Questions tagged [terminology]
Use this for questions relating to the proper use of physics terminology or nomenclature.
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Is this image on harmonics and overtones wrong?
I saw this image and believed this to be the definition of what the relationship between harmonics and overtones to be in strings, closed pipes and open pipes.
That the $n^{th}$ harmonic = $n-1^{th}$ ...
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Why are $W$ and $Z$ bosons called 'intermediate' vector bosons?
What does the 'intermediate' part mean? Somehow, I thought an answer would be easy to come across, but I have yet to find one.
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Notation for intrinsic charge carrier
What exactly is $n_{\textrm{i}}$? It is said to be the intrinsic charge carrier, but for pure semiconductors, $n_{\textrm{h}} = n_{\textrm{e}} = n_{\textrm{i}}$, is $n_{\textrm{i}}$ not the sum of ...
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What does $f(x)$ satisfies the given equation means?
In problem 2.1 part c of Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, 3rd ed. by Griffiths and Schroeter, they ask the reader to prove that if the potential is an even function of $x$, then if $\psi(x)$ ...
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Difference between real operators and Hermitian operators in quantum mechanics
I'm reading some lecture notes on quantum mechanics, while describing the rigid rotor in bra-ket notation, the author mentions the parity operator $\hat{P}$ acting on kets as $\hat{P} \left \lvert m \...
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Are vacuum energy, zero point energy and vacuum fluctuations the same thing?
im confused about the relationship between these terms, my intuition tells me that vacuum energy and zero point energy are synonymous and that they are a consequence of vacuum fluctuations. But I ...
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Can we call numbers unidirectional vectors? [duplicate]
I have never thought so deeply about addition and subtraction. But today I noticed something. When adding or subtracting numbers, we actually apply the rules we use for vectors (for example, the ...
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Name of Equation $Q = \Delta P / R$
A very fundamental equation in understanding fluid flow is $Q = \Delta P / R$. When the flow is through a cylindrical pipe of constant radius, $R=8\eta L/\pi r^4$ can be substituted to give Poiseuille'...
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Is Principle of Least Action a first principle? [closed]
It is on the basis of Principle of Least Action, that Lagrangian mechanics is built upon, and is responsible for light travelling in a straight line.
Is its the classical equivalent of Schrodinger's ...
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Equations of motion in general relativity: Einstein field equations vs geodesic equation
It is said that the equations of motion of a theory are those whose solutions give the coordinates/trajectory of the system.
I was wondering: which is the correct equation of motion in the theory of ...
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Terminology: any specific name for the amount of something in a given volume (at a given time)?
For quantities such as electric charge, amount of substance (or number of particles), and energy, the flux of the quantity is defined as the amount of quantity flowing through a predefined surface in ...
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Dielectrics terminology
I got confused while reading about dielectrics, so basically my question is:
(a) what's the difference between a (homogenous and isotropic) dielectric and (linear) dielectric? Does the first imply the ...
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Constraint Equation and Equation of Motion
I was doing a question which was to find the number of generalized coordinates needed to describe a particle with the motion:
$x(t)=2a\sin(\omega t) $
$y(t)=a\cos(2\omega t)$
So I solved it and found ...
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Why do we call the Riemann curvature tensor the curvature of spacetime rather than the curvature tensor of its tangent bundle?
I was studying the mathematical description of gauge theories (in terms of bundle, connection, curvature,...) and something bothers me in the terminology when I compare it with general relativity.
In ...
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How is matter defined in physics? [duplicate]
I have heard matter defined as energy within a closed system and that any such closed system will have mass.
Is this correct?
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