What is Insight: Definition and 87 Discussions

Insight is the understanding of a specific cause and effect within a particular context. The term insight can have several related meanings:

a piece of information
the act or result of understanding the inner nature of things or of seeing intuitively (called noesis in Greek)
an introspection
the power of acute observation and deduction, discernment, and perception, called intellection or noesis
An understanding of cause and effect based on the identification of relationships and behaviors within a model, context, or scenario (see artificial intelligence)An insight that manifests itself suddenly, such as understanding how to solve a difficult problem, is sometimes called by the German word Aha-Erlebnis. The term was coined by the German psychologist and theoretical linguist Karl Bühler. It is also known as an epiphany, eureka moment or (for cross word solvers) the penny dropping moment (PDM). Sudden sickening realisations often identify a problem rather than solving it, so Uh-oh rather than Aha moments are further seen in negative insight. A further example of negative insight is chagrin which is annoyance at the obviousness of a solution missed up until the point of insight, an example of this being the Homer Simpson's catchphrase exclamation, D'oh!.

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  1. P

    I Feynmann's connection machine model

    Lowly engineer here. I am struggling - I think like many - to develop intuition on DEs. From looking at the history and applications of DEs, general themes that come to mind are, conservation, energy (eg. isochrone problem), causality, feedback (control systems), etc. However, I can't seem to...
  2. A

    I New papers on randomness and QM, need insight please

    Hi,new college guy here,previewing next year's work. Been seeing these articles,written by reputed physicists. 1. https://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/23/5/519 this one claims that quantum randomness is false.does this argument be strong enough to rule out QM's so-called randomness?I understand that...
  3. Astronuc

    NASA’s InSight Mission Reveals Internal Structure of Mars

    https://scitechdaily.com/nasas-insight-mission-reveals-the-detailed-internal-structure-of-mars/ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/nasa-insight- spacecraft -reveals-first-peek-inside-mars-center https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasa-s-insight-reveals-the-deep-interior-of-mars...
  4. Klystron

    Some insight into telephone/internet scammers: Have you been called?

    Though wordy, this New York Times magazine article wades through the murky morass of telemarketing scam centers located on the subcontinent. Worth a perusal by anyone affected by this ubiquitous menace. Journalist Bhattacharjee approaches the investigation without prejudice, even with some...
  5. George Keeling

    I Explore Coordinate Dependent Statements in Orodruin's Insight

    I am studying @Orodruin's Insight "Explore Coordinate Dependent Statements in an Expanding Universe". It looks pretty interesting. About three pages in it reads "expanding ##x^a## to second order in ##\xi^\mu## generally leads to$$ x^a=e_\mu^a\xi^\mu+c_{\mu\nu}^a\xi^\mu\xi^\nu+\mathcal{O}_3...
  6. K

    Ideas for novel I'm writing I would love some insight on a concept

    Summary:: Ideas for a novel I want to begin writing. Brainstorming ideas and need help with a certain concept. Any help is appreciated! Hello to you all, this is my first post, and I Google searched this astrophysics forum because I thought it might be a good place to begin asking for advice...
  7. sahilmm15

    Intro Math Introductory Math Textbooks for gaining insight into the subject

    What are good books for learning about math? Not textbooks, but books that provide insight into mathematical phenomena.
  8. yucheng

    Linear Equations: how to deduce this inequality is true?

    The solution from my book: From $$\frac{3}{x+2}<\frac{13}{12}<\frac{3}{x} \tag1$$ It follows that ##13x<36<13(x+2)## x<3, i.e. x = 1 or 2. By checking, x=1 is not the solution and x = 2 satisfies the equation. However, how does the author deduce (1)?
  9. sbrothy

    Subtle scientific insight in the field of economics. :)

    I didn't really want to create another thread just to make a (hopefully) humorous observation but on the other hand to link to this paper under a "cranky science" header hardly seems fair. Especially when I really haven't read the thing in it's entirety. One very scientific statement piqued my...
  10. Leo Liu

    Insight into polar coordinates (Newtonian mechanics)?

    I am learning to use polar coordinates to describe the motions of particles. Now I know how to use polar coordinates to solve problems and the derivations of many equations. However, the big picture of polar coordinates remains unclear to me. Would you mind sharing your insight with me so that I...
  11. maxstronge

    Programs Need some insight into switching from social science to physics

    Hello. First of all, I'm really glad to have stumbled across this community. You guys seem amazing, and I can't wait to keep lurking (and hopefully, one day, participating). I'm in a strange situation and I could really use the guidance of some people with experience. If the explanation is...
  12. C

    I Does the Euler method give a better insight into adiabatic processess?

    I verified with others the equation below is an Euler method as well with ##a## can be any value such that it give the same ##\frac{dE}{dv}=-1.4\frac{p}{v}## but with ##a## other than one, it have no meaning in physics. For anyone that already understand Euler method can omit the part i have...
  13. R

    Insight into the conceptual gap and how to fill it

    I recently started volunteer math tutoring in an after school program in a city near me. This is one of the poorest cities in the state, and the students' math preparation is about as bad as you'd expect. The after school program is not part of the school system, it's run by a non-profit. I work...
  14. L

    Writing: Input Wanted Looking for Insight into an Obscure Type of Military Laser

    I’m writing a story about warfare several decades in the future. While I was doing research into possible directed-energy weapons, I came across something interesting. I don’t know if there is a name for the whole concept but it can be generally described as the use of brief laser pulses to...
  15. Q

    I A new insight from the Frauchiger and Renner paper affecting MWI

    While the now infamous Frauchiger and Renner publication generated a lot of buzz, it was largely concluded that they drew way too premature conclusions with a too wide brush. Especially the topic of its implication that "Single Universe" interpretations were mostly ruled out garnered quite a lot...
  16. Notreallytrying

    Studying I need some insight about studying in Malaysia and Germany

    Hi everybody, This is my first time posting here and I hope I'm in the Right place. To give some back story, I'm Studying A-levels (international), I live in a 3rd world (developing) country where sciences are very neglected in terms of education, and job market for physical sciences (my 1st...
  17. Delta2

    Insights A Numerical Insight for the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus - Comments

    Greg Bernhardt submitted a new blog post A Numerical Insight for the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus Continue reading the Original Blog Post.
  18. mishima

    Statically Determinate: Insight into this equation please?

    Hi, I teach a unit on bridge building for American high schools. We use software to show which members are in compression and tension and adjust design prior to physically building (ie doubling up members in compression). We use the equation: 2*Joints = Members + Reactions as a way to enable...
  19. Y

    Wouldn't using AC to power a lamp result in flickering?

    Hello, I was thinking that using AC to supply power to a lamp would cause it to flicker, considering that the potential difference keeps changing signs. This would mean that the current supplies voltage to the lamp, only to take it back after a really small amount of time. Voltage say's...
  20. U

    Insight needed on Di-electric breakdown

    Hello, Consider the following: case 1: 2 parallel metal plates(sufficiently thick) separated by a di-electric and 1 plate is charged to a voltage exactly equal to break down of the di-electric. the other plate is tied to ground. case 2: same as case 1 but instead of the plate tied to...
  21. Greg Bernhardt

    Insights PF Insight Scavenger Hunt 2 - Comments

    TheAdmin submitted a new PF Insights post PF Insight Scavenger Hunt 2 Continue reading the Original PF Insights Post.
  22. binbagsss

    A Quantum Field theory profound insight antiparticles

    Hi, I have recently began studying quantum field theory and have just seen how the quantization of the complex scalar field, noting that there is invariance of the action under a phase rotation shows the existence of antiparticles. I just have a couple of questions, apologies in advance if...
  23. Planobilly

    I need some insight from a speaker expert

    Lately I have had the opportunity to experiment with a number of new and vintage guitar amp speakers. I was generally aware that different speakers sounded different. What I was not prepared for was the truly huge and amazing difference the various speakers made in not only sound but how they...
  24. H

    Physics Seeking General Insight or Advice

    Hi, I'll try to keep this brief but this is a hard subject to keep brief. Thanks to all who take the time to read. I appreciate any advice even if it's just a repeat of what someone else has already said. I have a B.S. in physics from the University of Utah with a GPA of 3.4. I finished my...
  25. KarminValso1724

    B Does string theory provide any additional insight to quantum mechanics?

    If so, how.
  26. Jiku Araiguma

    Doing a project, need some insight to some physics things

    I am doing a passion project that requires knowledge of physics I don't quite have, it mostly revolves around understanding human bodies and their interaction with velocity, impact, decibels, energy, etc. I'll be more specific later on.
  27. kostoglotov

    Need some insight into an inverting op amp example

    Currently working through a chapter on op amp circuits, fundamentals. Came upon this practice problem in the section on inverting op amps imgur link: http://i.imgur.com/2DrQLXk.png imgur link: http://i.imgur.com/7KRKzKC.png A working of this problem is not given. I got the correct answer...
  28. Ygggdrasil

    Insights What Causes Cancer: Bad Luck or Bad Lifestyles? - Comments

    Ygggdrasil submitted a new PF Insights post What Causes Cancer: Bad Luck or Bad Lifestyles? Continue reading the Original PF Insights Post.
  29. kostoglotov

    Power dissipated by resistor -- Right answer, but need insight

    imgur: http://i.imgur.com/9VILpYL.jpg Now, I can easily solve this by applying the formula P_R = \frac{(\Delta V_R)^2}{R} and get all the correct answers. However, the answers feel strange to me intuitively. In the formula above, lowering the resistance increases the power that is dissipated...
  30. kostoglotov

    Looking for insight into what the Determinant means....

    In HS they just taught you the formula for it (the cofactor method) and a few other things, such as det(A) = 0 means A is singular. I finally reached Ch 5 of MIT OCW Intro to Linear Algebra, and I was really hoping that seeing how determinants are derived from first principles would give me...
  31. ExMusicMajor

    Programs Insight into trying out a Physics major

    Okay so this might be a little long, but I think it requires some length to explain and elicit answers. I am a junior at the University of North Texas. I originally came here to be a music major and spent a year and a half as such. I was and am very passionate about music, but for many reasons...
  32. J

    Having trouble with this one anyone can give some insight?

    Homework Statement During an all-night cram session, a student heats up a 0.360 liter (0.360 x 10- 3 m3) glass (Pyrex) beaker of cold coffee. Initially, the temperature is 18.1 °C, and the beaker is filled to the brim. A short time later when the student returns, the temperature has risen to...
  33. M

    Mathematical insight about waves

    I want to have a simple and intuitive explanation of why the sin and cos waves have such a simple repetitive values for their derivatives at a specific point. Their derivative values are also periodic in respect to the derivative order. For example, e^-x is also periodic, but its derivatives are...
  34. kostoglotov

    Insight into determinants and certain line integrals

    I just did this following exercise in my text If C is the line segment connecting the point (x_1,y_1) to (x_2,y_2), show that \int_C xdy - ydx = x_1y_2 - x_2y_1 I did, and I also noticed that if we put those points into a matrix with the first column (x_1,y_1) and the second column (x_2,y_2)...
  35. B

    Physical insight into integrating a product of two functions

    I was wondering what the physical insight is of integrating a product of two functions. When we do that for a Fourier transform, we decompose a function into its constituent frequencies, and that's because the exponential with an imaginary x in the transform can be seen as a weighting function...
  36. phyzguy

    Loophole in theory offers insight into the 'lithium problem'

    This paper looks interesting, but I haven't gotten a copy and read it yet. What do people here think? Is this the solution to the lithium problem?
  37. Ritzycat

    Some insight into chemistry for me?

    Hello friends of Physics forum. I am a high school junior, I will be finishing up finals next week. This year, I took Honors Chemistry, arguably the hardest class i have taken so far. However, I also found it the most fascinating and intriguing class. I am a mathematically oriented person and I...
  38. H

    How to have better discrete math insight

    How to have better discrete math "insight" Greetings: I came a cross a textbook example in a discrete math book that I have been reading on my own, and I thought this example in the book was a good example of what I want to be good at: Given integers from 0-9 arranged in a circle, is...
  39. S

    High School Student looking for insight regarding engineering

    High School Student looking for insight regarding engineering! Hi, I'm a junior in high school who is looking to focus on some type of engineering. I have researched a lot on the web and at interesting questions on this forum about the different types of engineers and what they do. What most...
  40. P

    Advice and Insight for choosing between Math and Physics

    Right now I am on track to be a math and physics double major, but I just finished my freshman year, so I haven't declared yet (all male liberal arts college). I won't know my GPA until May 15th and since it is freshman year, it doesn't matter a whole lot. I may have a 4.0 (on a 4 point scale)...
  41. 8

    Exploring Medical Physics: Insights and Earnings

    Hi all, I'm new to the forum. I chanced across some threads regarding medical physics but I didn't want to hijack someone else's post to ask some questions. So I'm just finishing up my first year of college and I've been trying to get more insight into various careers that I could pursue...
  42. Fredrik

    Geometric insight about rotations needed

    I'm trying to find a way to simplify a complicated proof. The worst step of the proof involves a product of five 4×4 matrices. I'm hoping, perhaps naively, that if I could understand why the result of this operation is so simple, I may be able to explain the proof to others without actually...
  43. Saladsamurai

    Navier Stokes EQs: Some Insight Please

    I have been doing some serious review of fluids in order to prep for some CFD. I have been re-deriving the NS Equations in all of their various forms. Something seems to have cropped up that I have worked myself in circles about. Let's take the momentum equation in Conservative Integral form...
  44. A

    Insight on holography at the planck scale

    Part of my basic understanding of the holographic principal is that the amount information in a given area of space is less than the surface area that surrounds that region (measured in Planck units squared). The exception being that in the case of a black hole the information stored within an...
  45. B

    Need some insight on Engineering Geology/ Geological Engineering?

    I am a grade 12 high-school student in Ontario, Canada, and I am considering a career in Geological Engineering. I was hoping to get some insight from people who are specializing in it, and who can inform me on what the day to day life is like. So far, I have examined the "prospective...
  46. T

    Some mathematical insight please.

    Hello, I am new to the forum and I have made an account to ask this one simple question. Am I good at math or not? I have been deciphering whether I am or not for some time now. It's like a pendulum, I can pathetically fail a math test but answer immense logic problems easily. I taught myself...
  47. L

    Gaining Insight Into Convexity: Benefits & Applications

    My supervisor always talks about how a problem is convex or its nonconvex and we want to convexify it. I understand that convexity gives a lot of advantages for optimization, and I understand the geometric definition of convexity. How does my supervisor know something is convex? Like a...
  48. M

    Scientists reaching The End of Insight

    Scientists reaching "The End of Insight" Has anyone else seen this article, or even heard of this before? Thoughts? Comments? Laughs? Screams? http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/robot_invasion/2011/09/robot_invasion_can_computers_replace_scientists_.html?wp_login_redirect=0
  49. E

    Interesting math card trick, would like some insight on how it works

    I watched a video explaining a card trick today, there were no tricks, it was all based on math. Here's the set up: 52 cards in the deck. person A takes some of them, then person B takes some as well. The dealer counts the remaining cards in his hand, say he has 18. Then he says...
  50. G

    Star variable relations. In need of further insight

    Are the absolute magnitude of stars relevant (calculated) with it's mass and rotational velocity? I understand that the mass of a star has a relation to it's size... regardless of this.. I need to know if mass and rotational velocity combined are used to determine anything for stars. Furthermore...
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