is ∫sqrt[1+[f'(x)]2]dx So f'(x) = -2x / ( 1-x2 ) Here...
  8. P

    MHB Expected Value of Negative Binomial Random Variable

    Given $X$ as a negative binomial random variable with parameters $r$ and $p$. Find $E(\frac{r-1}{X-1})$. As $E(g(X))$ is defined as $\sum_{x\in X(\Omega)}g(x)p(x)$, this is my attempt in which I am stuck. What can I do next? In the case $y=r-1$, is the sum invalid? Thanks in advance!
  9. V

    Derivative of Spherical Harmonic for negative m

    Hello! Homework Statement I want to evaluate the derivative of spherical harmonics with respect to the azimuthal angle and express it in terms of spherical harmonics.2. Homework Equations and 3. The Attempt at a Solution I have calculated the derivative of the spherical harmonic with respect...
  10. B

    Understanding Negative Numbers in -2x |X| < 4 Equation

    Homework Statement This is the solution, the question was find its domain. Homework Equations How does |X| (less than or equal to) 4, when a negative number is inputed into -2x how does that = a positive number?The Attempt at a Solution On the graph to me All X values < 0 should be negative...
  11. M

    Negative Voltage when Magnet Falls Through Solenoid: Gaining Energy?

    when a magnet is falling through a solenoid, voltage is produced. Once positive is produced and the when the magnet leaves the solenoid negative voltage is produced. Voltage is the energy lost by a unit charge when traveling from one point to the other. So if there is negative voltage...
  12. M

    When is electric potential negative and when is it positive?

    Homework Statement When is electric potential negative and when is it positive? Homework Equations V=Es The Attempt at a Solution I first thought that when you are moving in the same direction as the electric field the electric potential will be a positive value. However I...
  13. applestrudle

    Confused about negative charges in potential field of a pos charge?

    do negative charges in electric fields of positive charges have negative electrostatic potential energy? am I write in thinking they can't be at negative potential (V) because potential is a property of the field and has nothing to do with the charge in the field (like potential energy does)...
  14. applestrudle

    Electric potential when there is a negative test charge?

    For when there is a negative test charge: The work done to get from infinity to r would be negative, corresponding to a decrease in potential energy so since dr must be a path element and therefore in the negative direction (towards the source of the E field) does that mean the...
  15. Q

    Negative Pressure: Is There Anything Below Total Vacuum?

    Hi guys Is there any thing such as Negative Pressure, or is there only total vacuum 0 and nothing below that ?
  16. 0

    Orthogonality of wave functions to negative momentum states

    This is a question I have about the textbook discussion, so I'll do away with the standard format. The author of my QM book (Shankar, Principles of Quantum Mechanics) used the term "negative momentum states," all of a sudden, and I've never heard of it before. He has a little note saying that...
  17. T

    Is Work Ever Negative? A Discussion on the Potential Negative Effects of Work

    Hello, i am doing an assignment and there is a research question that i need to answer. The question is: Can work be negative? From what i search on the internet these are my thoughts: Work is defined by W=F.D But work is not a vector, because it has units of energy and energy isn't...
  18. A

    Does NFmin in cascode LNA depend on the negative feedback inductance?

    Hi, This is a cascode LNA. Please help me with the question in picture. Thank you.
  19. N

    What does negative impedance mean?

    I could see that capacitor impedance is mostly negative. Does the negative sign has any significant meaning? Also why do people convert impedance to admittance for circuit calculation? Please help!
  20. B

    Why is one Tension Negative and the Other Positive - Atwood Machines

    Why is one Tension Negative and the Other Positive -- Atwood Machines Hello, Please consider the following: I am trying to understand how to solve for acceleration when dealing with Atwood machines. I keep getting hung up on one part: the direction of tension. In the image above, why is...
  21. M

    Electric potential and negative potential gradient

    is electric field strength always equal to negative potential gradient or can it be equal to positive potential gradient sometimes?
  22. C

    Direction positive and negative charges will movebetween electrodes?

    Homework Statement If a small positive and negative charge are created at rest at a point between electrodes as shown in the figure. In which direction will they move if one would neglect gravity? Ignore those weird arrows, those are for later questions. Homework Equations...
  23. H

    Alan Guth thought experiment about negative energy and gravity

    Recently, I watched a lecture with Alan Guth. He made an interesting statement. He said that to create an electric field requires work, because the like-charges prefer to repel one another, therefore this requires energy to bring them together. However; because gravity is attractive, it requires...
  24. H

    Defining negative energy of gravitational field

    I have been learning that gravity has a negative energy associated with it. I've heard this stated a couple different ways, but I would like to understand a distinction. One line of thought declares that the potential energy of an object within a gravitational field is negative. Another line...
  25. P

    Negative gravitational energy - negative energy gravitons?

    We know that gravitational energy is negative (zero energy universe theory). If the mediator particles (bosons) of the gravitational interaction are gravitons, then the energy of the gravitons would be negative?
  26. X

    When y is negative in linear regression?

    I am using linear regression to predict 'y' based on 8 variables. With my example, most the Betas that I got are negative. So, y, the value to predict, is negative. To my data, y is a time in seconds, so I think it shouldn't be negative. I my example in python, and I want to know if y...
  27. Z

    Ratio of positive to negative hydrogen ions in the universe?

    Hi this may sound like a simple question but I'm trying to find out the relative abundance of hydrogen in its various forms in space: H, H+, H-, H2, H2+, H2- I'd like to know these for our stellar neighborhood involving the solar wind and also for interstellar space outside the heliopause...
  28. D

    NMOS with Negative Vds: Exploring Effects

    Hello. We learn that an NMOS is in the triode region for Vds < Vgs - Vth, and in this case the drain current has a given expression. My question is, is this also valid for Vds < 0 ? What happens in this case?
  29. A

    Understanding Negative Energy in Earth-Satellite Systems

    the potential energy of a earth-satellite system is -U. the kinetic energy of the satellite is K = -U/2. the mechanical energy M = -K. this is not true. the satellite is in equilibrium and the ∂θ change caused is limits to zero. the PE of the satellite cannot cause acceleration...
  30. Demystifier

    Is energy of gravitational waves negative?

    Owing to the Hamiltonian constraint in general relativity, the total energy is zero. (To avoid ambiguity, here energy is DEFINED as the corresponding part of the ADM Hamiltonian.) Since matter has positive energy, it implies that gravitational field has negative energy. Does it mean that...
  31. A

    Why does BIDMAS not always apply to squaring negative numbers?

    Hi, In BIDMAS (brackets, indices, division, multiplication, addition, subtraction) it shows clearly that indices should happen before subtraction, so why does -52=25? Because the real working (according to BIDMAS) should put the square first and then put the negative sign on, which would mean...
  32. H

    Regarding graviton and negative energy

    Hi. I recently listened to a lecture by Alan Guth, speaking about cosmological inflation. He made the statement that the energy of a gravitational field is negative (followed by a great thought experiment with a collapsing shell of matter to demonstrate this). I am curious; does this mean that...
  33. tom.stoer

    Boltzmann vs. Gibbs entropy, negative energy

    This article insinuates that the physics community had forgotten Gibbs entropy long ago and has used Boltzmann entropy since. Isn't this nonsense? For me it was always clear that Boltzmann entropy is problematic...
  34. C

    MHB Graphs of Negative Fractional Powers x^(-p/q)

    Can someone explain how these graphs are drawn. How does the value of p/q affect this graph? How does the domain and range change? How are the asymptotes found? The below is an image about what I'm talking about: Here is a question the deals with this type of graph (no idea how to solve it...
  35. B

    Why it does not work with a negative (trig problem)

    Hello, i'm looking for an explanation of a rule I used to solve a problem. I came to the correct answer in the end, but I do not understand why my first attempt went wrong. Homework Statement Find the general solution to cot4θ = tan5θ Homework Equations tanA = tanB => A = nπ + B...
  36. D

    Negative binomial distribution

    Homework Statement Repeatdly roll a fair die until the outcome 3 has accurred on the 4th roll. Let X be the number of times needed in order to achieve this goal. Find E(X) and Var(X) Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I am having trouble deciphering this question...
  37. T

    Electrons are negative, same charges repel, then what about this?

    Cathode rays are the flow of election, since electrons are -vely charged, is it normal for the rays to travel almost in a bundle without getting dispersed due to it's repulsion? If you say it's because of its velocity, then if you imagine each electrons, they are at almost rest to each other...
  38. N

    What Could Be Causing Negative Reactive Power in a Three Phase Power System?

    In a three phase power system,delta connected 66kV transmission line,the reactive power in one of the line/phase is negative(capacitive) while the reactive power in the other two lines/phases is positive.What is causing the reactive power to be negative(capacitive) in this phase?What are some...
  39. A

    Negative area between two curves

    I've been trying to figure out what a negative area means, but I can't. Homework Statement Calculate the area between f(x) = 3^{x} \, , \, g(x)=2x+1 The attempt to a solution The intersections are located in x=0 and x=1. So I do the integral from 0 to 1. \int_{0}^{1} (g(x)-f(x))dx =...
  40. G

    Can n be negative? What values of n allow for negative numbers?

    If yes, then for what values of n?
  41. T

    Negative Velocities in Lorentz Transformations

    Undergrad studying engineering here, and my physics class has been doing a unit about intro to special relativity. Essentially, all of our problems and studies concern themselves with velocities which are in the +x direction relative to a "home frame" (I think physicists call this standard...
  42. L

    Schools Age as negative factor in top math grad school admission?

    Hi, I am a math major in South Korea. Recently, one of my friends came to me with a rumor that age of the applicant is a critical factor in admission to top math grad school like princeton, harvard, etc... What worries me is that due to the country's "mandatory military service law ", I...
  43. J

    Is the Partial Sum Negative? Exploring Cosine Telescoping Series

    Homework Statement If you sum this from one to infinity. Ʃ (cos(1/(n)^2 - cos(1/(n+1)^2) Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution Ʃ (cos(1/(n-1)^2 - cos(1/(n+1)^2) This is telescoping if you work that out for the partial nth partial sum you get cos(1) -...
  44. M

    Negative variance of an observable quantity

    Quantum mechanics has a well-known procedure for evaluating the expectation value of an observable quantity in a given quantum state. First one must obtain the quantum operator O that is associated with the observable quantity. Then the rule for computing the expectation value is: Apply O to the...
  45. andyrk

    Why Does OH- Have a Negative Charge?

    Why does the hydroxide ion have a negative charge? , i.e OH-?
  46. P

    Understanding Negative Reactive Power in Inductive and Resistive Power Systems

    What would it mean if in a power system with purely inductive and resistive elements (No Capacitance) if you were seeing a negative value of reactive power when there was no load connected? E.g. If the load was disconnected but the transmission line contained both resistance and inductive...
  47. anemone

    MHB F(x) is non negative for all real x

    Hi MHB, I have encountered an interesting math problem which I couldn't solve. Problem: Find all values of http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/code.php?hash=86f7e437faa5a7fce15d1ddcb9eaeaea377667b8&sid=32778a5e32459cc05fd7472f968d6f64 such that $x^6-6x^5+12x^4+ax^3+12x^2-6x+1$ is...
  48. Q

    Negative Voltage Regulation in Transformer

    How can a transformer have negative voltage regulation? A few texts state that a leading power factor can give rise to negative power factor, but I have not been able to figure out how this is possible. One vague explanation in my mind is that capacitance across the secondary terminal will...
  49. S

    Negative or 0 void coeficient graphite moderated reactor

    Is it possible to create a graphite moderated light water cooled reactor w/ at least 3 GW thermal power output and a non-positive void coefficient that runs on slightly enriched uranium (0.9-2%) w/ at least 60 GWd/tHM burn-up? If not, is it possible to create a graphite moderated light water...
  50. M

    Understanding the Negative 1 in L'Hospital's Rule Differentiation

    When using L'Hospital's rule to differentiate this function, why does the second term have a negative 1 multiplying it? Is it not already negative? Is it because of the -h in the expression?
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