A tag is a keyword or label that categorizes your question with other, similar questions. Using the right tags makes it easier for others to find and answer your question.
quantum-mechanics× 15211
Quantum mechanics describes the microscopic properties of nature in a regime where classical mechanics no longer applies. It explains phenomena such as the wave-particle duality, quantization of energ…
homework-and-exercises× 14258
Applies to questions of primarily educational value - not only questions that arise from actual homework assignments, but any question where it is preferable to guide the asker to the answer rather th…
newtonian-mechanics× 9587
Newtonian mechanics covers the discussion of the movement of classical bodies under the influence of forces by making use of Newton’s three laws. For more general discussion of energy, momentum conser…
electromagnetism× 9046
The classical theory of electric and magnetic fields, both in the static and dynamic case. Also covers general questions about magnets, electric attraction/repulsion etc. Distinct from electrical-engi…
thermodynamics× 7042
Covers the study of (mostly homogeneous) macroscopic systems from a heat/energy/entropy point of view. Consider also using tag: [statistical-mechanics].
quantum-field-theory× 6981
the theoretical framework describing the quantisation of classical fields which allows a Lorentz-invariant formulation of quantum mechanics. QFT is used both in high ener…
general-relativity× 6503
A theory that describes how matter interacts dynamically with the geometry of space and time. It was first published by Einstein in 1915 and is currently used to study the structure and evolution of t…
special-relativity× 5211
The special theory of relativity describes the motion and dynamics of objects moving at significant fractions of the speed of light.
forces× 4342
for the classical concept of forces, i.e. the quantities causing an acceleration of a body. It expands to the strong/electroweak force only insofar as they act comparable to ‘classical’ fo…
classical-mechanics× 4283
Classical mechanics refers to the classical (i.e., non-relativistic, non-quantum) study of physics. Three major formulations of classical mechanics are Newtonian mechanics, Lagrangian mechanics, and …
optics× 3875
the study of light, and its interaction with matter. It includes topics such as imaging systems, fiber optics, lasers, quantum optics, and more.
electrostatics× 3733
concerned with the electrical fields and scalar potentials of stationary electrical charges and charge distributions. Use this for questions about electromagnetic situations in which…
energy× 3669
the conserved quantity associated to time-translation invariance and represents the work a system is capable of doing. Use this tag for questions about energy, and consider adding [tag:energ…
particle-physics× 3653
the study of the fundamental forces of nature as they are embodied in the interactions of elementary and composite particles at high energies and short time and distance scales.
gravity× 3173
an attractive force that affects and is effected by all mass and - in general relativity - energy, pressure and stress. Prefer newtonian-gravity or general-relativity if sensible.
statistical-mechanics× 3028
The study of large, complicated systems by means of statistics and probability theory, in order to extract average properties and to provide a connection between mechanics and thermodynamics.
visible-light× 2942
Questions related to the perception and measurement of light (primarily in the visible range), its mathematical description, the reproduction of colors by different means, color combinations, etc. Ple…
cosmology× 2910
The study of the large-scale structure, history, and future of the universe. Cosmology is about asking and answering questions about the "big picture" - the extent, origin, and fate of everything we k…
waves× 2882
disturbances that propagate through space and time. Classically, they travelled through a medium, disturbing the particles but not changing their mean position. Electromagnetic waves/particl…
electromagnetic-radiation× 2708
Propagating solutions to Maxwell’s equations in classical electromagnetism and real photons in quantum electrodynamics. A superset of thermal-radiation.
newtonian-gravity× 2698
The Newtonian model of gravity in which the force between two objects is given by GMm/r^2.
black-holes× 2584
a volume from which matter cannot escape. More formally, the coordinate speed of light at the event horizon - the boundary of a black hole - is zero, as measured by a sufficiently sep…
electricity× 2505
The study of the presence and flow of electric charge. Charges, currents, fields, potentials.
condensed-matter× 2460
The study of physical properties condensed phases of matter, including solids and liquids.
experimental-physics× 2263
for questions about design, process, data, or analysis of experiments and observations.
magnetic-fields× 2241
For questions that utilize the concept of magnetic fields (commonly denoted by the letter B), or for questions whose answers likely involve magnetic fields. More specific than the [tag:magnetism], as …
photons× 2213
the quantum of the electromagnetic four-potential, and therefore the massless bosonic particle associated with the electromagnetic force, commonly also called the "particle of light". Us…
kinematics× 2209
The description of the movement of bodies by their position, velocity, acceleration (and possibly higher time derivatives, such as, jerk) without concern for the underlying dynamics/forces/causes.
lagrangian-formalism× 2173
For questions involving the Lagrangian formulation of a dynamical system. Namely, the application of an action principle to a suitably chosen Lagrangian or Lagrangian Density in order to obtain the eq…
electric-circuits× 2091
An electronic system, with closed loop current flow, and relative electrical potentials present across electrical components.
spacetime× 2051
As a consequence of the Lorentz transformations, time and space transform into each other when changing reference frame. This calls for a unified description: Minkowski spacetime.
angular-momentum× 1870
The conserved quantity arising from a rotational invariance. Combine with rotational-dynamics for the classical mechanics approach and quantum-mechanics for the QM interpretation
mass× 1792
The property of an object that determines how much it responds to a force in Newtonian mechanics, and how much it interacts with gravity in the Newtonian framework. Mass also refers to the intrinsic e…
differential-geometry× 1787
Mathematical discipline which uses the techniques of calculus to study geometric problems. General relativity is written in this language.
