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. Greg Bernhardt

    Exploring Torque: Definition, Equations, and Explanation

    Definition/Summary Torque is the moment of a force about a point. Torque is a vector (strictly, a pseudovector, like angular momentum and any other moment of a vector), and is measured in units of Newton metres (N m or N.m). By comparison, energy is a scalar, and is measured in units of...
  2. Greg Bernhardt

    Heat and Work: A Definition and Explanation

    Definition/Summary Heat is the non-mechanical exchange of internal energy, U, between a system and its surroundings as a result of a difference in temperature. By contrast, work, W, is the mechanical exchange of energy as a result of force applied across a moving surface (such as the face...
  3. K

    How do vectors and electric field lines differ in representing electric fields?

    I'm stuck on some high school physics, Gauss law... 1. It says this: The electric field outside the sphere is equal as if the charge of the sphere was in it's center. I don't understand this, why is this true? I get it - experiments have showed that and that's how you calculate it; but what's...
  4. Ookke

    A speculative explanation why universe accelerates

    Since dark energy and other models for explaining accelerating universe (which is quite hard to explain) are somewhat speculative, I hope that PhysicsForums rules allow some speculation on this subject. I try to keep this short. And this is also a question. Is there any serious research where...
  5. C

    Physical explanation for power broadening

    I have been looking into broadening mechanisms and I'm stuck at trying to provide a physical explanation for power broadening. I get how the math shows that at high intenseties the decay rate goes through the roof due to saturation, but how does this increased decay rate manifest in a spread of...
  6. marcus

    CMB cold spot explanation proposed (looks good)

    Joe Silk is one of the co-authors. One expects large voids in the distribution of galaxies because of the cobwebby way dark and ordinary matter have condensed. A large void comparatively close by (within a few billion LY of us) could cool ancient background light passing thru on its way to us...
  7. S

    What are the considerations for live load ratings in structural design?

    So I'm looking at some technical drawings here (mechanical engineering co-op) and the live load rating is 100 pounds per square foot (PSF) for this particular drawing. My question is this: why is it so low? Just me standing with my feet together exerts roughly 230 pounds per square foot (i'm...
  8. C

    Really quick explanation for gauge theory?

    Could anyone give a really quick explanation for gauge theory to me? Or a link, or a book is perfectly fine. I just completely don't understand SU symmetry breaking and etc. etc. I also have a question, is everyone who lurks around here a college professor on quantum physics or something...
  9. P

    Physically plausible explanation for artificial supernova

    Hi, What would be a plausible explanation for the induced supernova of a star? (Or at least an explanation that had a shot at being plausible!) What about a large antimatter explosion in the star's core, perhaps deposited there through a small wormhole? Or could some kind of missile be...
  10. G

    Physically plausible explanation for missile based space combat?

    I've done some calculations. At first glimpse, yes it sounds very nice, that with missiles you can attack way outside laser range... On the other hand, based on molar heat and weight of titanium, it looks like to me, that actually melting down a kg projectile only requires a few MJ... while...
  11. D H

    Simple explanation of the lunar highlands problem

    Why does the farside of the Moon have a thick crust with a landscape dominated by lunar highlands while the nearside has a much thinner crust with a landscape dominated by maria? This is what the authors of a paper recently published on the arxiv (and accepted for publication in the...
  12. A

    A Descriptive Explanation of Photons required

    What actually are photons, means are they packets of energy or some sort of matter.
  13. J

    Solving Part B of PV=NkbT: An Explanation

    Homework Statement "see attachment" Homework Equations PV=NkbT Change in entropy = Boltzmann Constant x In(Macrostate) The Attempt at a Solution for part A, I knew that PV=NKbT giving that pressure is 101300Pa volume is 1*10^-3 m^3, Kb is 1.38*10^-23 and T=300K I find N to...
  14. marellasunny

    Explanation for PIDrobust methodology to a layman

    Can someone explain what the PID robust methodology is all about in simple words?http://www.irt.rwth-aachen.de/en/fuer-studierende/downloads/pidrobust/ One of the advantages of the method stated is that "capability to process plants with delay time ". Whats so great about that? Usual...
  15. J

    Light Plane Photography - Is my explanation correct?

    Dear Forum I'm an experimental photographer. During the last two years I've been developing a technique which I call light plane photography (LPP). LPP is a photographic technique that uses a plane of light and a camera to record photographs with unique optical effects. Here's three...
  16. I

    Hanbury Brown and Twiss effect explanation

    I've visited a great many sites and looked at papers to fully understand this, and still have some confusion regarding the Hanbury Brown and Twiss effect. Classically, speaking, we treat photons as waves. the math yields a correlation function which boils down to a constant term and a cos...
  17. Evanish

    Is this a valid explanation of why hotter things have more mass?

    Is this a valid explanation of why adding heat also adds mass? The closer to the speed of light something is going the more force it takes to increase it's acceleration in that direction. If you have two objects of uniform composition and if the only difference between the two is that one...
  18. D

    Medical Request for Medical explanation

    Explanation of questions for first problem: We are three brothers(X, Y, & Z) and three sisters(A(45 years), B(42years), & C(24years)). Our neighbor are three brothers(K(45 years), L(35years), M(32years)) and five sisters. My three sisters are mentally ill. A became mentally ill when...
  19. N

    Explanation of solution to given question (subspace)

    Homework Statement -4x1 +2x2 =2 4x1 -3x2 -2x3 =-3 2x1 -x2 +(k - k2)x3 =-k Find the values of k for which the system has 1) unique solution, 2) infinitely many solution and 3) no solution The Attempt at a Solution In REF: the matrix is -4 2 0 | 2 0 -1 -2 | -1 0 0 k(1-k)...
  20. S

    Explanation of Axioms, First Principles, and Assumptions

    College sophomore here and just wanted to ask for an explanation of terms that I have come across in my math and philosophy courses thus far, but without direct teaching of them. I've seen these terms used in forum discussions and mentioned off-handedly by profs., but don't have a specific...
  21. C

    Coulomb's Torsion balance explanation?

    Hi, I'd really like to understand How a torsion balance works and exactly how You can use math to derive the Coulombs law. Is thre a good - realtively easy to understand - video or do someone have some good notes explaining exactly how it works? I'd really appreicate it.
  22. K

    Explanation of entropy for a beginner please

    Hello, I am looking for some clarity on the second law of thermodynamics. I am an amateur physics student and only just beginning and so my understanding is currently very basic! I have watched Brian Cox's Wonders of the Universe, where he talks about the second law of thermodynamics being...
  23. P

    What is the result of mixing 10g of ice at -10 deg celcius?

    Homework Statement Find the result of mixing 10g of ice at -10 deg celcius. Specific heat capacity of ice = 2.1 J/g K. Specific heat capacity of water is 4.2 J/g K. Specific latent heat of ice = 336 J/g. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution 0.625g, temperature will...
  24. A

    Mechanistic explanation of de Broglie wavelength

    I am not proposing a particular explanation and just in case you suspect I have something in mind, I must tell you that I don't. I was wondering if anybody here has some ideas. I understand that you may have objections to my question. One of them might be that a mechanistic model would not work...
  25. X

    Is my explanation valid? (commutation relations)

    I am doing a problem on the "super symmetric harmonic oscillator" Defined by.. \hat{H}=\hat{H}_b+\hat{H}_f= \hbar \omega \left( \hat{b}^{\dagger}\hat{b}+\hat{f}^{\dagger}\hat{f} \right) I am given the operator.. \hat{Q}=\sqrt{\hbar \omega} \hat{b}^{\dagger} \hat{f} and asked to show...
  26. V

    Can someone check my explanation of sequences and series?

    It's been a while since I've dealt with sequences and series. Here is my explanation of sequences and series and let me know if I am right or wrong. A sequence is just a list of numbers. By convention, we use the letter ##a## for sequences and they are written in a form like so...
  27. J

    Multiplying Partial Fractions: Understanding the Rules

    Homework Statement Homework Equations After looking through this on Wiki, I'm a little confused as to how these partial fractions are multiplied out. Is there a rule or something for this? With simpler partials I can do it but this one is something else! The Attempt at a Solution
  28. F

    Explanation for Capillary Force

    Homework Statement Could some one help me understand capillary Force?Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution If we use a capillary tube sticking in a water cup as an example. The phenomenon will be water level is higher in the capillary tube than that in the water cup. I understand that...
  29. B

    Magnets phenomena, please give explanation

    Hi everyone, Can someone please explain to me what happens here? Why does the polarity reverse? My friend explains it like this, I quote: "as opposed to what is taught in schools, magnets have a centralized force field". Is there something to this? What happens here...
  30. T

    Qualitative Explanation of Range

    Homework Statement Explain qualitatively how it is possible for the projectiles to have the same range despite having different launch angles Homework Equations x = voxt The Attempt at a Solution A projectile's range is determined by its x component of the initial velocity and the...
  31. N

    Explanation as regards range and domains

    Homework Statement a) f(x,y)=√ [1−(x2+y2)] b) f(x,y)=2cos(4x+y2) The Attempt at a Solution a) The domain is such that x2 + y2 must not be greater than 1 In other words, this is expressed (as stated as an option on the answer sheet) as "xy-plane without the line x=y" Why is this...
  32. N

    Limits if polar coordinates (conceptual explanation)

    1. Homework Statement [/b] Suppose the lim(x,y) →(0,0) (xy)/SQRT[x^2 + y^2] if it exists find the limit. The Attempt at a Solution x = rcosΘ y = r sinΘ r = SQRT[x^2 + y^2] ∴ lim[SUB]r → 0 (r2cosΘrsinΘ)/ r = rcosΘsinΘ \leq r and so -r \leq(xy)/SQRT[x^2 + y^2] \leq r ... ... I can...
  33. M

    Explanation of graphs involving capacitors (charging/discharging)

    Homework Statement I've tested the circuit above, when the switch is in the 2nd position (not the one on the picture) and got the below graph from the plotted data I received. The capacitor C1 has been charged to 4V, and will start to discharge through R3. I'll have to explain...
  34. H

    Quantum Explanation of Magnets

    How can a magnet be explained based on quantum properties? This seems like an obvious thing, but I can't find it online. The best I can do on my own is that systems are at lower energy when the spins are aligned, so that's why magnets attract one another. The spin transfers angular...
  35. Z

    Do electrons exchange photons to create the electromagnetic force?

    I have read some fairly vague descriptions of charge that say it can be looked at as the amplitude for a particle to exchange a photon. For example, when two electrons repel, it is because a photon is emitted from one too the other, which would change the direction of both equally and...
  36. S

    Explanation of Equatorial Coordinate System?

    Can anyone explain very clearly(to a n00b like me) right ascension and declination and how to navigate to stars using this system?
  37. G

    Why f(x) = x^n - r e^{i \theta}? Seeking Analytic Explanation

    I'd like to figure out why f(x) = x^n - r e^{i \theta} = \prod_{j = 0}^{n - 1} ( x - r^{1/n} e^{i \theta / n} e^{2 \pi i j / n} ) , as I've seen it used as an identity in a few courses but I cannot figure it out. Could somebody shed some light? I understand they are the roots of the function...
  38. D

    Classical explanation of double slit polarization experiment

    I have a disagreement with a Quantum mechanical scientist about a double slit experiment with polarizers, which gives interference or not depending on "which path" knowledge of the photon. That is alright with me, but I can calculate the same results with classical wave formula. He does not...
  39. U

    NMR Explanation for Proton Spectra of Benzene Ring

    Hi everybody, Homework Statement I am working on the spectra from the following link: http://www.chem.ucla.edu/cgi-bin/webspectra.cgi?Problem=bp22. Relevant factors and first attempt For the most part, I understand how the spectra available contribute to the answer, but the left (upfield)...
  40. J

    Explanation of E-field torque and initial angle

    Homework Statement Hello, A dipole moment is placed in a uniform electric field oriented along an unknown direction. The maximum torque applied to the dipole is equal to 0.1 N.m. When the dipole reaches equilibrium its potential energy is equal to -0.2 J. What was the initial angle between the...
  41. M

    Need explanation about sin rule

    Hello. This is part of a solution but I don't understand the underlined part. Why is it equals to 0?
  42. D

    KW and kWh - further explanation

    I have been looking at the difference and I know one is power and one is energy. I understand that a 2kW kettle on for an hour uses 2kWh but on for 30 minutes uses 1kWh. But with power generation it seems this is constant. If a plant puts out 100kW it does this all day every day regardless of...
  43. P

    Possible explanation for the wave-particle duality ?

    Hi everyone, today I had a thought coming across my mind when I woke up, and I think it might be an explanation for the particle-wave duality. Now, when we are talking about a particle, one thing that has to be mentioned is the uncertainty principle. If you divide space into equal volumes for...
  44. B

    Explanation of the 'chain fountain': some doubts

    Apologies if this has been discussed in other threads already. I did a quick search on 'chain fountain' and got no hits. If you coil a length of chain into a container and let it slip out over the lip under its own weight, it will start to form an arc through the air, without touching the lip...
  45. D

    PHYSICAL explanation of light reflection by metals

    Electric field of an electromagnetic wave incident on a metal accelerates free electrons, and these accelerating electrons then emit radiation opposite to the electric field of the wave, thus reducing the resultant amplitude in the forward direction. Radiation emitted in the backward direction...
  46. P

    PWM Inverter Drive explanation please

    Hi, I understand that the PWM inverter drive system first uses a diode bridge rectifier in order to convert the AC incoming into DC before using an inverter to convert this DC into PWM for use on the induction motor. Could someone please explain in simple terms how the PWM inverter section...
  47. B

    Incomplete integration explanation

    hello, i have a question about an explanation of integration as finding the area under a curve. I don't have any problems doing the integration but it's more a case of why? Finding the area bound by two curves is easy enough but what does that area actually mean? I know that it's a...
  48. L

    Qualitative explanation of radiative transitions and selection rules.

    Hi, I'm looking get a deeper conceptual grip on A&M spectroscopy, particularly what actually goes on between atoms/molecules and photons during an emission/absorption event. In general I just want to understand the "why's and how's" of the selection rules for dipole/quadrupole transitions, but...
  49. R

    An explanation of a transistor

    Hey guys, So I built a circuit a little while back using a flyback transformer and a 2n3055 transistor. Basically it just gave me a massive hi voltage output an I saw little inch long plasma arcs. If you guys need a circuit diagram, I can send you the link or just post it here. The main point...
  50. M

    Spectrochemical series explanation

    After learning about crystal field theory, my main question was due to the arrangement of the molecules in the spectrochemical series. I can understand that the larger anions are placed towards the lower end since they do not cause high splitting in the d orbitals, but some of the arrangements...
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