Questions tagged [definition]
The definition tag is used in situations where the question is either about how some term or concept is defined or where the validity of an answer depends on a subtle definition of some term or concept used in the question.
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By what units is 'degradation to ozone layer' measured?
From Wikipedia:
The ozone depletion potential (ODP) of a chemical compound is the relative amount of degradation to the ozone layer it can cause, with trichlorofluoromethane (R-11 or CFC-11) being ...
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Normalization Factor and Sign of Exponential Term in Fourier Transform [closed]
I have two questions regarding the Fourier transform:
Normalization factor: Some texts use no normalization factor in the definition of the Fourier transform, while others use $1/\sqrt2\pi$. What is ...
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Confusing definitions of EMF
I was studying about EMF (electromotive force) recently but had trouble connecting the two definitions of the topic. Here are the two definitions of EMF listed in my book (The book I've referred is: ...
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In layman’s language what is the difference between stopping potential and work function?
In layman’s language what is the difference between stopping potential and work function? It feels like both the things mean the same thing, if I am wrong please explain the things to me.
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What is charge on a fundamental level and what is it caused by?
On bigger bodies, I've learnt so far that charge is caused by a lack or excess of electrons or protons but when you look at an electron or proton, how are they charged? what is the cause of their ...
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Definition of entropy and microstates (Huang)
The definition of Boltzmann entropy given in Ref. 1 appears to be different from most sources I've seen up to this moment. Let me start from the latter: typically textbooks assume that in a given ...
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How to state that a function has a certain andament in a limit? [migrated]
Assuming we have a function $f(r)$ that has the following limit
$$ \lim_{r\to0} f(r) = \frac{5}{3 r^2} \,.$$
What is the correct symbol to express that the denominator goes like $r^2$?
Is the ...
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Confusion on the definition of dielectric permittivity
I don't understand how we're defining the dielectric permittivity, sometimes it's defined as the ability of the material to resist the electric field and sometimes as the ability to permit the ...
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Meaning of of inertial frames in special relativity [duplicate]
One of the postulates of special relativity is
The laws of physics are the same in all inertial frames
There is a mention of inertial frames in the postulate. But the predictions of relativity are ...
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How can I call a transformation where only the $z$-axis is modified by a function in each point?
What is called a transformation that maps $z \rightarrow |f(z)|\, z$, while the other axis stays the same? Is it a conformal transformation?
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Intensity of light - questions about the particle standard definition and concerning the units [duplicate]
In the $5.111$ MIT class, lecture $3$, it is written on the last slide "intensity of light = photons per second". Intensity is previously defined in the lecture as the square of the ...
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How to use the definition of a rank-$2$ tensor for this kind of examples?
Suppose that, a rank-$2$ tensor transforms as
\begin{align}
T'^{ij}=\frac{\partial x'^i}{\partial x^k}\frac{\partial x'^k}{\partial x^l}T^{kl}.
\end{align}
How to use this criterion to investigate if ...
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What is the connection between moments in probability theory and the moment of inertia?
My question arises as the moment of inertia (MOI) has been described as a second moment.
In my understanding if the MOI is indeed a second moment of a distribution of mass, this suggests the MOI could ...
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Photoelectron and electron in photoelectric effect [closed]
Could you please help me find some answers, as I have been stuck in this for a while and didn't get understandable answers.
what is the difference between the photo electron and an electron.
The ...
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The Legendre transform is a convex function [migrated]
I am new at the study of Hamiltonian Mechanics and I am facing the definition of Legendre transformation. I know that the Legendre transformation of a convex function $f:\mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{...
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