Tags
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.
time× 1364
defined operationally to be that which is measured by clocks. The SI unit of time is the second, which is defined to be
everyday-life× 1330
Concerns the application of the laws of physics to analyze common situations encountered in everyday life.
potential-energy× 1258
the energy of a body or a system due to the position of the body or the arrangement of the particles of the system.
harmonic-oscillator× 1238
used to describe any system with a "linear" restoring force that tends to return the system to an equilibrium state. There is both a classical harmonic oscillator and…
field-theory× 1236
For questions where the dynamical variables are fields, that is, functions of several variables (typically, one time coordinate and several space coordinates). Comprises both classical field theory an…
water× 1216
Two Hydrogen atoms covalently bonded to one Oxygen atom. One of the more common compounds on the surface of the earth.
standard-model× 1212
A model of the basic particles and forces featuring six quarks, three charged leptons, three massless neutral leptons and four fundamental force carrying bosons. The twelve fermions are arranged into …
gauge-theory× 1176
A gauge theory has internal degrees of freedom that do not affect the foretold physical outcomes of the theory. The theory has a Lie group of *continuous symmetries* of these internal degrees of freed…
quantum-electrodynamics× 1151
the quantum field theory believed to describe electromagnetic interaction. It is the simplest example of a quantum gauge theory, where the gauge group is abelian, U(1)…
soft-question× 1150
Questions that ask about some aspect of physics research or study which doesn't involve the actual physics. In general, soft questions can be answered without using physical reasoning.
universe× 1112
The universe refers to the cosmos; all of space-time and that which exists as part of it. Alternatively, it can refer to the observable universe, which only contains the part we can see. Questions tag…
space-expansion× 1068
a cosmological phenomenon wherein the proper distance between two spatial points for a given inertial reference frame increases from one moment of time to another. That is, space it…
material-science× 1049
The study of how the properties of matter arise from its structure at all scales and of how processing can be used to modify those properties (often in pursuit of a specific application).
quantum-entanglement× 1048
the mechanism by which quantum correlations between two sub-systems survive even after being physically separated from an interaction region. The correlations could in principl…
hamiltonian-formalism× 1046
a formalism in Classical Mechanics. Besides Lagrangian Mechanics, it is an effective way of reformulating classical mechanics in a simple way. Very useful in Quantum Mecha…
group-theory× 1016
a branch of abstract algebra. A group is a set of objects, together with a binary operation, that satisfies four axioms. The set must be closed under the operation and contain an ident…
tensor-calculus× 1011
a systematic extension of vector calculus to multivector and tensor fields in a form that is independent of the choice of coordinates on the relevant manifold, but…
inertial-frames× 1006
A specific reference frame that describes its coordinates in a manner that does not depend on time and is isotropic.
semiconductor-physics× 974
the branch of solid state physics that focuses on specific properties of semiconductors. It studies dynamics of different perturbations (mainly electrons and holes) in the sem…
radiation× 959
a process in which energetic particles or energetic waves travel through a medium or space. The particles or waves radiate (i.e., travel outward in all directions) from a source.
collision× 959
Interaction between two or more bodies that results in physical contact and an exchange of momentum between the bodies involved.
relativity× 934
The union of special (SR) and general (GR) relativity. Use this tag if both SR and GR apply.
laser× 932
Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A means of creating coherent light by either driving an atomic or molecular transition in an optical cavity or firing a beam of electrons throu…
renormalization× 930
an ensemble of techniques which serves to treat the infinities which appear in quantum field theory or statistical mechanics.
scattering× 923
a general term for several physical processes in which radiation of some sort changes direction due to an interaction with a particle. Scattering can be classified by the type of radiati…
conventions× 886
a set of agreed, stipulated, or generally accepted norms. It typically helps common efficiency or understanding but is not required, as opposed to a strict standard or protocol.
computational-physics× 869
should be about computational physics, which is the study of physical situations with the use of software (commercial or in-house). Please note that details of writing and/or …
refraction× 846
Change in the direction of propagation of a wave when its transmitting medium changes.
heisenberg-uncertainty-principle× 842
for Heisenberg's quantum mechanical uncertainty principle. DO NOT USE THIS TAG for uncertainty in a non-quantum measurement.
