What is Explain: Definition and 1000 Discussions

An explanation is a set of statements usually constructed to describe a set of facts which clarifies the causes, context, and consequences of those facts. This description may establish rules or laws, and may clarify the existing rules or laws in relation to any objects, or phenomena examined.Explanation, in philosophy, is a set of statements that makes intelligible the existence or occurrence of an object, event, or state of affairs. Among the most common forms of explanation are causal explanation; deductive-nomological explanation, which involves subsuming the explanandum under a generalization from which it may be derived in a deductive argument (e.g., “All gases expand when heated; this gas was heated; therefore, this gas expanded”); and statistical explanation, which involves subsuming the explanandum under a generalization that gives it inductive support (e.g., “Most people who use tobacco contract cancer; this person used tobacco; therefore, this person contracted cancer”). Explanations of human behaviour typically appeal to the subject’s beliefs and desires, as well as other facts about him, and proceed on the assumption that the behaviour in question is rational (at least to a minimum degree). Thus an explanation of why the subject removed his coat might cite the fact that the subject felt hot, that the subject desired to feel cooler, and that the subject believed that he would feel cooler if he took off his coat.

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  1. Y

    Please explain this from a text book

    See attached scanned pages of page 118(left side) and page 125(right side) of Antenna Theory by Balanis. On the left side, it is just some basic EM where \nabla\times \vec E=-\frac{\partial \vec B}{\partial t}\;\Rightarrow\;\vec E=-\nabla V-\frac{\partial \vec A}{\partial t} Then to Lorentz...
  2. A

    Does absolute space explain the inertial and non inertial forces?

    The title might be confusing. Anyway while preparing for a seminar I made a statement, " Absolute space does not explain the inertial forces, since they are related to acceleration with respect to anyone of the inertial frame". Is this statement correct? Please explain with few examples, Thank you..
  3. C

    What is the complete expansion of |1+a|^2 for a complex number a?

    Hi, Could you help me to understand the following expansion I found in a book of qunatum mechanics. |1+a|^2=1+a+a*+... where a* is the complex conjugate of a
  4. N

    Why did Galileo use multiplication instead of addition in his gravity equation?

    I was reading about Galileo's gravity and there I came across the formula. F= -mg. Galileo said that Force is proportional to mass but in the opposite direction. I don't want to discuss whether he was right or wrong. I just want to ask that when he replaced the proportionality sign and...
  5. I

    Calculus II please explain integral test

    i understand the reason for if the evaluated integral converges then the series also converges. However, just because the evaluated integral diverges, why does this automatically mean that the related series also diverges? the integral consists of every number of the +x axis when evaluating...
  6. U

    How can I explain that the Atmosphere will burn?

    Dear Phyisics Forum, I registered here in hope to find some help as I plan a videogame and really have to solve some "small" idea I have. More likely a way how to explain it. In basic I want to explain how a Nuclear Explosion ("regular" Nuke with uranium, i guess) can cause a chain reaction...
  7. K

    Explain the mechanics behind this bizarre video

    This building gets pulled down and in a weird unexpected kind of blast everything shoots out sideways. The guy holding the camera gets knocked out and the camera is just lying on the floor but there's nothing graphic in the video. My mind is blown trying to understand what happened and how...
  8. Integral

    The Escherian stairwell you explain it.

    http://www.bitoffun.com/video_vault/escherian-stairwell.htm
  9. S

    Need help to verify an attempt to explain strain as point property

    Recently I review some old text and browse around the internet to read about definition of strain and stress. I come across the following document http://web.mit.edu/emech/dontindex-build/full-text/emechbk_4.pdf Previously I have been facing difficulty trying to come out with an...
  10. A

    Explain to me why the net force is found this way?

    Homework Statement Two crewmen pull a raft through a lock. One crewman pulls with a force of 130N Southwest at an angle of 34 degrees below the horizontal. The second crewman pulls at an angle of 45 degrees above the horizontal Northwest. With what force should the second crewman pull so that...
  11. U

    Basic physics understanding. Could someone explain?

    I'm trying to get a grip on some classic physics by watching a Stanford lecture. I've made it through the first one, and now in the second one all the professor ever talks about is 'derivatives' without actually explaining what they are. I guess the Stanford population would be assured with some...
  12. K

    Quantum Optics fails to explain origin of natural line width?

    "Quantum Optics," by Scully and Zubairy, attempts to explain the natural line width of an emitting atomic ensemble (in a resonant cavity with leakage) using random spontaneous emission events of the atoms (which in turn is due to interactions with the vacuum field). The basic idea and...
  13. G

    Please explain velocity vectors

    I understand how to work with vectors but I am not yet very confident on how they work or think about them. I am working with mechanics A level. For example how would you imagine the velocity vector (2i +5j) m/s. So I am assuming that the object is moving at 2m/s east or along the x-axis and...
  14. W

    Can someone explain this math JOKE ?

    Can someone explain this math "JOKE"? A Mathematician, a Biologist and a Physicist are sitting in a street cafe watching people going in and coming out of the house on the other side of the street. First they see two people going into the house. Time passes. After a while they notice...
  15. A

    Project, parts id and physics explain

    im going to need help filling holes and someone to explain to me what I am trying to say/do ill start with what i want to do, and hopfully someone will be able to tell me what i need part-wise (i have some idea but not much) 1) I am looking at needing some sort of spring assembly in order...
  16. R

    Can you explain TRIGONOMETRY equation [HELP]

    The signal length from the satellite to the Earth station can be found as2(hs-he)/[{sin^2(theta)+(2(hs-he)/Re)}^1/2+sin(theta)] if theta < 5 degrees Due to the Earth projection where "hs" is satellite height and "he" is the Earth station height and Re is the Earth radius=3700 Km My question is...
  17. U

    How exactly do generators work (Please explain the Faraday's law)

    Hi, everybody! I have done tons of research through the Internet, but still can't understand the Faraday's law and how a generator works. I understand, that inside coils, placed into a rotating magnet, current is generated. But why? What exactly happens to electrons, so they form current...
  18. M

    Online Binary converter capable of 64 digits and has explain answer

    Online Binary converter capable of 64 digits and has "explain answer" Hello, Does anyone know if there is an online binary converter similar to this one: http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~gurwitz/core5/nav2tool.html but can take 64 digits (bits I am guessing) instread of just 24...
  19. countzander

    Can someone explain this to me?

    Homework Statement If gcd(a,m) > 1, then ax \equiv 1 (mod m) is impossible. Homework Equations N/A The Attempt at a Solution There is no solution per se, only an explanation. I know that m would have to divide ax and 1. Since only 1 divides 1, the statement is impossible. But that...
  20. Y

    Please explain parametric surface in the book

    This is about change of parameter from (u,v) plane to (x,y) plane. If you read the begining, it said σ is a smooth parametric surface on a region R. It went on and talk about continuous and all in region R shown in Fig 15.4.10 (a). But that is not correct. If you read on, this is about mapping...
  21. M

    Explain crossing without invoking QFT?

    Explain "crossing" without invoking QFT? Hi there For someone learning particle physics for the first time (Griffiths' intro book, no knowledge of QFT yet): Why can you "cross" a reaction? Is there an intuitive answer or does one truly need understanding of scattering amplitudes, quantum...
  22. A

    What is the meaning of E=mc^2?

    Can someone explain to me this formula?
  23. C

    Can You Explain Pressure Differential Between Heat Exchanger Sides?

    Pressure ? If you have a heat exchanger. On the Shell side you have nitrogen gas at 35 bar, and on the tube side you have water at 5 bar. Is it possible to get water into the nitrogen side? I know the answer is yes, but I do not understand why. Is there someone who have a simple explanaton...
  24. Y

    Please explain why one of the integral vanishes

    http://i45.tinypic.com/2jfabf8.jpg This is a elemental magnetic dipole. The book shows how to find the vector magnetic potential at any distance from the origin. If you read the bottom, it said the second integral in 11.24 is obviously zero. It is not obvious to me. ##d\vec l'\;=\;\hat {\phi}...
  25. J

    Can someone explain the neuroscience conjoined twins?

    Twins conjoined at the head Brains conjoined, thalamus connected They are aware of each other's thoughts They can see out of each other's eyes What the heck? Someone explain this. I'm having major cognitive dissonance trying to fit this into my worldview.
  26. J

    Unexpectedly rejected almost everywhere, Please explain

    Quite unexpectedly I got rejected almost everywhere. Please take a look at my profile (http://www.physicsgre.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5081), and share your opinion. Why do you think I got rejected at virtually everywhere? What went so disastrously wrong? There are already some feedback, but I...
  27. dexterdev

    Can anyone explain me the 4 diode Balanced modulator circuit

    Hi, Can anyone explain me the working of 4 diode DSBSC Balanced modulator circuit. ie how multiplication occurs when switching. The image is attached. -Devanand T
  28. T

    Could someone explain this image to me?

    I know it's the formula for the Earth's orbit, but if someone would explain the actual formula itself to me in detail, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks! :) http://www.wallchan.com/images/sandbox/1305765361-earth-orbit-sun-365-physics-none-wallpaper.jpg
  29. N

    Can You Explain the One-electron Universe ?

    Can You Explain the "One-electron Universe"? I am having trouble understanding the One-electron Universe theory propose by John Wheeler. I suppose I understand the concept, but not how it could be possible and why it might be the case.
  30. P

    Can anyone explain quantum gates

    Hi I am studying Quantum computing and basically have no understanding of quantum gates and my lecturer is not very helpful. I don't understand why a 4x4 quantum gate would ever effect a two qubit system because surely that is at best only a 2x2 matrix, assuming they effect each other through...
  31. K

    Explain to me Step Functions for VT graphs

    I am sort of confuse about this step functions. In the picture below, the top is the distance time graph and the bottom is velocity time graph. The arrow pointing is what is confusing me. Its not suppose to be a step up (answers in my book) but i calculated the slopes First curve line = 30...
  32. O

    Explain how do we get standard error.

    Homework Statement I know that standard error is to calculate how the sample deviate from the population. But standard deviation divide √n ,then will get it. And I don't understand why there is a T/n from the picture I uploaded. Please help Homework Equations Standard error x sqrt(n)...
  33. M

    Can you help me explain how to find angular velocity?

    A machinist turns the power on to a grinding wheel, at rest, at time t = 0 s. The wheel accelerates uniformly for 10 s and reaches the operating angular velocity of 69 rad/s. The wheel is run at that angular velocity for 33 s and then power is shut off. The wheel decelerates uniformly at 2.9...
  34. W

    Can you explain this amplifier circuit to me?

    I just want to know what you think (in order of when you think it) when you look at this circuit. I'll post what I think. 1) without input: Current goes through R1 and TR1 which allows more current to flow through R3, R4, C2 and R5 and to TR2. The current through TR2 inhibits the current...
  35. Y

    Can you explain how time is not constant?

    So I read that time is actually relative, and that if I had a clock in orbit around Earth and a clock on earth, that the one in orbit would move slower. Surely this is a problem with the clock, is it not? How could time possibly be slower, that makes no sense to me?
  36. WaaWaa Waa

    How to explain there cannot be a case where r=0 in F=G(Mm/r^2)

    Hi. This is my first post here. In one of our science groups in Facebook, a member is asking about a case where r=0 in Newton's Equation F=G(Mm/r^2) The best i could do was to state that there cannot be two point masses with a distance r=0 between them. He seems to accept my explanation but...
  37. T

    Can someone explain the direct comparison test to me in detail?

    Homework Statement A few examples done in class that I didn't understand are as follows: (Find out if convergent or divergent) integral 0-->infinity ( x / (x^3 + 1) ) integral 1-->infinity ( (2+e^(-x) ) / x ) Homework Equations None The Attempt at a Solution Basically, I have NO idea...
  38. A

    Please explain me - width of depletion layer varies

    please explain me -- width of depletion layer varies hey guys, i need to know how does width of depletion layer varies with various factors and i have mentioned all my queries below 1.first of all i want to know how does width of depletion layer increases with decrease in doping content??as...
  39. Y

    Please help; Explain phenomena about collision and water.

    Please help; Explain phenomena about collision and water. click Now>>>>http://vimeo.com/29207632 thank you...
  40. H

    What is the role of sterols in cell membranes?

    I don't get what they are. My professor said that they were receptors (present in the cell membrane) for different microorganisms but I just can't understand it because my understanding of a receptor is like a receptor for a hormone. Do sterols work similarly?
  41. FOIWATER

    Can someone explain the operation of this NAND TTL

    If some one could explain the operation of both the double emitter transistor and the circuit in general I would be very thankful. All the best,
  42. J

    How can I explain how air resistance damps a pendulum's motion

    Basically I have an experiment which involves attaching circular discs of varying radius to a pendulum, monitoring how its amplitude varies with time. In my write up I need to include an explanation of how air resistance causes a damped oscillation over time. So far I have written: Air...
  43. C

    Explain in fragmented way 1-methylstyrene's spectrum

    1. Explain in fragmented way 1-methylstyrene's spectrum 2. Explain the gaseous and solid state PCl5 from IR and Raman spectra. Any help related to these two questions i would be happy, i want to study all about these 2 questions.Material(text,texbook) or explanation,anything.
  44. O

    Please explain this light speed question.

    If you are traveling .6C away from your point of origin and your friend is traveling .6C away from the same point of origin but in the opposite direction, why are you not traveling 1.2C away from your friend?
  45. J

    Battery charging circuit - can anyone explain?

    http://electronicdesign.com/site-files/electronicdesign.com/files/archive/electronicdesign.com/files/29/1823/figure_01.gif So let me just start by saying that, I want to understand how to analyze circuits and I would like to find a good source for that. If some one could point to online...
  46. A

    Explain this eigenfunction

    I am asked to simulate the first two eigenvectors for a periodic potential V(x)=V0cos(x). I have attached those two (blue is first, green is second). And I am then asked to explain why they look the way they do. I wrote: Because a particle needs to tunnel through a lot of potential barriers to...
  47. Q

    Can someone explain how pair production happens?

    I know that if a photon has enough energy, it can split off into a particle and anti-particle. But how does that happen exactly? Does the photon just randomly decides to split off? With annihilation (opposite of pair production), the process is much easier to visualize for me, because you...
  48. T

    Can someone explain this equation to me?

    d=\left( \left. \frac { { d }x }{ { d }t } \right| _{ 0 } \right) t+\left( \left. \frac { { d }^{ 2 }x }{ { d }t^{ 2 } } \right| _{ 0 } \right) \frac { t^{ 2 } }{ 2 } is supposed to be the same as writing d=vt+a\frac { t^{ 2 } }{ 2 } The first equation seems to use the definite integral...
  49. B

    Can Someone Explain What String Theory Is? (Simple Terms With Examples)

    Can Someone Explain What String Theory Is? (Simple Terms With Examples) Ive been hearing a lot of references to this new string theory, what is it?
  50. M

    Can you explain me why this is also isomorphism?

    Homomorphism is defined by ##f(x*y)=f(x)\cdot f(y)##. One interesting example of this is logarithm function ##log(xy)=\log x+\log y##. Can you explain me why this is also isomorphism?
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