# All Questions

2k views

### How is capacitance defined for three concentric spheres?

If we have a configuration of metal concentric spheres (each of negligible thickness) of radii $r_1,r_2,r_3$ respectively and $r_1<r_2<r_3$, and we are given the potentials of the spheres to be ...
407 views

### Thermodynamic limit “vs” the method of steepest descent

Let me use this lecture note as the reference. I would like to know how in the above the expression (14) was obtained from expression (12). In some sense it makes intuitive sense but I would ...
1k views

### What does activation energy actually do?

Spontaneous (exothermic) chemical reactions often require a push from the addition of externally supplied energy. This energy is often called activation energy. What does activation energy actually ...
2k views

### If an anti-matter singularity and a normal matter singularity, of equal masses, collided would we (outside the event horizon) see an explosion? [duplicate]

If an anti-matter singularity and a normal matter singularity, of equal masses, collided would we (outside the event horizon) see an explosion?
1k views

### Why is it wrong when I try to use Newton's Law?

A 25 kg block is connected to a 30 kg block by a light string that passes over a frictionless pulley. The 30 kg block is connected to a light spring of force constant 195 N/m, as in Figure P13.59. ...
384 views

### Why does hair stand up when standing under power lines?

My initial guess would be the immense electric field around the lines, that causes hair to get charged and due to each hair having the same charge they start to repel each other. So what is exactly ...
474 views

### storing energy (as mass)

When chemical energy is released mass is reduced, if only by a negligible amount. Presumably that's true for all energy. And presumably that works in reverse as well: storing energy involves an ...
225 views

### What's a pseudo-rotation?

I'm sorry for this lexical, probably extremely elementary, question. But what is a pseudo-rotation? I just read this term for the first time, in the beginning of the 4th chapter book of CFT by Di ...
656 views

### Canonical transformations and conservation of energy

I have an important doubt about the nature of canonical transformations in hamiltonian mechanics. Suppose I have a one-degree-of-freedom lagrangian system, whose hamiltonian depends explicitly on ...
613 views

### Atmospheric pressure inside a rigid vessel

On a macroscopic scale one can explain the atmospheric pressure by the weight of the column of air over a given small area. If you enclose this air in rigid vessel (for example by pressing together ...
72 views

### Potential at a point

What is the electric dipole moment of the charge distribution with $q$ at $(0,0,1)$, $q$ at $(0,0,-1)$ and $-2q$ at $(0,0,0)$? I would think that it is $\vec{0}$ by the definition ...
577 views

### Solving Schrödinger's equation for a specific potential

I am trying to solve this differential equation: $$-\chi''(\epsilon)+\Big[\epsilon^2+\frac{2F}{hw}\sqrt{\frac{h}{hw}}\epsilon \Big]\chi(\epsilon)=\mu\chi(\epsilon) \tag1$$ This was found ...
350 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 ...
546 views

### Could LEP II have discovered a 125GeV Higgs?

LEP II eliminated the Higgs up to 114.5GeV. If it had been run for longer could it have detected a Higgs at 125GeV? I Googled for this without any luck, though I did find a comment that LEP II topped ...
285 views

### Why does aircraft tail not project down from the fuselage? [closed]

Just what the title states; I was browsing photographs and it struck me how aircraft tails typically 'stand' atop the fuselage. A few aircraft (think it dates to the 40s-50s) have a tail that projects ...
424 views

### Anomalous magnetic moment of electron

It is known that the value of 2 of the electron g-factor arises from the Dirac equation. As far as I can see from the various sources, this value is obtained in non-relativistic limit, in particular ...
307 views

### How to write classical dynamics of solids in tensor form (relation of stiffness and viscosity tensor)?

This is a question about dynamics. If I have understood correctly there should be a tensor that describes the dynamics of a (solid?) body (= viscosity ?). I mean, tensor that includes the time ...
284 views

### Does the existence of dualities imply a more fundamental structure?

I was wondering if the existence of some kind of duality in physics always implies the existence of some underlying more fundamental structure/concept? Let me give a few example from history: ...
498 views

### Wave equation from hooke law - simple question

In the paragraph http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave_equation#From_Hooke.27s_law it is said, regarding the u(x) function, that Here u(x) measures the distance from the equilibrium of the mass ...
785 views

### ICBM : throw weight and boost phase duration

I've seen a statement, that reducing boost phase duration by 25% of an abstract ICBM would reduce its throw weight by several times. I don't get how is that possible. Shorter boost phase - less ...
770 views

### Blandford-Znajek process: Why/how does the current flow along the magnetic field lines

Related: How would a black hole power plant work? I have put a bit of commentary enumerating my confusions in parentheses I read in Black Holes and Time Warps (Kip Thorne), that quasars can generate ...
382 views

### Does EM radiation (any, i.e. RF), or sound, radiate everywhere at once?

I am having trouble understanding electromagnetic radiation (or waves in general, be it EM or sound). If I have a 1 Watt speaker, is it infinitely divided and spread out so that everyone in every ...
222 views