All Questions

4k views

What is entropy really?

On this site, change in entropy is defined as the amount of energy dispersed divided by the absolute temperature. But I want to know: What is the definition of entropy? Here, entropy is defined as ...
34 views

How much (little) wind force does it take to move a toddler in a stroller? [closed]

This question is raised because of the recent incident in a London subway station involving a stroller falling onto the tracks. The stroller was probably 10 feet (or 3 m) from the edge of the ...
1k views

How many joules of energy are required to convert 1 liter of water into hydrogen and oxygen, theoretically? [closed]

I've been reading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolysis_of_water and other related questions on physics.stackexchange, but I fear I don't have a decent enough understanding of math and science to ...
216 views

The Spinning Log “Perpetual Motion” problem, and my attempt at a solution

So I was introduced to this "perpetual motion" riddle a few weeks ago. The problem goes like this: we all know perpetual motion machines are not possible, but this riddle seems like it should work as ...
227 views

Spontaneous symmetry breaking and time-reversal symmetry

In most textbooks on field theory you read that "spontaneous symmetry breaking implies degeneracy of the ground state". (Like for example in ...
110 views

Simple expression for transitional pressure force

Consider a simple, circular orifice with an upstream, high gas pressure and downstream, normal atmospheric pressure. Consider also a flat circular plate that can be positioned anywhere along the ...
160 views

Measuring position and momentum at the same time?

In a non-relativistic quantum mechanical system in an infinite potential well. I try to measure the energy and the position of the system simultaneously. Since, the respective operators do commute ...
312 views

What is the angle of projection when at maximum height the speed of a projectile is half the speed at half the maximum height? [closed]

I have been struggling with this problem: The speed of a projectile when it reaches its maximum height is one half of its speed when it is at half its maximum height. What is the initial ...
82 views

What is entropy of the universe? [duplicate]

What is entropy of the universe? What is the change in entropy of our universe? Is this change increases or decreases? If the entropy of universe keeps on increasing then what are the consequences? Is ...
92 views

What does ${\bf F} = \frac{\mathrm{d}W}{\mathrm{d}{\bf x}}$ actually mean?

What does the formula $${\bf F} ~=~ \frac{\mathrm{d}W}{\mathrm{d}{\bf x}}$$ actually mean? Here $\mathrm{d}W$ is the work done in a small period, ${\bf F}$ is the force and $\mathrm{d}{\bf x}$ is a ...
38 views

Entangled particles interaction with other particles

Non-physicist question: Suppose two particles A and B are entangled and A collides with another particle. What happens to B?
56 views

Deformation of light-cone

In the paper The geometry of free fall and light propagation by Ehlers and his colleagues (Gen. Relativ. Gravit. 44 no. 6, pp. 1587–1609 (2012)), when the authors introduce the differentiable ...
178 views

124 views

57 views

Does lever needs gravitation to work? [closed]

Simple question - Does lever needs gravitation force to work or it just needs fulcrum and could work in vacuum as well?
91 views

Tidal forces in free fall

Would a body free falling in a gravitational field which has a gradient large enough that it would affect the free falling body 'feel' the effect of the tidal forces on it. I'm curious because would ...
32 views

Is there a material with non-monotone density dependence on pressure?

Is there a material with such non-linear effects (including chemical reactions, phase transitions etc ...) so that there would be range where pressure increase would yield density decrease? What ...
47 views

Lepto-genesis and electroweak theory

Is there any term in standard electroweak theory that breaks CP-symmetry and thus explains lepto-genesis?
3k views

Calculate flow rate of air through a pressurized hole

I was wondering about this: If there is a pressurized container, like a tank of compressed air at some pressure that is greater than the ambient air pressure, and this tank of air has a hole in it, ...
85 views

Given a slanted pipe

Question: I have a pipeline that is tilted. I know the length of the pipeline, and the pressure (90psi) that is felt at the very bottom. I'm trying to find out how much liquid has leaked out if the ...
50 views

What is a good textbook to learn how to ray trace light through an optics system in 3d? [duplicate]

I can do 2d problems easily, but I need to learn more to do a 3D ray trace. Can you guys point me towards a textbook? I'm having trouble dealing with the normal and incident rays in 3D
148 views

Why can't classical information be transmitted through quantum entanglement by measuring time between change events? [duplicate]

If the effect of measurement in quantum entanglement occurs instantaneously why can't it be used to transmit classical information faster than light? I'm based my question off this seemingly well ...