Pertains to any question concerning the ideas that are formulated, whether mathematically or not, to explain or describe physical phenomena.
-3
votes
2answers
239 views
why is dark matter the best theory available to explain missing mass problems?
Why is dark matter the best theory to explain the missing mass problem?
Why is dark matter mathematically necessary to explain the missing mass problem?
On a side not I believe dark matter is ...
1
vote
5answers
281 views
Theoretical physics and education: Does it really matter a great deal about what happens inside a black hole, or about Hawking radiation? [closed]
I stumbled across this article http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cross-check/2010/12/21/science-faction-is-theoretical-physics-becoming-softer-than-anthropology/
It got me thinking. Why do we ...
2
votes
1answer
80 views
2nd order pertubation theory for harmonic oscillator
I'm having some trouble calculating the 2nd order energy shift in a problem.
I am given the pertubation:
$\hat{H}'=\alpha \hat{p}$,
where $\alpha$ is a constant, and $\hat{p}$ is given by:
...
7
votes
1answer
497 views
What are the facts that allow accepting the Oort cloud theory?
I admit without any fact that the Oort cloud (comet reservoir) should exist, and it seems to be accepted by far by the large majority of astronomers.
But it is still a theory without any direct ...
-1
votes
1answer
115 views
Can thought experiments qualify as actual research?
I wondered whether thought experiments actually can be substituted for actual experimentation. I understand that in some cases it might be necessary, but can it be unnecessary over thinking sometimes? ...
3
votes
1answer
126 views
Straightforward questions about calculating SUSY F-terms
So in the Lagrangian for a SUSY theory we have the F-terms, which I have seen written (e.g., in Stephen Martin's SUSY primer) as
$F^*_i F^i$
where
$F^i = \frac{\partial W}{\partial \phi^i}$.
I ...
22
votes
4answers
956 views
What is information?
We're all familiar with basic tenants such as "information cannot be transmitted faster than light" and ideas such as information conservation in scenarios like Hawking radiation (and in general, ...
3
votes
2answers
772 views
Does String Theory disagree with General Relativity?
I would like to expand on what I mean by the title of this question to focus the answers.
Normally whenever a theory (e.g. General Relativity) replaces another (e.g. Newtonian Gravity) there is a ...
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 ...
12
votes
9answers
169 views
In astronomy what phenomena have theory predicted before observations?
As far as I know, astronomy is generally an observational science. We see something and then try to explain why it is happening. The one exception that I know of is black holes: first it was thought ...
3
votes
5answers
781 views
How does the curvature of spacetime induce gravitational attraction?
I don't know how to ask this more clearly than in the title.
2
votes
1answer
86 views
Can we project a 4D world using 3D video technology?
Traditional movies, TV, etc, faithfully show our 3-dimensional world using 2 dimensions. So can we have a movie that shows a 4-dimensional world using 3D technology?
0
votes
2answers
1k views
Relationship between frequency and wavelength
I am currently writing up a report for science class on the relationship between frequency and wavelength. And so i was wondering if anyone knew where i could find published results (literature value) ...
-2
votes
1answer
303 views
Can a sound mathematical formula become a science theory?
Can a sound mathematical formula become a science theory if it is constructed using a pattern creation process from sense-data, applied to observations by an inductive mapping, in contrast to ...
0
votes
1answer
57 views
Dense Spherical Black Hole Shell with a Region Inside
I'm going to propose a thought experiment, based on two ideas.
One: A uniform spherical shell, by the Shell Theorem, does not exert any gravitational force on objects existing in the interior of the ...
5
votes
2answers
252 views
Does the mathematics of physics require impure set theory?
Suppose for the sake of this question that all mathematics is ultimately reducible to set theory in such a way that the only mathematical objects there really are, are sets.
Now, there is a common ...
31
votes
5answers
147 views
Models of neutrinos consistent with OPERA's results
I guess by now most people have heard about the new paper (arXiv:1109.4897) by the OPERA collaboration which claims to have observed superluminal neutrinos with 6$\sigma$ significance. Obviously this ...
7
votes
6answers
447 views
Why are the physical sciences described perfectly by mathematics?
Why are the physical sciences described perfectly by mathematics?
4
votes
1answer
105 views
Would it be possible to have an electron-less solid?
We can create plasmas quite easily, indeed you can buy a plasma cutter and generate it all day long for less than $500. Would it be possible to trap a plasma, say magnetically, and cool it so much ...
-3
votes
3answers
162 views
New theories and publications [closed]
When someone develops a new theory on physics, which is barely on schetch (so there are no measurements, nor simulations) with just a mathematical and conceptual description, in which scientific ...
10
votes
7answers
3k views
Tesla's theory of gravity
I was reading up on Tesla's Wikipedia page last night, and I came across this:
When he was 81, Tesla stated he had
completed a "dynamic theory of
gravity". He stated that it was
"worked out ...
1
vote
1answer
140 views
Crucial Misconceptions about The Universe [closed]
So I am piecing together a school project on the numerous misconceptions of the universe, which I plan to "provide proof against them" with information from various sources (one of the main ones will ...
6
votes
1answer
139 views
What is the origin of flavor? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Origin of lepton/quark generations?
In the standard model (and in nature), Fermions appear in different generations, or flavors. Besides up and down quarks and ...
2
votes
1answer
410 views
Is anti-gravity possible in theoretical physics?
Is anti-gravity http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-gravity possible in string theory?
I have read some articles about scientists making assumptions about the existence of anti-gravity, but is it ...
6
votes
2answers
150 views
Is the step of analytic continuation unavoidable or can you model around it?
One sometimes considers the analytic continuation of certain quantities in physics and take them seriously. More so than the direct or actual values actually. For example if you use the procedure for ...
12
votes
7answers
356 views
Macroscopic laws which haven't been derived from microscopic laws
Can you think of examples where a macroscopic law coexists with a fully known microscopic law, but the former hasn't been derived from the latter (yet)? Or maybe a rule of thumb, which works but ...
6
votes
4answers
1k views
What are the challenges to achieving cold fusion?
I am an absolute neophyte regarding physics. What are the challenges to achieving cold fusion?
I'm not sure this is a duplicate of Why is cold fusion considered bogus?, because that question is ...
4
votes
0answers
235 views
Relating the variance of the current operator to measurements
(EDIT: Thanks to Nathaniel's comments, I have altered the question to reflect the bits that I am still confused about.)
This is a general conceptual question, but for definiteness' sake, imagine a ...
6
votes
5answers
420 views
Is physics rigorous in the mathematical sense?
I am a student studying Mathematics with no prior knowledge of Physics whatsoever except for very simple equations. I would like to ask, due to my experience with Mathematics:
Is there a set of ...
4
votes
4answers
472 views
Can the universe be described by a Markov chain?
This may be a fairly basic question as I don't have a strong background in physics. I intuitively thought that the universe must be able to be described by a Markov chain. That is, I thought you ...
10
votes
5answers
6k views
How exactly does time slow down near a black hole?
How exactly does time slow down near a black hole? I have heard this as a possible way of time traveling, and I do understand that it is due in some way to the massive gravity around a black hole, but ...
0
votes
3answers
66 views
Is physics very dependent on equipment?
I always had the impression that physics depends a lot on particle accelerators and heavy machines for experimentation of new theories, I know there's the field called theoretical physics but until ...
0
votes
1answer
171 views
Is omniscience impossible?
I remember reading a brief note in Scientific American years ago about a mathematician/physicist who had published a paper that formally stated that no entity could both participate in a given system ...
1
vote
2answers
108 views
Has there been any serious work in how the world would look if basic physical laws were changed?
Has there been any serious work in investigating how the world would look if certain basic physical laws were changed?
Like if gravity or electromagnetism laws were changed to have different ...
3
votes
1answer
194 views
How is the apparent significance of (length) scales in physics explained?
From what I understand, especially from reading arguments on Physics.SE, different (length) scales of a system are extremely important. It's clear that if there are two scales $\delta,d,D,\Delta$ with ...
4
votes
5answers
700 views
Can a scientific theory ever be absolutely proven?
I personally cringe when people talk about scientific theories in the same way we talk about everyday theories.
I was under the impression a scientific theory is similar to a mathematical proof; ...
1
vote
0answers
89 views
What is the origin of the many-body expansion?
I'm looking for the original introduction of the many-body expansion (MBE) in the scientific literature. More specifically, I'm interested in a theoretical justification of the rapid convergence of ...
1
vote
0answers
47 views
four boson quantum system contact interaction
I have to solve this problem. Four bosons moving in 1d harmonic potential(their spin is 0) and interacting through contact interaction defined via delta function.
Now, methods that I have to use: a) ...
-1
votes
1answer
124 views
Physical -> Chemical -> Nuclear -> [what comes next]
If a splitting atoms / fusing isotopes (fission bomb, fusion bomb) yields more energy than chemical changes (TNT, et al) yields more energy than physical change (hydrogen bonds forming during water ...
2
votes
2answers
124 views
Wave Function Statistical Interpretation vs Oscillation Interpretation
Can the wave function solution to Schrodinger's Equation be interpreted as an oscillation between all possible measurements (obviously with some type of weighting that would describe the shape of the ...
3
votes
4answers
1k views
Is it really Impossible for Bumblebees to fly?
According to some source or other (I forget which now) it is theoretically impossible for bumblebees to fly by virtue of their size/bulk/aerodynamic properties. Is this old adage apocraphyal or true? ...
2
votes
3answers
197 views
Should any theory of physics respect the principle of conservation of angular momentum or linear momentum?
Is it possible that a theory that can describe the universe at the planck scale can violate things that we now consider fundamental in nature?For example can it violate rotational and translational ...
10
votes
3answers
481 views
Can physics get rid of the continuum?
Almost every physical equation I can think of (even though I don't actually feel comfortable beyond the scope of classical mechanics and macroscopic thermodynamics, as that's enough for dealing with ...
3
votes
2answers
200 views
Has anyone else thought about gravity in this way?
Picture yourself standing on a ball that is expanding at such a rate that it makes you stick to the ball.
Everything in the universe is expanding at this same rate.
To escape the earths gravitational ...
3
votes
1answer
292 views
The possibility of free electrical energy?
Please excuse my lack of knowledge/understanding.
Question: Why Nikola Tesla's Free Energy concept was never worked upon? Even today.
Context: Now that we know Nikola Tesla was a genius and did ...
3
votes
3answers
317 views
shifting from mathematics to physics
I am a postgraduate in mathematics. I studied physics during my B.Sc.studies.I want to go for further studies in physics particularly in theoretical physics. I am in a job and cant afford regular ...
4
votes
2answers
119 views
What equations govern the formation of droplets on a surface?
When some smooth surface (like that of a steel or glass plate) is brought in contact with steam (over e.g. boiling milk) then water is usually seen to condense on that surface not uniformly but as ...
2
votes
2answers
209 views
Number of bits needed to express physical laws?
What is the minimum number of bits that would be needed to express a given physical law, like the law of universal gravitation? How many bits are needed to express each of the four fundamental forces? ...
0
votes
1answer
89 views
Entropy, Mass and Brane gravity
Does string theory state as vibrational entropy increases, mass increases?
Related: What is a D-brane?
Reference: Cambridge Relativity
6
votes
1answer
197 views
Naturalness and experiments
Is there an example where model building that is motivated only by Naturalness, has led to experimentally verified observations?
If the question is unclear, or if the reader wants more elaboration, ...
