What is General: Definition and 1000 Discussions

A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, or marines.In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel.The term general is used in two ways: as the generic title for all grades of general officer and as a specific rank.
It originates in the 16th century, as a shortening of captain general, which rank was taken from Middle French capitaine général.
The adjective general had been affixed to officer designations since the late medieval period to indicate relative superiority or an extended jurisdiction.
Today, the title of general is known in some countries as a four-star rank. However, different countries use different systems of stars or other insignia for senior ranks. It has a NATO rank scale code of OF-9 and is the highest rank currently in use in a number of armies, air forces, and marine organizations.

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  1. M

    I General question about correct notation

    Hi, I have a question about how to write down the following problem in a thesis. I have a standing sinusodial wave with amplitude: |\hat{q}_n| which I want to express as superposition of two traveling waves. Would you suggest do write the sum in the last line like I did, or has somebody a...
  2. W

    General Question on 32- and 64- bit systems

    Hi All, Just curious on pros/cons of installing software designed for 32- bit systems in a 64-bit machine (Windows 8.1*)? * I have never been able to tell the difference, if any, between Win 8 and Win 8.1 .
  3. ORF

    Biology: Evolution: General selection rules?

    Hello In evolution, the archetype rule is the "natural selection" rule. Are the other selection rules? (technological selection rules, cultural rules, etc) Thank you for your time. Regards, ORF
  4. S

    Testing To focus on general GRE Writing?

    Hi all, Maybe most people would say that physics grad schools (PhD) programs don't care about your GRE writing score, but I have a sort of quick question: how much effort should I put into the Writing sections. I took my first GRE earlier this month, but messed up both of my writing sections...
  5. binbagsss

    Quantum Theory: derive EoM of action for a 'general' potential

    Homework Statement Action attached: To find the EoM of ##\phi ## / ##\phi^* ## Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution [/B] Without deriving from first principles, using E-L equations I have: ## \partial_{u}\frac{\partial L}{\partial_u \phi} - \frac{\partial L}{\partial \phi} =0 ##...
  6. A

    I General question about how objects move nature (discrete or continuous?)

    Hello everyone! I hope I write in right forum branch. The reason is that I have a question in my mind for a while. Maybe you can help to understand it. So, I am game developer, and one time I was using 2d physics engine to simulate motion in game. And I found out that in that engine, for...
  7. G

    I Overview of General Fresnel Equations + Complex IORs

    Hi, My understanding is that when light (with some frequency and polarization) hits the interface between two media (each with some frequency-dependent material properties), the Fresnel equations apply. This tells us how much light reflects back versus refracts across the interface. I'm...
  8. davidge

    I General Relativity as a Theory of Gravity Explained

    Suppose there is a charged particle far enough of any mass so that there is no gravitational interaction between the particle and any other body. The trajectory of the particle in space-time would appear to us like this (we are at the origin of our coordinate system). Consider that at...
  9. davidge

    Self-learning Special and General Relativity

    (I don't know if this is the right place to post it, but I think the "textbooks" section is'nt. So I'm going to put it here.) I have been self studying S&G relativity for almost eight months, mostly from Weinberg's book on S&G relativity, but also from papers I occasionally find on web and from...
  10. Jess Karakov

    Physics Physicists and physics majors, was it worth it?

    Hello PF. I'm a current sophomore in college studying aerospace engineering, but I was a physics major for most of last year. I am curious what would have become of that, since a lack of desire for low-paying employment opportunities trumped my aspirations in the field. I am curious, how many of...
  11. binbagsss

    General Relativity geodesics, killing vector, conserved quantities

    Homework Statement Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution [/B] Let ##k^u## denote the KVF. We have that along a geodesic ##K=k^uV_u## is constant , where ##V^u ## is the tangent vector to some affinely parameterised geodesic. ##k^u=\delta^u_i## , ##V^u=(\dot{t},\vec{\dot{x}})## so...
  12. C

    I Integrate Over Domain? | General Integration Questions

    I have a question about integration and I hope I can word it correctly. When we integrate over something (i.e. a line, a surface, or volume), what exactly do I integrate over? Is it the domain of that "thing"? I feel like it's something I've been told but I just can't remember. If this is the...
  13. binbagsss

    General relativity, geodesic, KVF, chain rule covariant derivatives

    Homework Statement To show that ##K=V^uK_u## is conserved along an affinely parameterised geodesic with ##V^u## the tangent vector to some affinely parameterised geodesic and ##K_u## a killing vector field satisfying ##\nabla_a K_b+\nabla_b K_a=0## Homework Equations see above The Attempt at...
  14. TheQuestionGuy14

    B How to travel back in time according to General Relativity?

    Is there any way to travel back in time in reality according to GR? Let me know!
  15. binbagsss

    General relativity, geodesic question

    Homework Statement question attached Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution Attempt : Check if ##V^{\alpha}\nabla_{\alpha}V^u=0## Since Minkowski space, connection tensors/christoffel symbols are zero so this reduces to: ##V^{\alpha}\partial_{\alpha}V^u=0## where...
  16. J

    General Physics Question -- Max height of a projectile

    When an object is thrown or propelled upwards and it meets the point at deceleration and drops; what is that point called, where the object is not moving in either direction?
  17. Arman777

    I Solving General Relativity Equations

    Is it really hard to find a solution of a GR equation maybe two planet system ? Or It could be a different system.I just wonder 1-How much its difficult ( Like can a person calculate those solutions) 2- Whats the boundries (Like we can solve 2 planet system but not 5 etc ? ) 3- Can...
  18. Umaxo

    I Mass/energy in general relativity

    Hi, i got little confused after this conversation in https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/some-questions-about-light-and-relativity.918094/page-2 There was also this conversation: So i want to clear the confusion. As was pointed out to me, in STR mass is defined as m2=E2 - p2, which...
  19. C

    B General Relativity Aces a Test at Supermassive Black Hole

    General relativity passes test at Milky Way’s central black hole by Ken Croswell For the first time, astronomers use stars orbiting a supermassive black hole to test Einstein's general theory of relativity, finding no sign of a fifth fundamental force. Links: John Batchelor Show...
  20. V

    I Meaning of Constants of Motion in General Relativity

    Hello, I have a mess in interpretation of constants in description of movement in GR. First of all I define Lagrangian ##l=1/2g_{\mu\nu}u^{\mu}u^{\nu}##, and I would like to talk about axial smyetric spacetime (for example Kerr black hole) ##l(r,\theta)##. l is independent from ##t## and...
  21. M

    B Is General Relativity Incomplete Without Dark Matter and Dark Energy?

    Dark matter and dark energy are fudge factors to solve problems in general relativity such as unexplained mass and drag. Is this correct or am I missing something?
  22. Wrichik Basu

    Relativity Book Recommendations in General Relativity

    I have read Special Relativity from Resnick and Halliday's book Fundamentals of Physics. Now I want to read general relativity. I tried reading Einstein's book "Principles of Relativity", but sad to say, many things went tangentially above my head because I couldn't follow many equations, as...
  23. karush

    MHB 17.1.08 y''+100y=0 Find the general solution of the given equation?

    $\tiny{17.1.08}$ $\textrm{ Find the general solution of the given equation?}$ \begin{align*}\displaystyle y''+100y&=0 \end{align*} $\textit{The auxiliary equation is:}$ \begin{align*}\displaystyle x^2+100x&=0\\ x(x+100)&=0\\ x&=-100 \end{align*} $\textit{Answer by EMH}$...
  24. Pushoam

    Proving C12=C21: General Capacitance

    Homework Statement Consider a system of N isolated conductors,with arbitrary shape and position. We specify the charge Qi on the ith conductor for each i. The capacitance Cij is: Qi= ΣCijVj, sum over j. To prove: Cij = Cji Hint: Consider how much energy is needed to start with the system...
  25. L

    Other Quantum Information and General Relativity

    Last year I've finished the undergraduate course in Mathematical-Physics and Mathematics and this year I've started on graduate school on Physics in order to obtain a master's degree. What I'm really interested are two main topics: general relativity and quantum field theory. I also like...
  26. S

    B Some help understanding integrals and calculus in general

    So in differential calculus we have the concept of the derivative and I can see why someone would want a derivative (to get rates of change). In integral calculus, there's the idea of a definite integral, which is defined as the area under the curve. Why would Newton or anyone be looking at the...
  27. N

    General questions with currents

    Hello, Reviewing for the test and there are still some things I'm not sure about so I thought I'd ask here and hopefully come across someone that can help. I swear I knew this, but I have not been diligently reviewing as much as I should so I think I forgot and became confused. When a...
  28. Wrichik Basu

    Problem in finding the General Solution of a Trigonometric Equation v3

    Homework Statement :[/B] Find the general solution of the Trigonometric equation: $$3\sin ^2 {\theta} + 7\cos ^2 {\theta} =6$$ Given andwer: ##n\pi \pm \frac {\pi}{6}## Homework Equations :[/B] These equations may help: The Attempt at a Solution :[/B] Please see the pic below: It...
  29. Wrichik Basu

    Problem in finding the General Solution of a Trigonometric Equation v2

    Homework Statement :[/B] Find the general solution of the equation: $$\tan {x}+\tan {2x}+\tan {3x}=0$$ Answer given: ##x=## ##\frac {n\pi}{3}##, ##n\pi \pm \alpha## where ##\tan {\alpha} = \frac {1}{\sqrt {2}}##. Homework Equations :[/B] These equations may be used: The Attempt at a...
  30. Wrichik Basu

    A problem in finding the General Solution of a Trigonometric Equation

    Homework Statement :[/B] Find the general solution of the Trigonometric equation $$\sin {3x}+\sin {x}=\cos {6x}+\cos {4x} $$ Answers given are: ##(2n+1)\frac {\pi}{2}##, ##(4n+1)\frac {\pi}{14}## and ##(4n-1)\frac {\pi}{6}##. Homework Equations :[/B] Equations that may be used: The...
  31. bananabandana

    Rotation of spin projection different to general rotation?

    Homework Statement Prove, for the matrix ##S = exp \bigg(-\frac{i}{\hbar}\mathbf{\hat{n}}\cdot \mathbf{\hat{S}}\bigg)## (spin-rotation matrix), and for an arbitary vector ##\mathbf{a}## that: $$ S^{-1} \mathbf{a} \cdot \mathbf{\hat{x}} S = a(-\theta) \cdot \mathbf{x} = a \cdot...
  32. binbagsss

    General Relativity - FRW Metric - FRW Equations show that ...

    Homework Statement Homework Equations see above The Attempt at a Solution Using the conservation equation for ##p=0## I find: ##\rho =\frac{ \rho_0}{a^3}##; (I am told this is ##\geq0## , is ##a\geq0## so here I can conclude that ##\rho_0 \geq =0 ## or not?) Plugging this and ##p=0## into...
  33. Oats

    Topology Willard's General Topology vs Dugundji's Topology

    Hello, I have read a fair chunk of Munkres' Topology book and took a short introductory course during undergraduate, but I would like to learn point-set topology a little better. I have quite a bit of mathematical maturity, so that isn't an issue for me. I had a larger list of potential books to...
  34. E

    I General Questions Related to Quantum Measurement

    I've recently been wondering about the notion of measurement in quantum mechanics. While I'm aware that understanding and precisely defining the concept of a quantum mechanical measurement is at the heart of interpreting the subject, I would like some feedback on some aspects of this topic I...
  35. Gleaner

    Educating the general public about pro nuclear energy?

    Pardon my ignorance, but why would nuclear energy be better option, I hear a lot of fears from the general public of why it is not safe? How would someone convince someones fear about the safety of nuclear power, considering what happened in Japan? cheers,
  36. LarryS

    I Wave-particle duality general question

    I just read the following paper that was written in 2014: https://arxiv.org/abs/1403.4687 It proposes that wave-particle duality and the momentum-position uncertainty (entropic) principle are physically the same phenomena. The paper was discussed at some length in this forum in the following...
  37. Mario

    Circles and Euler spiral (repost from general math)

    Hi, i have this problem..., giving two circle (example radius 1 = 500 units, radius 2 = 200 units, distance between centers = 275.73 units) find Euler Spiral (aka Cornu spiral, aka Clothoid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euler_spiral) tangent giving circle (unknown tangent points). For this...
  38. M

    A Acceleration of a Satellite in General Relativity

    Hi there guys, I'm struggling! I've been looking at the International Earth Rotation Services (IERS) "standards" for motion of a satellite in GR. the expression is far from trivial and I'm battling to determine where to even start with this bad boy. The expression is given by \Delta...
  39. C

    A Galois theorem in general algebraic extensions

    I have proved for myself the following theorem, generalizing Galois theorem to general algebraic extensions. My question is: is it true, and is there some reference to this theorem in the literature? Theorem: Recall that a subfield ##M## of a field ##L## is a perfect closure in ##L## if there...
  40. Mind----Blown

    General approach to find principal axes of rotation?

    Suppose i have an equilateral triangle and i want to find the principal axes of rotation passing through one of the vertex. How can i do that? I am thinking along the following lines but I'm not too sure: 1)Since the equilateral triangle has symmetry about a median, that definitely is one...
  41. dykuma

    I Can Warping Spacetime Create a "Warp Bubble" in GR?

    First of all, I would like to admit that my understanding of general relativity is limited, though this will hopefully be remedied this summer when I take a GR class. I think we have all seen a sci-fi movie where the characters are stuck in a space where they are trapped in a sort of "warp...
  42. W

    Perception of Intl Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control - Impact Factor 4

    The international Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. It has an Impact Factor of around 4, but what's the perception? Is it respected? Is it considered a good journal? There isn't a qualitative judgment online. My boss seems to look down on it, but it has a good impact factor.
  43. JulienB

    I General questions about the CMB

    Hi everybody! I am (like many) very fascinated by the cosmic microwave background, but there are many aspects of it that I do not understand yet. I'm currently in 4th semester of my physics studies, and just starting quantum physics now. Some of those questions might be stupid or (mis)leaded by...
  44. victor94

    A Classical gas with general dispersion relation

    i'm trying to understand the solution to this problem: http://physweb.bgu.ac.il/COURSES/StatMechCohen/ExercisesPool/EXERCISES/ex_2065_sol_Y13.pdf (link to the problem and the solution of it) All my questions come from the partition function: 1) From where the term (2*pi)^d comes from?, I...
  45. S

    A Minimal coupling in general relativity

    Consider the Einstein-Maxwell action (setting units ##G_{N}=1##), $$S = \frac{1}{16\pi}\int d^{4}x\sqrt{-g}\ (R-F^{\mu\nu}F_{\mu\nu})$$ where $$F_{\mu\nu} = \nabla_{\mu}A_{\nu}-\nabla_{\nu}A_{\mu} = \partial_{\mu}A_{\nu}-\partial_{\nu}A_{\mu}.$$ This describes gravity coupled to...
  46. J

    A General relativity. What does momentum conservation mean?

    In general relativity, does momentum conservation mean conservation of 4-momentum or 3-momentum
  47. J

    A General Relativity: Components of ds^2

    Hello there, suppose we take ##M## to denote the spacetime manifold. Suppose also that ## ds^2 = g_{\mu \nu} dx^\mu dx^\nu##. I have some confusions with regards to the metric and the line elements. My main confusion is at which points in the manifold are ## ds^2## defined? Is it correct that...
  48. J

    A General relativity -- Proof of energy measured by observer

    I want to prove that ##E = -g_{\mu \nu}u^\mu p^\nu## is the energy measured by an observer with velocity ##u^\mu## of an object with momentum ##p^\mu##. My reasoning is that in special relativity we know that ##\gamma m = E##. We can transform to coordinates where ##u'^\mu = (1,\vec{0})##. Since...
  49. H

    B Physics of transients -- general

    Recalling my reading on a variety of physical systems solutions were always defined for some time after the system is energised. For example circuits, waves... For these systems a whole lot of complex, "stuff" eg sloshing around of energy, occurs to result in a stable value in time, stable...
  50. Brage Eidsvik

    I Finding Area of Graphs with x^2: A General Solution?

    Hello, If I have an x^2 graph that goes from 0 to a point a. Is there a general solution to where the area of the left side is equal to the area of the right?
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