What is Confused: Definition and 1000 Discussions

In medicine, confusion is the quality or state of being bewildered or unclear. The term "acute mental confusion" is often used interchangeably with delirium in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems and the Medical Subject Headings publications to describe the pathology. These refer to the loss of orientation, or the ability to place oneself correctly in the world by time, location and personal identity. Mental confusion is sometimes accompanied by disordered consciousness (the loss of linear thinking) and memory loss (the inability to correctly recall previous events or learn new material). The term is from Latin: confusĭo, -ōnis, from confundere: "to pour together", "to mingle together", "to confuse".

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  1. A

    Photon's Mass and Speed of Light [Confused]

    Hello, When you read, you see that there are different opinions on the question, does a photon have mass? From what I think, I know that a black hole's mass increases when it consumes photons, and everybody knows that a photon has energy and momentum. Since energy can be trasformed to...
  2. T

    I confused how memetics worksCould you share your knowledge?

    I confused how memetics works.. Could you share your knowledge?
  3. G

    Calculating Moles of IO3- in the Erlenmeyer Flask?

    Homework Statement Calculation of the number of moles of IO3- used in the titration(i.e. in the Erlenmeyer flask): KIO3(s) → K+(aq) + IO3-(aq): balanced eqn of dissolving KIO3 in water 1. Calculate the moles of KIO3 used: Molecular weight of KIO3 = 214.0011 g/mol...
  4. C

    Understanding the Venturi Effect in Fluid Dynamics

    Hi, I have a pretty elementary question, but I'm having trouble finding an adequate explanation on the web. I'm trying to figure out how a carburetor works, and am having difficulty figuring out how a venturi tube works. On the one hand, as air flows through a narrow section of a pipe, it...
  5. S

    Independently & Linearly Confused

    Hi, first off - Go easy on me, I'm only learning :redface: My book is talking about linear independence. As I understand the concept it means that a vector has to be in a different direction, i.e. non-collinear, with the vector in comparison. Mathematically, my book has defined...
  6. M

    Why Does \( e^{2\pi i} = 1 \) Lead to Confusion About \( 2\pi i = 0 \)?

    I am confused about something, this isn't homework I was just fooling around with complex numbers, and found this: e^{2\pi i}=1 so ln e^{2\pi i}=ln 1=0= 2\pi i Can someone explain this? the 2\pi i=0 part...I must have done something illegal...
  7. FeDeX_LaTeX

    Confused about Voltage and Current

    Hello; What is the relationship between the two? Are they proportional or inversely proportional to each other? I ask this because my physics teacher said that they were proportional on one day, then inversely proportional on another day. I thought that more current = more voltage... am I...
  8. Q

    Confused about derivatives of the metric

    Hi, I am incredibly confused about second derivatives of the metric. I know that in general, the covariant derivative of a vector is given by \nabla_a v^b = \partial_a v^b + \Gamma^b_{ac}v^c and I think I understand how to generalize to higher rank tensors (just decompose into an...
  9. A

    What is the smallest switching time of a transistor ? :confused:

    What is the smallest switching time of a transistor ? ! :confused:
  10. T

    Confused about Shared Eigenstates

    I'm teaching myself QM and have a question about a problem in my text. (If this makes it homework, sorry to post in the wrong forum). Basically the question is about three observables A,B,C. They obey the following rules: [A,B]=0, [A,C]=0, but [B,C] not equal to 0. So this is like the...
  11. O

    Confused about the terminology for the domain pde

    Homework Statement δu/δt+2tδu/δx=1 for t>0,x>0 with u= 0 on x= 0 for t>0, u=1 at t=0 for x≥0 Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution ((dx)/(dt))=2t x=t²+c x-t²=c the general solution is: u=t+F(x-t²) Now i am...
  12. S

    Confused in Chapter 3 of RF's QED

    Hello, I'm reading through Richard Feynman's QED (for the first time) and I'm at Chapter 3. At the bottom of page 102 (2006 edition), he says, "So the timer we used for the 'imaginary stopwatch' was the monochromatic source:--in reality, the angle of the amplitude for a given path depends on...
  13. N

    How to Determine the Sign of the Square Root in ODEs for Photon Orbits?

    hi there, I'm trying to plot r against \phi by solving the following ODEs using runge-kutta. The problem I'm having is with the square root. How do I know when it will be positive and when it will be negative? If this is a simple question I apologise I'm not that great with the maths :). E and...
  14. A

    Very confused need a not so help

    Very confused...need a not so urgent help! Hello everyone, Im new to physics forums...well to anything other than online gaming forums...So if this topic has been already posted please tell me so i can redirect this topic and merge it with them. I am a space loving (space travel and...
  15. T

    Confused Final Year Physics Student Seeking Advices

    Hi everyone, I'm a final year student majoring in physics in china, but I feel very confusing about my future. since I have not applied for any master or PhD program this year, I plan to work for a year before I make any decision regarding my study next year. Personally I am interested in the...
  16. L

    Power Dissipated in a Resistor (really basic, but confused)

    Homework Statement I understand the maths... I'm here to ask WHY we have to do it this way. The question states: "The power dissipated in a resistor is given by P= E^2/R. If E=200 and R=8 , find the change in P resulting in a drop of 5 Volts in E and an increase of 0.2 Ohms in...
  17. R

    Confused about BC/AD Notations? Learn Here!

    Hi everyone, i really don't understand the philosophy of BC/AD notations.. but i only know the order goes like this: ..., 3 BC, 2 BC, 1 BC, 1 AD, 2 AD, 3AD, ... Now in which year we are now... when we say 2010, will it mean 2010 AD?? Why historians always prefer to say in BC AD notations...
  18. D

    I'm really confused about Winding Numbers in Complex Analysis

    I was hoping someone could help me understanding winding numbers For e.g. the point -i that is (0,-1) on this curve... I was trying to determine if the winding number was 2 or 3 http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1668/11111111111111countour.jpg
  19. H

    How Many Ways Can You Arrange 3 Birds to Feed if Two Don't Get Along?

    Homework Statement You have 7 birds lined up to feed. Only 3 birds can feed at a time. Two of the 7 birds do not like to feed with each other. How many combinaions can be formed?Homework Equations C(n,k)=n!/k!(n-k)!The Attempt at a Solution Attempted solution C(7,3)-C(7,2)=21. That is the...
  20. T

    Understanding bool functions in product comparison?

    Homework Statement I'm given the member function: bool Product::is_better_than(Product b) const { if(price==0) return true; if (b.price price==0) return false; return score/price>b.score/b.price; } I'm really confused about the last line "return...
  21. Y

    Exploring the Size of Semigroups: How Many Elements Does X^x Have?

    (Moderator's note: thread moved from "Linear & Abstract Algebra") problem # 12). Suppose X is a finite set with n elements. Show that the semigroup X^x has n^n elements. I'm confused. Isn't semigroup a set of functions? So when it says n elements, it actually means n functions? Also what is...
  22. S

    Confused on double integral in polar cords

    Homework Statement Use polar coordinates to find the volume of the solid enclosed by the hyperboloid -x^2-y^2+z^2=1 and the plane z=2. The Attempt at a Solution Solving for z of the equation of the hyperboloid I find z = Sqrt(1 + x^2 + y^2). Letting z = 2 to determine the curve of...
  23. C

    Confused about Grade 12 Physics Questions? Get Help Here!

    I know I know. This question must be uber easy in the eyes of you genius'. But the truth is - I'm taking grade 12 physics when I practically failed grade 11(well, I got 51...I wasn't trying, I swear!) so getting some of the concepts can get very confusing...and frustrating! Nonetheless, I need...
  24. E

    Projected Capacitance Touchscreen, confused by how the capacitance is formed.

    Hello, I have a question that's really bothering me. So I've been reading about projected capacitance touchscreens (the kind that's in so many cell phones, the iphone etc) and I don't understand what the physical property of my finger is that allows the screen to function. From what I've...
  25. M

    Programs Confused: Suggest a Major for me

    My current major is BME (Biomedical Engineering): What I like: -PHYSICS (EVERYTHING ABOUT PHYSICS) esp. Quantum Mechanics and Theoretical Physics! -Chemistry (Molecular chemistry: why and how they react. Quantum Chemistry, etc... Particle Chemistry). -Biology (Mostly cellular and...
  26. T

    Confused about uniform circular motion (and it's velocity vector)

    Sorry if this is the wrong (sub)forum! I need some help to understand how to express the following: The velocity vector When this is given: Omega radius Both in magnitudes. I want to obtain an expression for the velocity vector when the angle theta (radians/s) is changed. That...
  27. D

    Engineering Confused on which engineering to take

    Hello, This is my first post in this forum.I signed to ask some sort of guidance from you people:smile: Well its like this: I always had an interest on civil engineering for many years now (structures, skyscrapers, designing), so I knew from the start which career path I would want to...
  28. S

    Is (u(x,t))^2 the Same as u^2(x,t)?

    this is going to sound really dumb, but here is my questions anyways: is (u(x,t))2 the same as u2(x,t)? I say yes, but I am not sure. thanks spoony.
  29. L

    What is the Definition of Lie Algebra \mathfrak{so}(2,1)?

    What is the definition of the lie algebra \mathfrak{so}(2,1)? i want to say that it is the set \{ X \in GL(3,\mathbb{R}) | X^t=-X \text{ and } \text{trace}(X)=0 \} is that true?
  30. S

    Confused, stuck, and need opinions.

    Hello. I signed up to get peoples opinion. See, I have no one to talk to about my situation or quantum physics, so here it goes. I am 23 and have no school experience. I am a natural at computers, but my real passion of course is quantum physics. When I learned about quantum my whole entire life...
  31. K

    Confused about the intergral over a sphere

    I don't know the beginning part of the question is relevant, so I'll leave it out unless requested. At the point of: \intsin\varthetad\varthetad\phi Which is to be integrated over a sphere, when integrating from 0 to pi for \vartheta and then from 0 to 2pi for \phi, we get 4pi, which is...
  32. J

    Confused about Centripetal and Radial Acceleration

    Hello, I was trying to do this problem and then I looked at the solution manual and found something that confused me. I am having trouble distinguishing between centripetal and radial acceleration. According to the equation in the book a_r=-a_c, which kind of confuses me. Isn't a centripetal...
  33. B

    What Causes the Spikes in X-ray Spectra?

    Hello, I have studied X-ray emission when an electron beam is fired at a tungsten target - But when I was presented with the graph of Intensity versus wavelength, I was confused... I saw a curve, and on it there were spikes. What are these spikes, and why are they caused? Something to...
  34. O

    Am I supposed to use Newton's Second Law for this?

    Homework Statement Homework Equations F = Ma The Attempt at a Solution ... I wish I even knew where to start :\ I drew the freebody diagram, but I don't know how to use it.
  35. B

    Projectile Trajectory (I'm confused about the lab report)

    The experiment was to measure muzzle velocity of a ball fired by a 'spring gun'. Then to use the equations of projectile motion in order to determine the projectile trajectory. During the experiment we used a variable-height platform to stop the ball mid-air (at y = 0.4 m & y = 0.1 m). Now we're...
  36. E

    How Should Gravity Be Signed in Kinematic Equations?

    Homework Statement A package is dropped from a helicopter moving upwards at 15 m/. If it takes 25.0s before the package hits the ground, how high above the ground was the package when it was released. Disregard air resistance. Homework Equations I used this kinematic equation...
  37. A

    Understanding the Difference between \subseteq and \subset in Sets

    If A \subseteq B does that mean A = B which means B = A because if A is a proper \subset of B then A does not equal B right. I am wrong right?
  38. O

    Confused About Range of Football in Projectile Motion: What Am I Missing?

    I recently encountered the following question in my homework: "A quarterback throws a football with the same initial speed at an angle of 60 degrees from the horizontal and then at an angle of 30 degrees from the horizontal. Show that the range of the football is the same in each case...
  39. G

    Confused about implications of flat universe

    I recently saw a YouTube video of a 2009 lecture by Lawrence Krauss. He says that we now know unambiguously that the universe (and I just mean the universe that we can see, back to the big bang, not the multiverse or the foam or any of that) is flat. But it seems to me that a flat universe with...
  40. M

    Confused - chemical potential of an ideal classical gas

    Can anyone help me. I am very confused about the chemical potential. In the following equation dU = TdS - pdV + u dN, where u is the chemical potential it seems to me that if you add particles to a system you are increasing the energy of that system, i.e. the chemical potential is...
  41. B

    Confused about cmb decoupling/recombination

    I went to wikipedia to look up decoupling and ended up getting a pretty crappy result "In physical cosmology, the term decoupling is often used for the moment during recombination when the rate of Compton scattering became slower than the expansion of the universe. At that moment, photons...
  42. T

    Confused about Parity Operator & Degeneracy in Quantum Mechanics

    We're working on the parity operator in my second semester quantum mechanics class and there is one point I am confused about, either in the definition of degeneracy or in the parity operator itself. We talked about a theorem whereby the parity operator and the Hamiltonian cannot share...
  43. X

    Confused: potential difference vs. voltage drop?

    Homework Statement In Fig. 28-5a calculate the potential difference across R2, assuming = 14 V, R1 = 6.0 , R2 = 3.0 , and R3 = 2.0. (image isn't working online, but it's a simple circuit- all the resistors are in series) Homework Equations V = IR The Attempt at a Solution Req...
  44. D

    Stoichiometry: confused about the question

    Homework Statement a 4.22g mixture of CaCl2 and NaCl was dissolved, and then treated to precipitate all of the Ca as CaCO3, which was then heated to drive off CO2, leaving a sample of pure CaO which was found to weigh 0.969g. What percentage of the original mixture was CaCl[/SUB]2[/SUB]? I...
  45. S

    Why Does the Equilibrium Constant Depend Only on Temperature?

    why the equilibrium constant only depending on temperature but not concentration and partial pressure ? Since K= [product]/[reactants], why the value of K remain the same as [product]or [reactant] increase ?
  46. H

    Hesitant, Confused, and Desprate

    Hi Guys, I really wish that you help me in my problems, cause I can't take the mental torture anymore. I just graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering. The job market doesn't look good and the crisis took its toll on all of us recent graduates "lucky us". To be honest, I...
  47. K

    Confused again by uncertainty relation

    Say we have two non-commutative operator A, B. Now I have prepared identical systems in eigenstate of A, then I measure the observable of A, and then B immediately after. Then I must have delta A=0, so no matter what delta B is, the product is 0, seems to violate the uncertainty relation...
  48. D

    How to show that the integral of sin 1/x is insoluble?

    Homework Statement Our tutor has given us an equation to think about: Homework Equations integral of sin 1/x I'm pretty sure it's insoluble but how would I go about showing it is? The Attempt at a Solution No idea where to start any advice, tried by parts but it ends up in a mess? Not...
  49. P

    Confused about the event horizon

    I have recently finished "Gravity from the Ground Up: An Introductory Guide to Gravity and General Relativity". Great book, but I am confused about the behavior of time at the event horizon of a black hole. I spent some time looking at existing threads on this site, but was unable to find...
  50. G

    Why is wavefunction a lorentz scalar? So confused

    I hope someone can explain this to me: In multiple textbooks I've seen it said that a single particle wave function (no spin) transforms as a Lorentz scalar. I.e. if we have a Lorentz transformation from an old frame to a new frame \overline{x}=\Lambda x (x is short for (t,x,y,z)) then...
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