# All Questions

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### Why photons reflect off glass?

Why photon reflects and refracts through glass? Some photons pass through glass and some reflects.I know this is due to energy levels of electrons of glass, an incoming photon is unable to excite the ...
129 views

### Einstein on a train paradox: what's the resolution?

Okay, so Einstein is on a train looking at a mirror. The train is moving at $c - 1 \frac ms$. Einstein is facing in the direction of motion. All along the side of the train are stationary clocks. ...
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### Conservation of Energy vs Conservation of Momentum in Rotational Dynamics

It is clear to me why angular momentum is always conserved, and how in some cases energy is not necessarily conserved within the system (in those cases where bodies deform, or friction is involved). ...
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### Need help piecing together football trajectory equations

I've done some studying of the physics involved when estimating the trajectory of an arcing football; that is, in American football, not world futbal, per se. I have all the basic building blocks I ...
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### How would the fermi energy of an element inside of crystal affect its fermi level?

If I had a substitutional crystal of nickel atoms inside of a copper fcc lattice, how would this affect the Fermi level of the material?
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### Why is rainbow always circular?

From the article that I read on physics classroom website on rainbow, rainbow is formed with red on the top and violet on the bottom because violet refracts more, and has a smaller angle of deviation ...
318 views

### Simpler derivation of Sackur-Tetrode equation

Is there a reason the following derivation for the Sackur-Tetrode equation is not common? I am teaching a lower undergraduate level class and would like to derive it with simpler terms of only using ...
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### What are the limitations of using instantaneous axis of rotation? [closed]

I know when the body rotatates as well as translates IAR or ICR shouldn't be used but I am not able to understand why?
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### Integral over a surface in kinetic theory [closed]

I am working with some kinetic theory. I have the distribution function $\Psi (\vec{r},\vec{p},t)$, Where $\vec{r}$ is the radius vector, $\vec{p}$ is the unit vector of orientation, and $t$ is the ...
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### Is there a reason why a relativistic quantum theory of a single fermion exists, but of a single scalar not?

When we try to construct the relativistic generalization of non-relativistic time dependent Schroedinger equation, there are at least two possible completions - Klein-Gordon equation and Dirac ...
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### If the Sun were smaller but had the same surface temperature, would it still have the same luminance?

Let's assume we have two stars that have the same surface temperature but very different size. I understand how luminosity depends on surface area so the two stars will have different luminosity, but ...
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### Can a GPS system detect the decline in the rotational velocity of the Earth?

From Wikipedia: Rotation in Angular Velocity of Earth Earth's rotation is slowing slightly with time; thus, a day was shorter in the past. This is due to the tidal effects the Moon has on Earth's ...
132 views

### What does it mean to observe? [duplicate]

This is a layman's question. The only thing I know about quantum physics is from casual reading and documentaries. I can imagine electrons being probabilistic waves. Their position is an infinite ...
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### What is the first topic on mathematics,that an undergraduate physics student must study? [duplicate]

I aspire to become a theoretical physicist. I like to understand about infinite series and so on. Could you please recommend me any book?
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### Calculating atomic forces from total force and torque on molecule in molecular dynamics (MD)

I guess this problem applies to any body that is composed of a small number of particles, but for the sake of simplicity and concreteness, let's consider a classical model of a molecule consisting of ...
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### Some confusion pertaining to direction of static friction on stationary object

Consider a stationary object of mass $m$ on a horizontal table. Since the object does not move relative to table, $f_s=0$. So it seems that we first consider $mg$ and normal reaction force,$N$ ...
108 views

### Convert an equation for acceleration into one for velocity

A sledge is pushed in a straight line. Assume surface is smooth. When the sledge is x distance away from the start the magnitude of its acceleration is given by $0.08e^{-4x}$ and is going in the same ...
109 views

### Geometric meaning of spin connection

A very short question: Does the spin connection that we encounter in General Relativity $$\omega_{\mu,ab}$$ have a geometric meaning? I am supposing it does because it comes from mathematical terms ...
167 views

### How to understand the lifespan of large-scale cosmological structures?

When a star is said to live for 1 billion years, is that relative to the 'average cosmological time unit' or local time in the star's gravitational field? Also, if the sun is said to have 5 billion ...
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### Why can't we find a true inertial frame?

From one book, I read that if we release a ball horizontally on earth, its velocity does change in very accurate observations. If we track its motion, we get full information of its motion (incl. ...
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### Determine direction of friction on a block held stationary against a vertical wall [closed]

A block of mass $m$ is pushed up against a wall and held stationary by a force $F$ that makes an acute angle $\theta$ with the horizontal. May I know how to determine the direction of the static ...
74 views

### Quantitative understanding of excess heat capacity in ferroics

I'm looking to understand what an excess heat capacity in a ferroelectric (FE) can correspond to qualitatively. Typically one starts with a Landau expansion of the free energy if you want to study the ...
1k views

### How can be the neutral wire at 0 volts when current flowing through it?

Voltage is potential difference, and current flows because of voltage. So if the voltage is zero, how can current flow through the neutral wire.
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### Issues with the chain rule in derivatives in chiral perturbation theory [duplicate]

I realize that this is a purely math question, which however has arisen in a physics computation. The reason to post it here is that I want a fast dirty answer. Not something cluttered with ...
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### What is the minimum acceleration that stops the rod from sliding in the frictionless surface? [closed]

What should be the block's acceleration 'a' such that the rod present inside, inclined at at the angle 'theta' and mass 'm' will be obstructed from sliding down. From car's frame of reference, a ...
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Suppose a current carrying wire Is placed in vertical direction. A charged rod is placed is placed nearly horizontally.It is clear that magnetic field due to current carrying wire is inside the ...
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### work and energy dilemma in an inclined [closed]

An example problem done in my book: A driver was driving a car of mass 1000 kg through an inclined plane which makes an angle of 30° with plane with a velocity of 25 m/s . Then he saw a boy 50 m ...
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### Why is the speed of light limited to (only) 299.792.458 m/s? [closed]

The speed of light (in a vacuum) is limited to 299.792.458 m/s. This sounds very fast, and it is on a global scale. But if you look at the Universe on a larger scale than it sounds quite slow, For ...