Questions that ask about some aspect of physics research or study which doesn't involve the actual physics. In general, soft questions can be answered without using physical reasoning.
41
votes
33answers
5k views
Great unsolved physics problems [closed]
We all know that some theoretical ideas lack experimental evidence while in other cases there's a lack of a suitable theory for known phenomena and established facts and concepts.
But what problem in ...
32
votes
2answers
793 views
What is the meaning of the third derivative printed on this T-shirt?
Don't be a $\frac{d^3x}{dt^3}$
What does it all mean?
30
votes
18answers
904 views
What papers should everyone read? [closed]
Mathoverflow
A single paper everyone should read?
CSTheory
What papers should everyone read?
TheoreticalPhysics.SE
What papers should every physicist read?
NOTES:
One paper per answer.
Please ...
29
votes
25answers
2k views
Your favorite Physics/Astrophysics blogs?
What are the Physics/Astrophysics blogs you regularly read? I'm looking to beef up my RSS feeds to catch up with during my long commutes. I'd like to discover lesser-known gems (e.g. not well known ...
26
votes
10answers
655 views
Readable books on advanced topics [closed]
I realise that there are already a few questions looking for general book recommendations, but the motivation and type of book I'm looking for here is a little different, so I hope you can indulge me.
...
24
votes
2answers
2k views
Reading the Feynman lectures in 2012
The Feynman lectures are universally admired, it seems, but also a half-century old.
Taking them as a source for self-study, what compensation for their age, if any, should today's reader undertake? ...
20
votes
5answers
522 views
How to write a paper in physics
I really like to do research in physics and like to calculate to see what happen. However, I really find it hard to write a paper, to explain the results I obtained and to put them in order. One of ...
20
votes
4answers
290 views
How to determine what size telescope to buy
A couple of years ago my son showed an interest in astronomy and we bought a 6" reflector telescope. We use it pretty regularly and have enjoyed it immensely. Lately we've both been wishing we had ...
20
votes
2answers
186 views
Post-doc advice for a low publication grad student
As a grad student, I have a single publication, a conference proceeding, to my name. So, my question is what do I need to do to obtain a post-doc position? Obviously, my references are going to be ...
19
votes
8answers
2k views
Starting a physics Ph.D. at 60?
Decades ago I was in a physics Ph.D. program, made a hash of things, and quite rightly was dropped from the program. Since then I've had a very satisfying career as a computer programmer, and picked ...
19
votes
14answers
2k views
Learning physics online?
I'm thinking of following some kind of education in physics online. I have a master degree in Computer Science and have reasonable good knowledge in physics. I would like a program of 1-2 years and ...
16
votes
5answers
429 views
What do theoretical physicists need from computer scientists?
I recently co-authored a paper (not online yet unfortunately) with some chemists that essentially provided answers to the question, "What do chemists need from computer scientists?" This included the ...
16
votes
8answers
2k views
Comprehensive book on group theory for physicists?
I am looking for a good source on group theory aimed at physicists. I'd prefer one with a good general introduction to group theory, not just focusing on Lie groups or crystal groups but one that ...
15
votes
11answers
1k views
Are there still 'everyday' phenomena unexplained by Physics? [closed]
There are two very famous quotes from German Nobel Laureate Albert Abraham Michelson that are remembered mainly for being extremely wrong (especially since he said them just before two major ...
15
votes
9answers
3k views
How should a physics student study mathematics? [closed]
Note: I will expand this question with more specific points when I have my own internet connection and more time (we're moving in, so I'm at a friend's house).
This question is broad, involved, and ...
15
votes
4answers
711 views
What are the best open-access journals in physics?
I would like to support open-access journals by choosing to publish in journals which allow readers free online access. Ideally I would also like to retain copyright instead of signing it over to ...
15
votes
9answers
1k views
Books that develop interest & critical thinking among high school students
I heard about Yakov Perelman and his books. I just finished reading his two volumes of Physics for Entertainment. What a delightful read! What a splendid author. This is the exact book I've been ...
13
votes
8answers
4k views
What are the prerequisites to studying general relativity?
This question recently appeared on Slashdot:
Slashdot posts a fair number of physics stories. Many of us, myself included, don't have the background to understand them. So I'd like to ask the ...
13
votes
7answers
742 views
Books that every non-physicist should read
To add to Books that every physicist should read:
A list of popular physics books for people who aren't necessarily physics grads.
(see also Book recommendations)
13
votes
4answers
2k views
What does Peter Parkers formula represent?
Okay, so the trailer for the new Spider Man movie is out and appearently our friendly physicist from the neightborhood came up with something. However I can't find out what this is.
...
12
votes
11answers
5k views
How do you start self-learning physics [closed]
I think this question has its place here because I am sure some of you are "self-taught experts" and can guide me a little through this process.
Considering that :
I don't have any physics scholar ...
12
votes
6answers
1k views
Where should a physicist go to learn chemistry?
I took an introductory chemistry course long ago, but the rules seemed arbitrary, and I've forgotten most of what I learned. Now that I have an undergraduate education in physics, I should be able to ...
12
votes
5answers
476 views
Online physics collaboration tools
I.e. online discussion with your friends. A forum is probably too overkill in this case.
Yet so far nothing can beat direct communication.
Important feature: the ability to archive discussions. We ...
12
votes
11answers
675 views
What objective criteria distinguish between valid science, fringe science and pseudoscience in physics?
Plenty of research activity in physics have been vigorously opposed by their opponents as pseudoscience or fringe science, while other research are mainstream. It is possible some topic is ...
11
votes
7answers
2k views
How to learn physics effectively and efficiently [closed]
How do you effectively study physics? How does one read a physics book instead or just staring at it for hours?
(Apologies in advance if the question is ill-posed or too subjective in its current ...
11
votes
6answers
557 views
What is an effective way to search for post-doc positions in physics?
I am a graduate student in experimental physics, currently writing up my dissertation and beginning to apply to post-doc positions. While it is very easy to find out about open positions in my ...
11
votes
2answers
68 views
Who should I contact if I see an unknown object in the sky?
Who should I contact if I see an unknown object in the sky?
Should I contact the nearest observatory? Or is there some official place run by, say, NASA or ESA that take in observations in their ...
11
votes
3answers
852 views
Is there a physics Puzzles site like Project Euler?
I am looking for a site that publishing riddles and problems such as Project Euler
publishes problems in computer science. Is there any similar site that is hardcore in the area of physics?
This ...
11
votes
2answers
234 views
Searching books and papers with equations
Sometimes I may come up with an equation in mind, so I want to search for the related material. It may be the case that I learn it before but forget the name, or, there is no name for the equation ...
11
votes
4answers
754 views
What does it mean to say that the electron is a near-perfect sphere?
It's announced that researchers at Imperial College London has found that the electron is almost a perfect sphere. The popular articles all have a nice photo of a billiard ball, etc. It is reported ...
11
votes
1answer
343 views
Why is the partition function called ''partition function''?
The partition function plays a central role in statistical mechanics.
But why is it called ''partition function''?
10
votes
5answers
893 views
Is it possible to work on physics independently outside academia?
The traditional physics career is an academic job at some university, with the eventual goal of becoming a tenured professor. Is it possible for a mostly self-educated outsider working outside ...
10
votes
7answers
1k views
What are the most important papers in physics?
Recently I got the book "On the Shoulders of Giant" from Stephen Hawkings. It consists of more than 1000 pages of classical publications in physics. However 900 pages are given to the work of ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
Are we living in a false vacuum? Is there any way to tell?
I was thinking of the noted 1980 paper by Sidney Coleman and Frank de Luccia--"Gravitational effects of and on vacuum decay"-- about metastable vacuum states that could tunnel to a lower energy "true ...
10
votes
3answers
195 views
Mathematical Physics Book Recommendation [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Best books for mathematical background?
I want to learn contemporary mathematical physics, so that, for example, I can read Witten's latest paper without checking other ...
9
votes
16answers
2k views
Can pure maths create new theories in physics or does the “idea” ALWAYS come before the math?
I am in a debate with a friend about the value of string theory in physics. He is concerned that we are wasting valuable intellectual and financial resources on a path that is fanciful and can't ever ...
9
votes
9answers
1k views
Failed ideas in physics [closed]
This question exists because it has
historical significance, but it is not
considered a good, on-topic question
for this site, so please do not use it
as evidence that you can ask similar
...
9
votes
5answers
196 views
Where do theta functions and canonical Green functions appear in physics
In the beginning of Section 5 in his article, Wentworth mentions a result of Bost and proves it using the spin-1 bosonization formula. This result provides a link between theta functions, canonical ...
9
votes
7answers
3k views
What does it take to understand Maxwell's equations?
Assume I want to learn math and physics enough to reach a level where I understand Maxwell's equations (The terms and reasoning in the equations I.e. why they "work"). What would I have to learn in ...
9
votes
5answers
1k views
Do Category Theory and/or Quantum Logic add value in physics?
I know they have their adherents, but do more or less esoteric branches of mathematics such as Category Theory and/or Quantum Logic provide powerful tools for new theory development or are they just ...
9
votes
3answers
147 views
What do the various journals and publications bodies offer for their subscriptions? [closed]
I would like to abide by the site policies on not asking open-ended/chatty questions so if someone feels there is a better location or wording for this question, please feel free to modify it as ...
9
votes
3answers
376 views
How to convert a FITS file to .xls Excel file?
We are trying to determine the isophots in elliptical galaxies in order
to check De-Vaucouleurs law. To do so, we want to convert the data from a
FITS file to Excel and analyze it using Excel math ...
9
votes
1answer
643 views
What came first, Rice Crispy or “Snap,” “Crackle,” and “Pop”? [closed]
The fourth, fifth, and sixth derivatives of position are called "Snap" "Crackle" and "Pop". What came first, the rice crispy characters, or the physics units?
8
votes
5answers
780 views
Graduate School for Theoretical Physics
First off, let me just say that I am unsure if this question is appropriate for this site, and if the community deems it necessary, the question should be closed.
So right now I am a fourth year ...
8
votes
10answers
76 views
Are there websites or programmes that permit a simulation of the night sky in the past and the future on an ordinary computer?
Are there websites or programs that permit a simulation of the night sky in the past and the future on an ordinary computer?
(For the past, I would be content with objects visible to the naked eye.)
...
8
votes
9answers
1k views
Why beauty is a good guide in physics?
Dirac once said that he was mainly guided by mathematical beauty more than anything else in his discovery of the famous Dirac equation. Most of the deepest equations of physics are also the most ...
8
votes
9answers
2k views
Theoretical Physics - How to?
Although I doubt somewhat whether this question is really appropriate for this site, I hope it gets answered anyways. I guess, what I'm wondering is:
How does one get to work as a theoretical ...
8
votes
7answers
246 views
Are the results from models considered “data”?
At the AGU, I presented a poster on vocabulary for discussing data systems, and someone left a note at my poster stating:
You have a bias here towards observational data. Need to recognize that a ...
8
votes
1answer
172 views
Has a human ever perished in space?
Apollo 13 returned safely. The Challenger was leaving when it exploded. The Columbia was coming back when it burned up, as was that Russian guy who was profiled on National Public Radio (NPR) and that ...
8
votes
5answers
209 views
How to communicate institutional knowledge in a big physics collaboration?
I am a graduate student in a large experimental physics collaboration. Newcomers to the collaboration invariably complain about excessive use of jargon and insufficient documentation as barriers to ...
