# All Questions

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### Law of conservation of energy and kinetic energy: deformation of a spring [closed]

Problem: A block B of 1,5 kg is attached to the right of a spring (not deformed, with its right side attach to a wall) with a constant of $k = 80 N/m$ and, at rest, the block enter in collision with ...
728 views

### Ephemeris calculations: Light time correction of the moon

I am currently trying to calculate apparent positions from raw JPL data. I've got it pretty much figured out, but there is one thing that's bugging me: Has the light time correction of the moon to be ...
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### How do we measure a quantum system properties? (length, mass and time) [closed]

How do we measure a quantum particle properties? (length, mass and time)
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### Regarding space launch hazard and near earth debris [closed]

I have saw this picture in wikipedia and I begin to wonder why doesn't current space launches take consideration of avoiding space debris, as say you want to sent a robotic mission to mars, during ...
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### Should normalisation factor in a QM always be positive?

I have a fairly simple question about a normalisation factor. After normalising a wavefunction for a particle in an infinite square well on an interval $-L/2<x<L/2$ I got a quadratic equation ...
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### Is the total angular momentum of the universe zero? [duplicate]

I know that having a net angular momentum will contradict isotropy of the universe by preferring a specific direction. But is there any experimental data on the total angular momentum of the universe ...
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### A question about the Weyl transformation for the vertex operator of the closed-string tachyon

I met a problem of derving the Weyl transformation on the closed-string tachyon, Eq. (3.6.8) in Polchinski's string theory, vol 1, p 103. Given the vertax operator of the closed-string tachyon ...
278 views

### Photon mass and life time

In this article, the author tried to explain that, Einstein's theory may not valid because he says "photon can decay because it may have minute amount of mass". I'm totally in a conundrum state that ...
308 views

### Finding frame of reference where angular momentum appears zero

Consider a isolated system of $n$ non-interacting classical particles. We can easily select a barycentric frame of reference, where total momentum will be zero, so we have our $\vec x(i)$ — ...
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### Electric field in a capacitor with a dielectric with variable permittivity

Consider the following parallel-plate capacitor, with a potential difference of $V$ across it's plates: I've seen some problems that assume a dielectric with a variable electric permittivity of ...
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### About an upside down cup of water against atmosphere pressure

There is an experiment we learned from high school that demonstrated how atmosphere pressure worked. Fill a cup of water and put a cardboard on top of it, then turn it upside-down, the water will not ...
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### Determing aperture size for space-based-solar-power laser transmitter

I have hit a bit of a roadblock in my simulation. In the equation I require the aperture size for the laser source. $$I_a ≈ \frac{\lambda d}{A}$$ $I_a$ = aperture atop the atmosphere ($m$) ...
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### Heating coffee by yelling?

Is it a myth that yelling to a coffee mug will heat it? I have been hearing my friend saying that screaming will heat coffee or water.
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### Are two touching conductors connected in parallel or in series?

Consider the following problem: There are two spherical conductors $A, B$, with capacitances $C_A, C_B$ resp. Conductor $A$ is supplied some charge and is found to have a potential of $160 \space V$. ...
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### Entropy of a naked singularity

According to the wikipedia article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naked_singularity: "Some research has suggested that if loop quantum gravity is correct, then naked singularities could exist in nature, ...
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### Doubts about the Aharonov-Bohm effect

In F. Schwabl, Quantum Mechanics p.148 it is explained that if we have a particle in an electromagnetic field given by potentials $\varphi$ and $\mathbf{A}$ with wave function $\psi$, then a gauge ...
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### In which direction should flow of electric current be taken while solving problems?

Consider a simple circuit with a battery of $\theta\ \text V$s, and two resistors of $R_1 \ \Omega$s and $R_2\ \Omega$s connected in series. Let us assume that $R_1$ is connected nearer to the ...
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### Should we necessarily express the dimensions of a physical quantity within square brackets? [duplicate]

For example, should we write the dimension of mass, e.g. $\mathrm{kg}$ as $[M]$ or is it enough to write it as $M$?
308 views

### Derivation of differential scattering cross section - off-center target

This is a followup question to this pretty good answer regarding deriving the Boltzmann equation. What if the center of the target particle is actually not the same with the scattering center (or may ...
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### Symmetry of Euler-Lagrange equations and conservation laws

Continuous symmetry of the action implies a conservation law, but what if equations of motion have a continuous symmetry? Does it imply a conservation law? Also is symmetry of equations of motion ...
793 views

### Can we live forever by taking advantage of the time dilation effect?

I have been reading about Time dilation and twin paradox in Relativity. So,I thought that if It can be the difference of 10 yrs between the Girl in space and on Earth, then why can't anyone not age ...
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### Is current related to the length of the conductor?

Ohm's Law tells us that $V = IR$. This implies that $I \propto \frac{1}{R}$. But, $R \propto l$, where l is the length of the conductor. This would mean that $I \propto \frac{1}{l}$. But this does not ...
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### Derive that $P = I^2R$

As our homework, we were asked to derive $P = I^2R$. Now, I started off with the basic relation $P = \frac{W}{T}$. I was not able to think of anything from here, so I started plugging in random ...
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### Age-ing due to Time Dilation

Will a person on top of hill will age faster than one at sea level due to Time Dilation?
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### Peierls Argument for Absence of Long Range Order

I'm really confused about the argument in Cardy's book for why there can't be long range order in 1D for discrete models. Let me just copy it out, and hopefully someone can explain it to me. He ...
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### Walking problem physics

How could you measure someone's walking speed at a constant rate? What types of errors could you potentially come across? And what are some different ways of modelling walking motion?
113 views

### Time evolution of the worldlines of 2 particles

Suppose I have a lab frame that is freely falling in a gravitational field of the Earth -- assume non-homogeneity-- and a uniform constant electric field. There are 2 test particles in the frame -- ...
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### Why do Nuclei lose mass?

When it comes to things like gravity and the electromagnetic force, masses aren't reduced-but with nuclei the mass difference is noticeable. What about nuclear forces makes them capable of putting ...
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### Binary star system - Revolution around Primary vs Companion

How likely is it in a binary or multi-star system for a non-star celestial body to revolve around the primary star rather than the companion star?
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### energy efficiency, transformation from chemical to thermal energy, for district heating plants

If I have a system in which I introduce 100e.u.F (energy units) derived from chemical energy (i.e. fuel) and generate thermal energy to heat water what are e.u. absorbed by water? I.e. the efficiency ...
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### What is the amplitude of the limit cycle of the van der Pol oscillator?

In the second edition of Classical dynamics of particles and systems by Jerry B. Marion, it is said that the van der Pol equation $$\ddot{x}-\mu\left({x_0}^2-x^2\right)\dot{x}+{\omega_0}^2x=0$$ where ...
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### Space expanding, or light slowing down? [duplicate]

This question seems a lot like one of those "Phylosoraptor" memes all over the Internet, and it might be very silly, but I've been thinking about this for a while. Is it possible that space is not ...
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### Is it possible to reach the edge of a room if there isn't any gravitational acceleration?

Consider that a large room(an indoor badminton court) is orbiting the earth with a person floating exactly at its center without any relative initial velocity. Consider that the person has no ...
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### Finding the drag force (Air resistance force) for accelerated ball?

As you know if I want to find the force for an accelerated object I will use the law $F_o=ma$ so I can get the affecting force of it. But there is another force affecting against the object. It's the ...
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### Photon temperature above Electroweak Symmetry Breaking (EWSB) transition

In discussions of the history of our Universe, photon temperature is substituted for time. As the Universe cools, phase transitions break symmetries, including electroweak symmetry. Why does it make ...
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### What are physical effects that could be employed to emulate this system?

This is a simple system consisting of a tree of numbers such as ((1 2 (3 4)) (2 6) 1 6) and a rule of application, that states that a tree A applied to B is a copy ...
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### Vertex operator for closed string tachyon

The problem related to this post, but my question is even more elementary. In p 101 of Polchinski's string theory vol I, it is stated Using the state-operator mapping, the vertex operator for the ...
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### Can the buoyant force on an object be seen as reduction in weight on a scale?

Consider a container with some fluid of density $\rho_l$ and volume $V_l$. This is kept on a measuring device and has weight $\rho_l V_lg$. Now, consider a block of density $\rho_b$ and volume $V_b$. ...
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### Linearity of Quantum Mechanics?

The proof of the No-Cloning Theorem states "By the linearity of quantum mechanics, ..." -- Could someone please give me a rough sketch/outline of what this means? Does it have to do with the Hilbert ...
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### Find shadow's height

Just starting to learn physics. Now reading about constant motion and after this paragraph I have a task: Boy with growth of 1.5 m runs at a speed of 3 m / s in a straight line, passing under a ...
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### Mie Scattering for spheres with constant dipole moment

I was wondering whether there exists a theory that describes Mie Scattering for spheres that have a constant dipole moment. Since there are theories that describe Mie scattering in the case of a ...
550 views

### Coupled Oscillators

This is an exercise of my last exam. Since I couldn't find anybody who solved it or knows how to, it would be really nice if somebody could tell me if my thoughts on it go into the right direction. ...
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### Observed angular velocity and motion parallax

I would be highly obliged if someone would guide me in the right direction regarding this. I am trying to understand and mathematically explain the relation between angular velocities as observed by ...
197 views

### A question about Poincare invariance of Polyakov action

I have a question the variation of the Polyakov action, related to this Phys.SE post. For Polyakov action  S_p[X,\gamma]=-\frac{1}{4 \pi \alpha'} \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} d \tau \int_0^l d \sigma ...
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### Can we create a small black hole? [duplicate]

Suppose we create very large spherical body by using gamma rays generator and they will concentrate on a single point at the centre of sphere.We will place this spherical body thousands of kms above ...
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### Why do we say that in Coulomb's law the force is proportional to $\frac{1}{r^{2}}$ and not $\frac{1}{r^{3}}$?

I am going over Coulomb's law and there is something that is a bit confusing for me: According to Coulomb's law, if I have a charge $q_{1}$ at a point $\vec{r_{1}}$ and a charge $q_{2}$ at a point ...
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### Atoms' excitation energies as derived from Frank-Hertz experiment data

I'm analyzing the experimental data obtained during Frank-Hertz experiment (conducted with Hg atoms): Accelerating voltage values were multiplied by 0.1 during measurement (i.e. the mean value of ...
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### How to work out momentum when there are velocity and mass changes

I have a pretty simple homework question, but I can't rap my head around it. In the question a swimmer of $55 \mbox{ } \mathrm{kg}$, jumps off a stationary raft of $210\mbox{ }\mathrm{kg}$. The ...
can we use the tools of renormalization of casimir effect to get finite results for any divergent series in QFT ?? for example let be the divergent series $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}n^{l}$ for positive ...