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. Demystifier

    Why MWI cannot explain the Born rule

    Here I propose a VERY SIMPLE and intuitive argument that MWI, with its MINIMAL set of assumptions, cannot explain the Born rule. The argument goes: The minimal set of assumptions defining MWI is: 1. Psi is a solution of a linear deterministic equation. 2. Psi represents an objectively real...
  2. Monocerotis

    Trigonometry angle - calculation failed, can't explain.

    Homework Statement I have to find the measures of the angles x & y. Homework Equations Sine Law Cosine Law The Attempt at a Solution First thing I tried to do was find the measure of the angle @ A. a/SinA = c/SinC 66/SinA = 25/Sin10.5 and then I end up with 28...
  3. C

    Explain why speed of sound changes in different media.

    Homework Statement What characteristics of a sound (such as frequency and wavelength) change for the speed of sound to change in each medium? Why do these characteristics change? For example: Why does the pitch of sound produced by pouring water into a tube increase as more water is poured in...
  4. S

    Can anyone here explain how did he get it.

    I thought it is (e^x)^2 with u = e^x so it should be u^2 but he get only u without a square. Can anyone here explain it. The red box. http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/3272/whatj.png
  5. J

    Why Is Potential Energy Critical in Understanding Physical Systems?

    F=-\nablaV i cannot fully understand it ,though i can deduce it in some ways. i also want to know why potential energy is so extensive and important.
  6. marcus

    Steven Weinberg offers a way to explain inflation

    Mtd2 spotted this paper by Steven Weinberg that just went on arxiv. http://arxiv.org/abs/0911.3165 Asymptotically Safe Inflation Steven Weinberg 13 pages (Submitted on 16 Nov 2009) "Inflation is studied in the context of asymptotically safe theories of gravitation. It is found to be possible...
  7. B

    Explain the following action in terms of impulses

    Explain the difference for each of the following pairs of actions in terms of impulses; (a) A golfer's long drive and a short chip shot; (b) a boxer's jab and a knock-out punches; (c) a baseball player's bunting action and a homerun swing
  8. V

    YouTube: Perpetual Energy - How do you explain this?

    How do you explain this?
  9. N

    Can explain to me what is mean of span?

    can explain to me what is mean of span? from book, it say "every vector in the space can be expressed as linear combination of the vectors, then it called the span of vector." but i still can't catch its meaning and concept.
  10. P

    Can someone explain a simple physics question for me?

    Okay this isn't really a problem, but I want it explained too me instead of the books way. We are doing a section on mechanical energy, and for the entire course with vectors, force, etc, we have always used rcostheta and rsintheto to find an x and y force. Now tell me why we do this? Is...
  11. E

    Understanding a Homework Statement | Explanation and Solution Tips

    Homework Statement I have my notes below, however I don't understand the part where it says that: xp(t) = A, where did this come from? http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/4733/questionub.th.jpg Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution
  12. Z

    Value that a sequence tends to- please explain

    Homework Statement Two sequences are defined by Xn+1 = 3Xn + 4Yn ; Yn+1 = 2Xn + 3Yn What is the approximate value of Xn/Yn as n increases? Homework Equations none The Attempt at a Solution My solution was to say that as n tends to infinity, both Xn, Yn tend to infinity...
  13. T

    |dx| vs dx in an integral - can someone explain the difference to me?

    Just need to know a definition :/
  14. Pattonias

    Can someone explain to me how a minor degree works?

    I was thinking about looking at getting a minor in another branch of study and I don't really understand what this means in regards to your overall education. Whenever I try to research minor degrees I either find a website that tries to sell me one or a site that assumes you already know what...
  15. S

    Can someone explain this time dilation problem to me?

    I'm going to use the time traveling twins example to try and explain the crossroads I'm at with special relativity. The one twin is back on Earth while the other twin is traveling to a star 10 light years away at .8c. We calculated how long it would take on the earth-star frame of reference, it...
  16. S

    Can someone explain the Earth's magnetic field to me?

    I don't really understand how the Earth's Magnet work. For example, when the question say the electron is moving horizontally to the east. And then i asked someone, they said the horizontal actually is the vertical. And why does the magnetic field go from south to north, isn't north to south...
  17. R

    Can someone explain Gravitational Time dilation?

    I were trying to figure out the "logic" why gravitation (acceleration) causes time dilation. While at "velocity time dilation" its because (e.g) light in light clocks must travel longer distances. As seen on those pics: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Time-dilation-001.svg...
  18. W

    Can someone explain this proof to me?

    I posted this in the geometry subforum, but I think that might have been the wrong place to post this. Given two triangles with vertices A1, B1, C1 and A2, B2, C2 respectively. A1A2, B1B2, C1C2 are extended to meet at a point V say. Now, B1C1 and B2C2 are extended to meet at L, A1B1 and A2B2...
  19. E

    Explain the differential of lagrangian is a perfect ?L dt

    how we can explain the differential of lagrangian is a perfect ?L dt
  20. D

    Can someone explain the matrix method

    Homework Statement I have the answer completed, but not using the matrix method. That is what I am confused on, I am unsure on how. Required to use matrix method. In figure, a real inverted image I of an object O is formed by a certain lens (not shown); the object-image separation is d =...
  21. W

    Can someone explain this proof to me?

    Given two triangles with vertices A1, B1, C1 and A2, B2, C2 respectively. A1A2, B1B2, C1C2 are extended to meet at a point V say. Now, B1C1 and B2C2 are extended to meet at L, A1B1 and A2B2 meet at N and A1C1 and A2C2 meet at M. Prove that L, M and N are concurrent. Proof (as given in text)...
  22. D

    Can someone explain me transistor as switch

    I want to know about the internal capacitance of transistor cbc and cbe
  23. C

    Can someone explain this rc circuit prob

    For a long period of time the switch S is in position “b”. At t = 0 s, the switch S is moved from position “b” to position “a”. ....3 M ohm l---------------^^^^^^-----------------l l........…......l l...1 M ohm...4micro F.....l b l---^^^^^^^^^-------------ll---------/ i...
  24. M

    Why Does Ink Move Rapidly on a Film When Refilling a Fountain Pen?

    In spite of the widespread ball point pen, I still use a fountain pen for calculations.. One day, I ran out of ink while writing (duh..) and opened the cap of my ink bottle to refill my pen. Now, as I opened the cap, a thin film of ink was formed around the mouth of the bottle.. in other words...
  25. 2

    Can someone explain zeros and zeta function for Riemann Hypothesis? (Yr13)

    Hi, I'm Yr 13 and just wanted to do some further reading/exploring. So i understand that the zeta function is something to do with summing up like this: 1/ (1^s) + 1/(2^s) etc etc Now, I just want to know what are non-trivial zeros and trivial zeros? I just want to be able to understand this...
  26. C

    RF transmit circuit/RF receive circuit? (Hard to explain; I made a diagram.)

    Okay, basically what I'd like to be able to do is have some sort of "universal" RF (FM) audio circuit. Actually, two: One for transmitting, and a separate one for receiving. (I'd prefer to keep it simple, and therefore not a transceiver circuit. This is for one-way communication.) My ideal...
  27. H

    Explaining the Solution for secx=4 in Calculator Format (Ti-89) for Range 0-2pi

    Homework Statement I was supposed to use my calculator to get the answer of secx=4 for the range 0 to 2pi. I use the Ti-89. Homework Equations calculator format solve (secx=4,x) The Attempt at a Solution I get an answer, but it has a weird notation at the end of 2pi...
  28. X

    Can someone explain this to me

    Let speed be s s^2 = 4^2 + 9^2 s^2 = 377 s = 19.4 mph Ө = Tan^(-1) [ 19/4 ] = 78.1° 3 figure bearing is thus 180 ° - 78.1 ° = 101.9 ° 109.1 ° = N 11.9 ° W Why 109.1 ° = N 11.9 ° W.
  29. W

    Could someone explain to me Fermat's theorem?

    I DO NOT like this least time hocus pocus. I prefer the idea of causality. I just CANNOT stomach this idea. Here are my arguments (italicized text) almost verbatim from my notes against what I read (in bold). Someone please explain to me the whys and hows. Arguments against Fermat: "Given...
  30. D

    Could someone explain the Schrodinger's Cat experiment to me?

    Could someone explain the "Schrodinger's Cat" experiment to me? Hello, I wanted to have an idea of what this experiment is. I just passed my 10th grade and so I don't quite grasp the meaning as it's been explained in Wikipedia. To quote from it: "A cat, along with a flask containing a...
  31. B

    Can anyone explain kers in formula one cars?

    can anyone explain kers in formula one cars? like how it works on a mechanical level. and the difference between flywheel and electrical kers.
  32. M

    Newton's third law of motion - help me to explain it to someone

    So there's this guys argument that Newtons 3rd law is wrong: "When I say that for every action there CAN'T be an equal an opposite reaction, it is a FACT. It's mathematically IMPOSSIBLE to have an EQUAL reaction to every action. Because then NO action would succeed. ALL actions would be right...
  33. B

    New Law of Physics Could Explain Quantum Mysteries

    I read interesting article.What do you think about it? New Law of Physics Could Explain Quantum Mysteries Tim Palmer, a weather and climate researcher at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts in Reading, UK, has been interested in the idea of a new geometric framework for...
  34. M

    How to explain the mass deffect?

    I understand that when , say, several protons and neutron come together to from a nucleus they loose some mass and that this mass is lost as ENERGY as proven by Einstein. But does that actually mean that the protons and neutrons become a bit lighter? And is this what accounts for the mass defect...
  35. K

    Explain magnets at the subatomic level to me?

    Can someone explain magnets at the subatomic level to me? According to wikipedia, many of the electrons' spins are oriented in the same direction; what happened to the Pauli exclusion principle? Is it something to do with the electrons being delocalized that changes the other quantum numbers? Is...
  36. D

    Explain why cosine formula is always -0,5.

    Homework Statement Pick any numbers that add to: x + y + z = 0 Find the angle between your vector \textbf{v} = (x, y, z) and the vecor \textbf{w} = (z, x, y) Explain why \textbf{v}\bullet\textbf{w} / ||\textbf{v}||||\textbf{w}|| is always -\frac{1}{2} Homework Equations Cosine...
  37. P

    How can I explain math to someone who doesn't know math?

    Hi, So I am an undergraduate math major who goes to a state university, and often time I get into conversations like the following: My friend: "What are you taking this summer?" Me: "I'll be taking (abstract) linear algebra." Case 1: My friend: "Hmm... 'linear' and 'algebra'? That...
  38. I

    Why Did Turning Off My Heater Silence My YouTube Video?

    This isn't a paranormal claim, I don't know what caused it but. I was watching a youtube video (while at the same time saving it to my computer with the "Replay Media Catcher" program.). I turned off my electric heater (connected to a differnet power socket), and the sound in my youtube video...
  39. V

    Can any one explain about electron doping and Hole doping

    Can anyone explain about electron doping and Hole doping
  40. V

    Can someone explain time dilation w.r.t following experiment?

    Hi all, I am not so good in physics. Plz forgive me if i am totally wrong. However, i just want to understand the time dilation thing. I referred the net, but couldn't get a convincing answer. Please explain how the time in two clocks in different inertial frame of reference can show...
  41. A

    Explain what this tells you about parametric and symmetric equations in R^3?

    parametric and symmetric equations in R^3?? Homework Statement Recall that there are three coordinates planes in 3-space. A line in R3 is parallel to xy-plane, but not to any of the axes. Explain what this tells you about parametric and symmetric equations in R3. Support your answer using...
  42. srfriggen

    Can Relativity explain Dark Matter?

    I suppose the real title should be, "can relativity explain the NEED for Dark Matter"? Now I'm not a physicist, so if I get a detail wrong here or there please do not get stuck on that but rather try to answer the question... It is my understanding that dark matter is "needed" (in one...
  43. R

    Can someone explain Gauss' Law for Magnetism

    I need an explanation that relates the equation to what I learned about the dot product of two vectors being the magnitude of the parallelogram formed by the two vectors in 2D or similarly by the paralleliped formed by three vectors in 3D. I want to know for instance if the resultant is...
  44. I

    Explain the concept of significant figures?

    Homework Statement How many significant figures in each?: -214 -81.60 -7.03 -.03 -0.0086 -3236 -8700 I don't quite understand this (I'm self studying, need a little help :) ) If got them all right then can someone explain the concept of significant figures? I hate knowing only...
  45. A

    Please explain what an axis of inertia or principle axis of inertia is

    Please explain what an "axis of inertia" or "principle axis of inertia" is! I have confronted these terms in a paper about molecular quantum mechanics, and they are completely unfamiliar to me. Can someone help?
  46. B

    Would anyone care to explain this?

    Would anyone care to explain this equation/model to me? Here is the link: http://ocw.mit.edu/NR/rdonlyres/Physics/8-033Fall-2006/30327616-EA68-417E-BFE8-78D72DEDDEC6/0/lecture9_lagrang.pdf To be a little more specific, it is on the fourth slide, and is labeled as "The Standard Model...
  47. L

    Why does the higgs particle explain mass?

    An understandable explanation please.
  48. F

    Number Theory: Can someone explain this to me please?

    Wilson's Theorem: (p-1)! ≡ -1 mod p Statement: As an immediate deduction from wilson's theorem we see that if p is prime with p ≡ 1 mod 4 then the congruence x2 ≡ -1 mod p has solutions x = +-(r!), where r = (p-1)/2.How do I plug in p ≡ 1 mod 4 into wilsoms theorem so I can see this? I'm...
  49. X

    Explaining Physics: Tips & Real-World Applications

    Hello; This is my first post, and I am not sure I am posting in the right forum, if not, please move my post and I apologize. Ok here goes: Bear with me as I am not a professional; I never learned physics, my work doesn't involve physics (well, it does a little as I code video games and...
  50. E

    Best model to explain expansion of universe is needed

    to better understand the expansion of universe, i probably need to see a well designed animation. neither in stretching rubber nor inflating baloon models i don't understand how does Hubble constant of 74kps fit on them. actually to apply Hubble constant i can only imagine one model and that is...
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