# All Questions

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### 1D Finite potential well: solutions with $\sinh$ and $\cosh$?

So I am studying the (one dimensional) quantum mechanical finite potential well defined by: $$V(x) = \cases{0, &|x|>a\cr -V_0, &|x|<a}$$ where $V_0>0$ is a real number. I know ...
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### Forces on objects orbiting a black hole?

Firstly, please excuse my elementary knowledge and lack of eloquence when writing about astrophysics. I am a dentist, who occasionally thinks about the how the universe works. I'm both fascinated and ...
2k views

### What does this depiction of a black hole in the movie Interstellar mean?

I was expecting a whirlpool in 3D and the matter glowing from friction as it nears the center, as I expected a event horizon to be negligible visually. How does this depiction work? How big is the ...
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### What does $σ$ equal to zero mean?

Consider the Laplace transform of an RC filter. For those who can't immediately summon it, refer equation (46) at this link: http://web.mit.edu/2.151/www/Handouts/FreqDomain.pdf for a refresher. In ...
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### What are the Correlations for the Super-compressability Z factor?

I am studying the course TPG4145 Reservoir fluids in NTNU and specifically the supercompressability factor $Z=\frac{V_{\text{real volume of the system}}}{V_{\text{ideal volume of the system}}}$ for ...
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### Equivalent tensor order parameters of nematic liquid crystals?

I found in the literatures two different definitions of the tensor order parameter of nematic liquid crystals. One is $$Q_{ij}=\frac{S}{2}(3n_{i}n_{j}-\delta_{ij}),$$ where $S$ is the scalar order ...
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### Can we draw analogy between em power flow through free space and ac power flow through a transmission line?

Knowing that the free space has a characteristic impedance (which is purely resistive, measured in ohms) I was wondering if I can model the free space as an infinitely long transmission line- ...
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### Will this sail-based moving system work? Why? [duplicate]

So simple: Will this sail-based moving system work? Why?
27 views

### Restrictions on Bell-type inequalities

While deriving and proving Bell-type inequalities of the form $|E(a,b)-E(a,b')|+|E(a',b)+E(a',b')|\leq 2$ I know that the conditions on the operators $O_a$ and $O_b$ are that they must be bounded ...
455 views

### What makes the stars that are farther from the nucleus of the galaxy go faster than those in the middle?

It has no sense that stars that have a bigger radius and apparently less angular speed($\omega$) goes faster than the ones near the center.
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### Spontaneous symmetry breaking of SHO

Spontaneous symmetry breaking refers to the solution of a system loses some symmetry in its Lagrangian. Consider a Simple Harmonic Oscillator, its lagrangian is time translationally invariant but its ...
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### Pressure and variation in pressure due to depth

In my class, we were shown the following problem: Using the equation $P_1$ = $P_0$ + $\displaystyle\rho$gh, where $P_1$ is the pressure at Superman's mouth and $P_0$ is the pressure at the surface ...
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### Explanation for the minus sign in $\Omega_3$ in the Kappa symmetry of the Green - Schwarz formalism for F1 strings

Just so that there can be more higher - level physics questions here, let me post this question + answer. Also because I'm a bit sad that there are almost no questions on the Green-Schwarz ...
279 views

### How to optically rotate images in small increments (for eyeglasses)?

As the result of an accident, one or more nerves that control the rotation of my left eye were damaged. The result is that my left eye views the world rotated clockwise several degrees, compared to my ...
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### Trigger supernova artificially [on hold]

Is there a way to artificially trigger a given star to be supernova? Is this theoretically possible? I would appreciate fast ways. For instance, preference will be given for ways that doesn't take ...
26 views

### Calculating rotation using moment of inertia [on hold]

I have an object A. I know its theoretical moment of inertia. I have a string wrapped around object A. I then apply a certain tension to that string, causing the object A to spin for a certain amount ...
62 views

### Atom in a box and collapse of the wave-function

Suppose I have an atom trapped in an optically transparent box. I'm assuming the atom is bouncing off of the walls and not bonding, i.e. the center of mass of the atom experiences a square well. Now ...
48 views

### what is causing gravitational pull in between massive bodies? [duplicate]

what is causing gravitational pull in between massive bodies? according to books, what i learnt is graviton particle & some books are saying quantum field is the cause, so which is causing ...
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### Ground influence on 434 MHz radio signal

I have read in a paper that ground acts as reflector for radio signals in 434 MHz band. Why is that the case?
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### Electromagnetic waves should stop while encountering a conducting shell?

I am a high school student who has just started reading elementary electromagnetism and am a completely beginner in this subject. I have read in books that EM waves are nothing but sinusoidal ...
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+50

### Are the orientations of spin-axes and binary/planetary orbits random or is there any relationship with the Galactic plane?

In an answer to another question, a claim has been made that orbit/spin orientations are random (at least within our own Galaxy), except perhaps towards the Galactic centre. I have dabbled in this ...
720 views

### Why does a conservative force return the work done against it by a body to that body?

Newton's 3rd law of motion: Newton's third law of motion or the law of action and reaction implies that there is no isolated force in nature. Whenever there is any force at all , there must be ...
22 views

### Diameter of aluminium ring after it expands [on hold]

An aluminium ring has diameter $200.00$ mm at $25.00^0C$. What would be its diameter at $325.00^0C$? $\alpha$ for aluminium is $7.500 \times 10^{-5}K^{-1}$. Thanks for your help.
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### Point group symmetries and unit cell

I was wondering if the unit cell (of a given lattice) had to have every point group symmetries of the lattice it defines ? I guess there is no unique way to define a unit cell and that it may not have ...
5k views

### Sound - what happens with the particles when a wave passes

I'm having some problems in understanding the principles of sound propagation. The wave propagates though air (for example) exerts compression, which is followed by rarefaction. I think I got than ...
85 views

### Is acceleration caused by curvature or space or time or both?

I'm trying to get a hold of the idea of gravity in general relativity and spacetime. I've seen plenty of demonstrations of the rubber mat analogy to describe gravity and spacetime curvature. Is this ...
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### What role does the Higgs Field play in the universe?

The Higgs field is known as a physical field that covers the entire universe, giving particles their mass. However, that got me thinking if the Higgs field not only gives mass to other particles, but ...
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### Irreversibility of the nuclear decay process: is there a rigorous proof?

Consider an unstable nucleus that emits an alpha particle. For describing the process we solve the Schrodinger equation using a complex energy, and obtain a Gamow state. The mere fact that we use a ...
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### to find work from that question kindle give some idea [on hold]

A set of friction less wheels are attached to the bottom of a box, which is then measured and found to have a mass of 6.0 kg. The box is placed on the floor, and a student of Physics uses a brief ...
24 views

### Cohen Tannoudji solutions to exercises

Does anyone know where to find the solutions to the exercises of Cohen-Tannoudji's Quantum Mechanics? I am gonna try to do all of them and would like to check.
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### How to rebut denials of the existence of photons? [duplicate]

Recently I have encountered several engineers who do not “believe in” photons. They believe experiments such as the photoelectric effect can be explained with classical EM fields + quantized energy ...
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### Understanding a graph of energy conservation with bounded and unbounded motions?

This graph is from the physics undergraduate text "Classical Mechanics by Douglas Gregory". Above this graph was the statement: What I didn't understand is- as stated in the under [*paragraph], ...
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### Do bad clocks measure proper time?

It has been claimed several times e.g. here, and here, also here, or (outside PSE) there that Clocks measure proper time. Or equivalenty: proper time is just the time that would be ...
194 views

### Is there any physical quantity that does not have uncertainty?

I saw this video and I got a thought: Is there any physical quantity that does not have uncertainty? Basic models are: for lenght for time end energy (so for mass too) and I realized that ...
70 views

### Is Physics really a rigorous subject? [on hold]

Though I can't give a precise definition of the term rigor (or better to say mathematical rigor) but intuitively in case of mathematics one may note that when we say that 'the proof is rigorous' we ...
153 views

### Understanding Poynting's Theorem intuitively

I understand that, broadly speaking, Poynting's theorem is a statement of conservation of energy. Energy density of a volume of current and charge decreases proportionally to work done on charges ...
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### Is it possible to project black light? [duplicate]

A thought passed by me and I wondered if projecting black light was possible. We can make lights with many other colors, but I'm not so sure about black. So, is it possible? Has it been done?