What is Explanation: Definition and 975 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. D

    Brief explanation what an EM mode is?

    Can anyone provide a brief explanation what an EM mode is? I've read some EM theory, but still have problems understanding what a mode really is! I know for some EM waves, the medium supports only certain modes, but is the 'mode' a property of a medium? Or is it something that should be...
  2. U

    Explanation of the Higgs Field?

    I want to understand the higgs field more, but all the explanations i read i only slightly understand. Even that explanation of the celebrity walking into a room just made me more confused. Why does the higgs field gives objects mass? and how is the higgs field created? I want to know more but...
  3. C

    Explanation wanted for a demonstration in MIT phyiscs lec #6

    The demonstration: A mass of 2kg is hanged to a string that is hanged vertically from a fixture. Another string is attached to the bottom of the mass and then this bottom string is given a downward pull. Note that the strings used are assumed identical. This demonstration can be found here...
  4. F

    Riemann integral of arcsinh (have the answer, want an explanation)

    Homework Statement Given the following sum, turn it into an integral: \lim_{n \to \infty}\Sigma^n_{k=1}\dfrac{1}{n\sqrt{1+(k/n)^2}} Homework Equations The answer says =\int^2_1\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{1+x^2}} The Attempt at a Solution I understand how to get the equation, but why...
  5. F

    Explaining the Relationship Between Force and Acceleration: Newton's Second Law

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  6. J

    Explanation of net torque in a problem

    Explanation of "net torque" in a problem I hate to ask such a simple question, but I was working on a problem where the idea of "net torque" was calculated differently than I thought. I more or less and just looking for the flaw in my logic and an explanation. :smile: Here's the main...
  7. daniel_i_l

    Running Before Jumping - What's the Explanation?

    Why does running before jumping help you jump higher? The only explanation I could think of was that right before the jump you redirect your speed into the ground and compress your bones. This compression gets translated into an upward thrust when they expand again. What do you think? Thanks
  8. X

    Inductor Burning: Low Voltage Causes & Explanation

    Is it true that when a lower voltage is applied across an inductor it burns up the coil? If so can someone please explain why?
  9. L

    Explanation of the mass and charge of the proton

    How can quantum mechanics propose an explanation of the mass and charge of the proton using particles with partial charges and guessed at mass but ignore the mass and charge of the electron?
  10. T

    Explanation on how inflation solves the horizon and flatness problem

    Hi, I'm totally lost on how inflation solves the horizon and flatness problem. Flatness Problem Explanation I have d/dt(1/Ha)<0 and therefore |\Omega-1| is driven towards zero rather than away from it. My Confusion Doesn't inflation increase the volume of the universe...
  11. N

    Physics Midterm Explanation Kirkoff Rule

    Its the part c question...which states C) Suppose we made V = 0. Find the new current running through the 5.00 ohm resistor.So I just took the biggest loop and did it this way Sum of V = 0 So starting at the upper left hand corner of the circuit -3A(15 Ohms) + 50 V + I (5) = 0 -45 + 50 +5I...
  12. N

    Calculating Energy Stored in Capacitors in a Series Circuit

    Ok try to review for the finals but I need help in understanding this problem. So I can say that there is a resistance, 2 capacitors in series, and voltage source (Vo). Vo = 20.0 V R = 5.00 kilo ohm C1 = 12.0 micro F C2 = 4.0 micro F Switch is closed at t = 0. How much energy will...
  13. L

    Explanation of Energy Bands in Solids

    Homework Statement What is the reason for energy bands in solids? Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution because of close proximty of atoms
  14. S

    Complex Numbers Quadratic. Sorry if my explanation is a bit long.

    Homework Statement 2iz^2 - (3-8i)z -6 + 7i Homework Equations z = \frac{-b +/- \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} The Attempt at a Solution Right, here goes... a = 2i b = -3 + 8i (is this correct? Or would it be better to leave it as 3-8i?) c = (-6 + 7i) so using these: z =...
  15. F

    Simplified Explanation of Supersymmetry for Intro to High Energy Class

    Homework Statement I am giving a short talk on supersymmetry for my intro to high energy class, but I do not have the time to read an entire book on the subject. Most resources I have found go into much more depth than I need, but these seem to be the only resources. Can anyone help me with...
  16. E

    What factors can cause a false perception of flux?

    Homework Statement 1. http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/61/falsec.th.jpg 2. http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/5558/false.th.jpg Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution This is false, however it seems true.. I see no reason why it is false.. Can someone please help me to...
  17. F

    Explanation as to how superconductivity works

    Could someone give me a good explanation as to how superconductivity works. Feel free to be very technical. Thanks :smile:
  18. E

    A baffling quote from Einstein, badly requiring explanation

    Subject: A Baffling Quote from Einstein, badly requiring explanation All sources I've consulted indicate that Einstein reconceived gravity in General Relativity by discarding the prevailing, intuitive, Newtonian view of it as a 'force' accelerating objects, and daringly envisioned it purely...
  19. M

    A Star's Life, (Full Explanation)

    Can someone explain all the known paths a star can take from its birth to its death? This is what I know so far. Please correct me or add things where they need to be in the list 1) Hydrogen gas, clumps together by gravity. 2) Hydrogen atoms bump against each other and these collisions...
  20. A

    Quick simple indentity explanation needed

    Homework Statement When you have something like and you want to use the pythagorean's theorem identity but let's say i do it with the 3rd term in the parenthesis, then would this be valid and what about this is this also valid? Homework Equations N/A The Attempt at a...
  21. A

    Linear Algebra true/false explanation.

    Linear Algebra true/false explanation. :) Homework Statement True or False: Is it possible to find a pair of two-dimensional subspaces S and T of R3 such that S (upside down U) = {0} ? Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution My understanding: upside down U =...
  22. N

    Give a good explanation of determinants?

    I don't think this goes under H/W questions, as it's not a specific question needing solving, or a proof, etc. Getting back to the point, anyone know any good websites or sources that give a good explanation of determinants? I mean what they do, why they do it, not just how to do it. I googled...
  23. W

    Explanation of Yukawa potential

    I would appreciate an explanation of Yukawa potential
  24. P

    Explanation for the Depopulation of the native americans

    Did native americans die overwhemely from diseases brought by the First european immigrants or were the native americans population dwindled down to insignificance because of the genocides perpetrated on the native american by the europeans?
  25. T

    Momentum: I have the answer, now an explanation?

    So, I know the "correct" answer to this problem, but it makes no sense to me at all. Why is the following the case? Homework Statement A railroad hopper car has mass 40,000 kg when empty and contains 50,000 kg of coal. As it coasts along the track at 4 m/s the hopper opens and steadily...
  26. N

    Griffiths' explanation of degenerate perturbation theory

    Hi all. I'm reading about time-independent perturbation theory for degenerate states in Griffiths' Introduction to QM. I have a question on the things he writes in chapter 6.2, page 269. What does he mean by the so-called "good" linear combinations? I hope you can shed some light on...
  27. B

    Lines Appear When Staring at Bright Lights - What's the Explanation?

    My physics master at school (1970s) said that if you hold your hand in front of your eye whilst looking at a bright light, you can see lines appear in the tiny gaps between the fingers. He said that though some people thought this was slit diffraction, they were mistaken, the effect actually...
  28. T

    I cant understand this prove explanation on limit series

    there is a continues function f(x) and bounded on (x_0,+infinity) proove that for every T there is a sequence X_n=+infinity so lim [f(x_n +T) - f(x_n)]=0 n->+infinity i was told: uppose that \lim_{x\to\infty}f(x)=a. So we know that given any \varepsilon>0 there exists a \eta>0 such that...
  29. T

    I cant understand this explanation of limsup

    regarding this defintion http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/5666/47016823jz1.gif i was told that Remember that if x_n is bounded then \limsup x_n = \lim \left( \sup \{ x_k | k\geq n\} \right). The sequence, \sup \{ x_k | k\geq n\} is non-increasing, therefore its limits is its infimum...
  30. F

    Heuristic explanation of why quantum mechanics plus SR imply antiparticles

    heuristic explanation of why quantum field theory imply antiparticles I'm looking for a heuristic explanation of why quantum mechanics plus special relativity requires antiparticles, Does anybody want to take a crack at it? Or am I asking for the impossible?
  31. H

    Correct explanation of how gyroscope works?

    Homework Statement Hi, I'm taking AP Physics in high school, and the explanation I wrote is based on a demo in class, something like this picture: When the wheel is spinning, there is an angular momentum facing away from the string along the axis of rotation of the wheel. The gravitational...
  32. T

    How Does Particle Velocity Change Under Conservative Force Along the X-Axis?

    a particle is moving along the X axes under the influence of a conservative force with a potential energy. by this graph : http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/5609/82453845uw5.gif 1.describe how the particle moves with E1 energy where E1>U1 which comes from the left x<-a and...
  33. A

    Explanation of Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis

    1. I'm extremely confused with how they' re originated, basically explain how the aurora borealis and aurora australis are formed.
  34. T

    Explanation of radioactive decay

    Hi folks I was wondering if someone could please help me with the following: Is the explanation for radioactive decay (if it is not "induced") the increase in entropy, and is it true that an activation energy must be overcome (if so, does that mean that it is not possible for an unstable...
  35. F

    Gravitational time dilation explanation for Newtonian gravity?

    I seem to recall reading a post a long time ago (that I cannot find) that gravity in the Newtonian limit (eg the Solar system) can be completely explained in terms of gravitational time dilation alone. In his book, Gravity from the Ground up, Schutz argue that All of Newtonian gravitation is...
  36. F

    Looking for Layman's Physical Explanation for the lowest energy level in atoms

    I'm looking for a simple physical explanation of the lowest energy level in atoms, so I can provide a brief explanation to interested laypeople (not to mention just to help myself understand better). Does anybody want to take a crack at it? Or am I asking for the impossible? Since electron...
  37. B

    Stuck on ladder problem, know the solution but need an explanation

    Homework Statement http://www.webassign.net/walker/p11-78alt.gif An 85 kg person stands on a uniform ladder that is 4.3 m long and weighs 65.0 N. The floor is rough; hence it exerts both a normal force, f1, and a frictional force, f2, on the ladder. The wall, on the other hand, is...
  38. F

    Looking for Layman's Physical Explanation for energy level in atoms

    I'm looking for a simple physical explanation of the discrete energy level in atoms, so I can provide a brief explanation to interested laypeople (not to mention just to help myself understand better). Does anybody want to take a crack at it? Or am I asking for the impossible?
  39. S

    Looking for Layman's Physical Explanation for Gravitational Time Dilation

    I'm looking for a simple physical explanation of gravitational time dilation, so I can provide a brief explanation to interested laypeople (not to mention just to help myself understand better). Does anybody want to take a crack at it? Or am I asking for the impossible?
  40. K

    How does a voltage comparator work? very simple explanation I need

    Hello every1.. I would like just sum help in unerstanding how a voltage comparator works.. I tried to read journals.. books.. but till now, I feel so lost.. can someone just give me a simple explanation of the SIMPLEST voltage comparator? sumthing to help me get on with it... I'd appreciate...
  41. DaTario

    Search for a correct explanation

    Hi All, Consider please the situation where an electron is moving to the right with velocity Ve parallel to a horixontal wire in which is found electric current I. For the sake of definitness, let positive charges inside the wire go to right and negative go to left, with velocities of equal...
  42. U

    Need physics explanation for defects after epoxy cure

    Qn:Why do bubbles like this form? -My guess is that intially air trapped in the liquid before cure expands in all direction(to maintain equal pressure) during curing, as curing shrinks the epoxy, causing bubbles to form. (Or is it the heat which expands it?) Microscope picture of bubble...
  43. K

    Understanding Car Suspension Equations

    Hi Im trying to revise up on half suspension systems and I found this useful link. Their are 4 equations but I was wondering if someone could explain the equations for me (as it just tells you what they are without giving any understanding) especially equation 1...
  44. M

    Wilson theorem Question Explanation

    How do I explain this: Let p be odd prime explain why: 2*4*...*(p-1)\equiv (2-p)(4-p)*...*(p-1-p)\equiv(-1)^{\frac{(p-1)}{2}}*1*3*...*(p-2) mod p. Relevant equations Gauss lemma wilson's theorem [(p-1)!\equiv-1 mod p] The attempt at a solution pairing? need assistance...
  45. S

    Understanding the V(in)=V(max).sin(wt) Formula for DC Smoothing Circuits

    Can someone please explain to me in brief detail as to what each expression means for the given formula:- V(in)=V(max).sin(wt) and to how this formula works? It is a formula that has been given to me in order to work out time at which a waveform=V(min) for a dc smoothing circuit with a...
  46. S

    Understanding the V(in)=V(max).sin(wt) Formula for DC Smoothing Circuits

    Can someone please explain to me in brief detail as to what each expression means for the given formula:- V(in)=V(max).sin(wt) and to how this formula works? It is a formula that has been given to me in order to work out time at which a waveform=V(min) for a dc smoothing circuit with a...
  47. D

    Exploring the Mystery of Euler's Number "e

    Hi! This is my first post, and maybe there is already a thread about this, but I couldn't find one. I found this forum through StumbleUpon. My question is, what exactly is e? How did Mr. Euler get to this number? I am from germany and recently graduated in a "gymnasium". Somewhat like the...
  48. T

    Explanation of Wavenumber wrt Turbulence and Energy dissipation

    Hi there Can anyone provide me with an explanation of what a wavenumber is, and how it can be used in determining the extent to which energy is dissipated during turbulence (ideally in the context of the ocean)? I am aware of the basic definition of a wavenumber (i.e. the reciprocal of wave...
  49. N

    What is the explanation for spin 1/2 in the x-direction?

    Homework Statement Hi all. I'm reading about spin 1/2, and I am having a hard time understanding it. I hope you guys can fill the gaps. Here is where I stand at the moment: The basis vectors are "spin up" and "spin down" in the direction of the z-axis. Thus we have for spin 1/2 in the...
  50. P

    XRD Scherrer Equation -- need explanation

    Hi everybody Actually i need to calculate a cristallite nanoparticles size by using my XRD measurement results. I looked in some sites and published papers, folks are used an equation called Scherrer equation to calculate the radius of a nanoparticle. I've found in an another forum this...
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