What is Idea: Definition and 833 Discussions

In common usage and in philosophy, ideas are abstract concepts. Also in philosophy, ideas can also be mental representational images of some object. Many philosophers have considered ideas to be a fundamental ontological category of being. The capacity to create and understand the meaning of ideas is considered to be an essential and defining feature of human beings. In a popular sense, an idea arises in a reflexive, spontaneous manner, even without thinking or serious reflection, for example, when we talk about the idea of a person or a place. A new or an original idea can often lead to innovation.

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  1. S

    Is it a bad idea to take Quantum E&M and Stat Mech together?

    As the title says would it be an overload to take all those classes together? I am wondering because these classes are only offered in the fall semester and I plan on taking the physics subject GRE next fall. What should I expect? Any input would be helpful thank you!
  2. A

    Which book to read to get an idea of how modern gadgets work?

    I always wanted to know how a car works, how T.V. works etc. However I was not one of those kids who opened all the gadgets in their free time and looked at how they work (I wish I did that). Now I'm in college. I took Computer Science and Electric and electronics is not my department. I want...
  3. B

    Idea 2 for how to break the second law of thermodynamics

    Hello! I have another idea for how to break the second law of thermodynamics, and I don't see where this one cracks either. I would be glad if someone could explain this to me. Kelvin-Planck statement of the second law: "No process is possible whose sole result is the absorption of heat...
  4. B

    Idea for how to break the second law of thermodynamics

    Hi! I have an idea for how to break the second law of thermodynamics, and I don't see where it cracks. I would really appreciate if someone could explain this to me. Kelvin-Planck statement of the second law: "No process is possible whose sole result is the absorption of heat from a reservoir...
  5. Z

    Any one have a diagram of the idea column shape.

    It ran in Science News after much calculation the idea shape for a column to resist buckling was solved. It is a slight barrel shape.
  6. A

    Take Analysis concurrently with Proofs Course? Smart or Stupid Idea?

    Hi all. This is my first post on here. I come here to read what others ask/answer so this was the first place I thought of when this dilemma came up for me. I am a Math Major and I am for sure taking a proofs course this fall. I have been allowed to take Analysis concurrently with the proofs...
  7. B

    How Can I Make the Most of My Time as a Job Seeker After Finishing My Masters?

    Any idea to utilize time?? Hi! I'm a job seeker after finishing Masters in VLSI Design & Embedded Systems. I feel, my mind is empty now, so i keep going through books, just to brush up such as Advanced Embedded Systems, Digital Design, Logic Design So, any new idea to best utilize time...
  8. PeteyCoco

    Real Analysis after Multivariable Calculus a bad idea?

    I studied from Multivariable Calculus by James Stewart this past year and thought that it would be worth reading another calculus text to fill in the gaps and to keep my skills sharp. While reading Advanced Calculus by David Widder, I came across this problem: (Paraphrased from text) Suppose a...
  9. K

    The idea behind a reverse shock

    So in a supernova explosion for example (5th slide) http://www.astro.princeton.edu/~burrows/classes/541/blastwavesChisari.pdf Ambient medium is accelerated, compressed and heated. It pushes back into the ejecta, creating a reverse shock. Why does it do this and not just emit a drag...
  10. marcus

    Idea for cosmo Basics (minimum to understand meaning of expansion)

    If you want, see how this would work as really beginner-level introduction. I'm hearing misconceptions about expansion---not necessarily from the present company, more generally in lay public. People ask what is expanding? how can galaxies recede faster than light? if space is boundaryless then...
  11. K

    Is getting a PhD in physics a good idea?

    I am going into my senior year in high school, and I have been gradually trying to narrow down my choices for what to do with my life after high school. I have a passion for math and science, and have been debating becoming a physicist. My only hold ups are the job opportunities, and salary. Any...
  12. V

    Idea for electromagnetic hover car (maglev car)?

    Hey guys, I am just a simple high school student in a one-year physics course who wants to improve his ability in applied science and using physics to create new things (my dream is to be an inventor) I always had this idea of a Maglev (electromagnetic) hover car where it uses the messier...
  13. O

    My idea for a helium generator

    Hello. I am currently doing my GCSEs and I take Triple Science. My favourite science is definitely physics, and after a lesson on radioactive decay at school I came up with an idea. I remember a while ago hearing on the news that the Earth is running out of natural sources of helium. My idea...
  14. marcus

    Weinberg's dark matter idea re fractional cosmic neutrinos

    Weinberg's dark matter idea re "fractional cosmic neutrinos" http://arxiv.org/pdf/1305.1971v1.pdf http://arxiv.org/abs/1305.1971 Goldstone Bosons as Fractional Cosmic Neutrinos Steven Weinberg (Submitted on 8 May 2013) It is suggested that Goldstone bosons may be masquerading as fractional...
  15. G

    How intuitive is the idea of completeness?

    Having read the formal definition of completeness in a metric spaces intuitively i feel asthough in Rn any subspace that every two points can be joined by a line is connected. Is this correct? I ask simply because often my simply intuitive understanding of things gets me into trouble. For sample...
  16. M

    Engineering Engineering + Science, good idea?

    I am very interested in a combined engineering + physics program, it is a 5 year program and I would be awarded with a degree in science, a degree in engineering and a honors degree in science at the end of the program. Is this a good idea? Or is it better to just do physics then go into post...
  17. S

    Idea of efficient electricity generating system model?

    Hello, Ok, this may be a stupid one, I'm not a scientist nor engineer, but it's been haunting me since, due to some conjuncture, it came into my mind. Sorry if this is not the right category for this topic. I attached very rough sketches about this. A very summary description: 1. Any kind of...
  18. D

    Instant data transmission idea

    As I understand, electrons cannot be on the exact same level as another one in the universe. If we could move one electron in one placed and somehow monitor another ones reaction - would it be possible to instantly transmit data anywhere in the universe?
  19. T

    Bad idea to use a too big heat exchanger?

    I'm constructing a water based central heating system, and in it is a plate heat exchanger. People often tell me not to be scrimpy regarding its effect when picking one. But then I've heard others say that having a 150 kW heat exchanger - when the effect needed will never rise above 40 kW - is...
  20. A

    What Are Some Delicious Marinade Ideas for Chicken Wings?

    I brought 20 something chicken wings and I need some good ideas for Marinades. I've got two so far: Honey-BBQ-Habanero Campaign Dressing <==never tried this before I need more suggestions, and good suggestions! Go.
  21. F

    Idea gas law applied to throttling process

    Hi all. I'm trying to become acquainted with thermal dynamics. I thought I had a fairly good handle on the idea gas law, PV=nRT, or PV=mRT, but I came across a problem involving the throttling of an idea gas, and the solution was totally not what I expected. Referring to picture where gas...
  22. J

    Any idea why I'm ALWAYS getting a nonsingular matrix warning?

    Every time I run this, I'm getting the error that my random matrix is poorly conditioned. It's weird because I don't get the same error if I just create one in the command window. My script: clc clear all % part 1 x = rand(20, 1); save('x.mat', 'x'); a = rand(20, 20)...
  23. G

    MATLAB No idea where to start with this question (very new to matlab):

    Write a Matlab function mycirc(c,r) that will plot the circle whose center is at c[x0,y0] and whose radius is r. Then plot 100 random circles with c,r chosen randomly from the interval 0 to 1.
  24. M

    An Idea for an Online Proof Game

    Hey everyone, I'll start this off by saying that I am no computer programmer and only a junior undergrad studying math. But, I have an idea for a math-based game that I think would be really awesome to train students in the art of proving/problem solving. It is the following: The goal of each...
  25. W

    Can Twitter improve by implementing group-based posting and upvoting?

    I know many of you might not be the that into social networking but perhaps the idea of the algorithms and things involved to implement this might interest you. Basically, Twitter should have "groups" created by individuals. They can be completely open, open only to member-invitation or closed...
  26. M

    Finding an Idea for Exercise: Let's Explore Vector Spaces!

    Hello friends, I am looking for an idea to my exercise! let's E be a vector space, e_ {i} be a basis of E, b_ {a} an element of E then b_ {a} = b_ {a} ^ {i} e_ {i}. I want to define a family of vectors {t_ {i}}, that lives on E , (how to choose this family already, it must not be a...
  27. L

    Integral of 1/(sqrt(x^2 *ln(x)) from e to e^2 No idea.

    Integral of 1/(sqrt(x^2 *ln(x)) from e to e^2... No idea. :( 1. ∫e to e^2 of (1/(√x2ln(x)))dx 2. So confused! :( Okay... So I tried something! ∫e to e^2 of [-2/3(x2*ln(x))-3/2 * 1/(x + 2xln(x))] |e to e^2 I got the 1/(x+2xln(x)) because I was trying to think of some way to...
  28. J

    Hydrostatic Vacuum Distillation Idea

    Hey, I came across this idea a couple of years ago. It's been a long time since I took introductory physics. But I'm curious as to whether this is feasible. If I'm crazy, just say so! See attached image. 1. Intake tube, vacuum chamber and condenser are initially filled with water. Valve (A)...
  29. C

    This is a question about a potential invention for a low drag gas nose bullet.

    I have an idea that I would like to discuss. My idea is to emit a low pressure low friction gas out the nose of a small arms bullet. I believe it would lower the drag over the body of the bullet thus increasing velocity and range. I just need to know if the phyics are right is this...
  30. tsuwal

    Studying Finding Best Books for Engineering Students at IST Lisbon

    I'm a Engineering student at "Instituto Superior Tecnico" in Lisbon (it's capital), renowned in Portugal for being its best engineering school. I have a hard time finding the best books in each subject since the bibliography is very extensive most of the times, or the teacher just chooses his or...
  31. M

    Room heat loss to open door? - Program Idea

    Hello all. I've been teaching myself C++ programming and had an idea for a project. I am building a calculator for the heat loss of a room when an outside door/window is open. I'm currently writing out the functions I need to make this happen... Now what I need help with is this. I can't seem to...
  32. P

    No idea what the textbook is doing

    I mean, I used a similar method as they're using, but I didn't get their answer at all. Where did the x-4 come from? (I used x-6), also, I got d = (6-x)tan50 and d = xtan(3) solving this to get x = 4.04
  33. Y

    New idea about Integer Factorization

    The logic that odd composite with least difference will be factored easily and large difference would factored hardly is wrong. B'coz whatever be the difference between the factors their exist Best Fermat Factors to make the Fermat factorization easier. Please follow the link to know more...
  34. R

    Studying Is self-studying advanced physics a silly idea?

    Hello everybody. I am considering teaching myself physics in spare time, starting from college physics and multivariable calculus, to a level that I can understand most of the research papers on GR, QFT and cosmology. There are some obstacles that I can foresee: 1. I will certainly get...
  35. B

    Schools Is taking trigonometry and college algebra at the same time a bad idea?

    My professor is advising me against this. Also my friend who is an ME is advising against this as well. I am not sure why. I enjoy math and grasp the concepts pretty fast. A little history, I was a nursing major, but soon realized I wanted more than that. I was then torn between becoming a...
  36. P

    I have troubles relating the idea with the formulas

    I have a problem with physics when it comes to relating new ideas with new formulas. Like right now I'm learning about Solids and Fluids, and the problem i have now is remember what formulas to use when, what each of the parts of the formula mean, etc. Is there a site or a list of questions that...
  37. J

    What Are Innovative Physics Science Fair Project Ideas for ISEF?

    Hello everybody ! I'm a 15 years old student in ninth grade.My country will do the selective Physics Science Fair for ISEF.The winners will have opportunity to compare on I-Sweep next year.All best students of my country will participate in this competition.Most of them will be helped very much...
  38. W

    Is it a good idea to Study Master in Physics in Australia/Canada/New Zealand

    Hello, I am Indian, final year undergrad. I wish to study & pursue research in Physics and as part of my academic curricula, I plan to pursue Master in Physics and PhD further. I am looking ahead to continue my master in following countries: Germany, Canada, Australia/New Zealand. Looking at...
  39. C

    Special education: a good idea?

    How good is a physics background if one was to switch majors to go to special education? I want a backup plan in case I get shut out from graduate school. I'm getting a fallout from both physics and mathematics to the point I'm seriously thinking about special education now, which I always...
  40. K

    Is it a good idea to join undergraduate research in freshman year or sophomore year?

    Is it a good idea to join undergraduate research in freshman year or sophomore year and why?
  41. dexterdev

    What is the significance of variance and covariance equations?

    I have idea of physical signif of var(x),cov(x) but can't get derivations of equation. Hi all, I understood the facts that variance indicate the spread in random variable and covariance shows correlation between 2 r.v s etc. But I cannot imagine how we are arriving at their...
  42. P

    Looking for an idea for proving inequality, probably using binomial theorem.

    Guess what? I just got my new calculus book last week! ^^ The book opens with the definition of the real numbers by Dedekind and goes to prove properties of this numbering system such as The supremum axiom and others. At the end of the chapter are about 30 exercises without their solutions...
  43. R

    Can i have a idea about waste heat recovery projects ?

    so that getting some use through waste...
  44. A

    Is the Taylor Series Method Valid for Proving the Irrationality of ln(π)?

    If we set out to prove the irrationality of the natural logarithm of π (pie), by writing out the Taylor series centered at zero for the function y=π^x, with x=1, we have: π=1+Sum(ln^k(π)/k!) from k=1 to infinity. Since we know π is irrational, then ln(π) must be irrational or otherwise...
  45. M

    Is teleportation really possible or just a sci-fi fantasy?

    Okay just a thought... I've read that it was 'possible' one day for teleportation... but what I've realized was all they do destroy the 'original' and 'reconstruct' it in another place.. Firstly, that wouldn't really be called teleporation now would it? and also that would mean, a...
  46. B

    Is P/NP a Good Option for My Probability Class?

    I'm a west coast physics MS student who wishes to keep PhD doors open as wide as possible. I'm taking a probability class outside of my major, and I really like it but I've made a few mistakes on quizzes and now I'm not sure I'll pull off the A. It's still doable but life would be less...
  47. Ƒ

    How feasible is this Halloween idea?

    Halloween is fast approaching, and I'm stuck here without any good costume ideas. Someone suggested that I be a Jedi, but a Sith is more appealing. And even then, I'd want to go all out. Would it be possible to make a glove with special pads in the fingertips and get electricity to arc...
  48. A

    How did the idea determinants come up?

    Its easy to come with the idea of matrices. Its just a representation of data. But how did the concept of determinants come up? The way we expand determinants with alternate plus and minus sign and then multiplying with the co-factors - how did that come up?
  49. O

    Space: Is It an Idea or Physical Reality?

    My younger brother is being an absolute idiot. We are currently having a debate about the existence of space among other aspects of physical nature and no matter what I say he retorts with,"Space is an idea. We take up space and that space is gone." RUBBISH. I tell him that ideas don't...
  50. P

    Programs Masters before Phd in Mathematics -bad idea?

    Masters before Phd in Mathematics --bad idea? Hi all, I am a senior at a regional campus of a large state university in the US. I have always thought that since I love math (and I do really love learning and doing math), that love of the subject would be enough to propel me through a PhD...
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