What is Mystery: Definition and 912 Discussions

Mystery is a fiction genre where the nature of an event, usually a murder or other crime, remains mysterious until the end of the story. Often within a closed circle of suspects, each suspect is usually provided with a credible motive and a reasonable opportunity for committing the crime. The central character is often a detective (such as Sherlock Holmes), who eventually solves the mystery by logical deduction from facts presented to the reader. Some mystery books are non-fiction. Mystery fiction can be detective stories in which the emphasis is on the puzzle or suspense element and its logical solution such as a whodunit. Mystery fiction can be contrasted with hardboiled detective stories, which focus on action and gritty realism.
Mystery fiction can involve a supernatural mystery in which the solution does not have to be logical and even in which there is no crime involved. This usage was common in the pulp magazines of the 1930s and 1940s, whose titles such as Dime Mystery, Thrilling Mystery and Spicy Mystery offered what were then described as complicated to solve and weird stories: supernatural horror in the vein of Grand Guignol. That contrasted with parallel titles of the same names which contained conventional hardboiled crime fiction. The first use of "mystery" in that sense was by Dime Mystery, which started out as an ordinary crime fiction magazine but switched to "weird menace" during the later part of 1933.

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  1. S

    Friction Force & Tension: Exploring the Mystery

    In (the partial) solution, why does it consider the Tension,T, for finding the friction force between m1 and the surface? The tension is only affecting m1 in the horizontal direction. From where, the vertical component is apperaing?
  2. F

    Solving the Mystery of Standing Still in a Moving Train

    Homework Statement A passenger is standing without slipping in a forward accelerating train. The coefficient of static friction between the feet and floor is 0.47 a) Draw an FBD for the passenger in Earth's frame of reference b)Draw an FBD for the passenger in the train's frame of reference...
  3. Evo

    Uncovering the Mystery of the Cyclops Shark

    Interesting article. http://news.yahoo.com/cyclops-shark-other-cryptic-creatures-october-creepy-113008213.html
  4. L

    Uncovering the Mystery of How Element Electron Numbers are Determined

    Hi l have this question in my mind l never found a good reference for the answer . my question is to know how did they find the number of electrons for an element ? l am not talking about how to read the table to know , but how that table was made ? what process was used to figure out...
  5. A

    Dilute HF/Nitric Neutralization MYSTERY

    My mate and I are neutralizing (what we think is) a 2.5 gallon carboy of 10% HNO3 and 1% HF solution. Reason: We want to pour this stuff down the drain and be done with it. We use calcium hydroxide because we didn't want to create any sodium fluoride (nasty stuff that it is) from using soda...
  6. Ivan Seeking

    Mystery Sound Competition: Who Can Name the Source?

    I don't recall ever trying a mystery sound competition. So, in the fashion of other competitions, whoever can name the source of the sound picks out the next mystery. The imagery in this video is irrelevant and not intended as a clue or a false lead...
  7. K

    Murder Mystery Solution using Kinematic Equations

    I'm new to this site, so let me know if I'm doing anything wrong. Homework Statement I have attached the original problem in a PDF file. I have to read a murder mystery story and pull information from it to plug into kinematic equations and find out who commited the murder. Important...
  8. C

    Unraveling the Mystery of the Gravity Train

    A few months ago I was surfing idly and found this little thing called a Gravity Train. For those who do not know what it is, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_railroad" . After reading about it I thought maybe I should try and find out how much time it would take (42.2 minutes) but...
  9. L

    Measuring Electric & Magnetic Fields: Uncovering the Mystery of Gauge Potential

    In electrodynamics, the gauge potentials are not directly measureable, but components of the field strength tensors, which are the electric and magnetic fields are. But why are the electric and magnetic fields, the components of the curl of something not-measureable (the gauge fields)...
  10. A

    Unlocking the Mystery of Green-Colored Steps: A Homework Tutorial

    Homework Statement Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution In part a, there is an important step, I don't know how to have the step that written in green colour. Does this technque have any name? Can you give me more example of it?
  11. Rensslin

    Exploring the Mystery of Colder, Less Dense Air at Higher Altitudes

    If cold air is more dense, why is higher altitude air colder and less dense?
  12. A

    Unraveling the Mystery of E=mc2: Speed of Light

    i know this might be a dumb question but it was in my head and i would love to hear an answer, so the famous E=mc2..e obviously energy, m mass, c is the speed of light, but what speed of light? we all know that c is constant at vacuum but it changes when it goes through another medium like...
  13. N

    Unraveling the Mystery of Drug Chirality

    Hi Everyone! I am having a little trouble understanding the concept of drug chirality... I know what they are, but am unsure about how they are formed in the first place (is it a random chance that one enantinomer will be formed over the other, can the be specifically created...?). Also, how...
  14. N

    Uncovering the Mystery of Wave Function Symmetry

    Hello again! Say I have a potential well, between 0 and a. I also know how the wave function looks like for (t=0): \psi(x,0)= \frac {2bx} {a} for 0<x<\frac {a} {2} and \psi(x,0)= 2b(1- \frac {x} {a} ) for \frac {a} {2} <x<a Now, I wish to find the wave function of a general time...
  15. H

    The Mystery of Motion's Origin: Thought Before Motion

    Time had a beginning. It began with the original motion. Something caused things to move. Before motion time did not exist. No speed existed. No dimension existed. No e = mc^2. No form of energy existed. The original motion, like all motion that followed cannot be duplicated, so...
  16. C

    E & B Fields from Moving Charges: The Magnetic Monopole Mystery

    Lets say I have a negative line charge on a long thin rod, if I am at rest with respect to that rod I will see an E field. But If I am moving with respect to that rod I will see a B field. So why are people looking for magnetic monopoles, If B fields are E fields in disguise, wouldn't the...
  17. C

    Mystery of Capacitance Increase with Dielectric Insertion

    I thought capacitance was a function of geometry. So how come when we put in a dielectric in between a parallel plate capacitor it increases the capacitance. Is this because we can increase the E field in between without worrying about dielectric breakdown. Or does it have something to do with...
  18. jaketodd

    Exploring the Mystery of the De Broglie Wavelength

    Why is the de Broglie wavelength sometimes larger than the particle it describes? Thanks, Jake
  19. T

    Solving the Mystery of Deriving O2 Concentration in H2/O2 Mixture

    In a spherical vessel with a hydrogen H2 and oxygen mixture O2 it is stated in a problem that we can derive that the concentration of oxygen [O2] can be derived to be: P / 3RT. With P the total pressure, R the gas constant en T temperature? How on Earth is this possible? I thought the...
  20. J

    Unraveling the Mystery of STEP Mission: What Happened and What's Next?

    "STEP" mission Does anybody know why http://einstein.stanford.edu/STEP/" was canceled, and if any similar one is planned for next years?
  21. D

    Identifying Mystery Part: 2x5 Alternating Pins

    Hey, I took some photos of this part and they should be visible below or you'll need to click the attachments. But my question is as follows: I have no idea what to call this. I contacted Digi-Key and tried to describe it to them but to no avail. Notice, the pins are in 2x5 formation and...
  22. D

    Solving the Mystery of X Nucleus Binding Energy

    Homework Statement I have a multichoice past exam that does not come with answers. Please help with the following: The binding energy of the X nucleus is 38.4MeV. Which of the following statements is FALSE? a) The binding energy of 38.4MeV represents the mass deficit between the...
  23. A

    Exploring the Mystery of 'C': Is It Faster Than Light?

    Is it same as 'c'? or is it greater (though it may be very small difference) than the normal speed of light?
  24. Femme_physics

    Solving the Mystery of 3D Mechanics: Is the Sum of Moments 0?

    I recently fall upon this principle while trying to do this 3D mechanics exercise. http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/1416/legitwheel.jpg Looking from a side view (only z and y axes), this should be about right: http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/5758/momentsq.jpg Ignore the question marks...
  25. Evil Bunny

    Solving the Mystery of the 4-5 Amp Draw on a 0.5 HP Pump

    A coworker has a well pump that is a 0.5 horsepower, brand new, no issues... He says the normal amp draw is 4 to 5 amps. This is puzzling because it is a 240V pump and the math works out to (746/240 = 3.1/2 = ) 1.55 amps. What is going on?
  26. Q

    Big Bang Mystery: Where Did the Explosion Take Place?

    If there were no Space-Time before the Big Bang, then where did that explosion took placed?
  27. J

    Exploring the Mystery of CPU Transistors and Performance

    Hi, I'm confused about something. Why is it that in magazines and videos it seems as though adding more transistors to a CPU will make it faster? Is it a numbers thing (like, instead of marking amps on signs, they show volts)? I mean, I understand that you can do multithreading, multiple...
  28. E

    Unlocking the Mystery of Jupiter's Gravity: How Can it Eject Asteroids?

    Hi, I read sometimes that the gravity of Jupiter is enough to eject an asteroid or comet out of their orbit and fling them outside of the solar system. But gravity is an attractive force, how can it eject something? Thanks for any clarification.
  29. E

    Uncovering the Mystery of Fatigue Cracks: Sources, Detection & Prevention

    what are fatigue cracks? what are the major sources of fatigue withing the fuselage? how can fatigue cracks be detected during inspection? how can the risk of fatigue cracks in the fuselage be reduced? why are they dangerous? what is their origin? I've tried to find answers for these...
  30. A

    Unraveling the Mystery of Rotational Motion and Moment of Inertia

    This a question that has been haunting me for some time now. Regarding the rotational motion of rigid bodies why wasn't the moment of inertia defined as the integral sum elements of infinitesimal mass time the radius from the axis of rotation rather than the radius squared. In this case the...
  31. N

    The Mystery of Pseudo/Inertial Forces: Explained

    Why are pseudo forces also sometimes called INERTIAL FORCES , even though their need arises because of non inertial frames??:confused:
  32. S

    Mystery Object: S-Shaped & Rotating

    Somehow it doesn't seem to me to be an S-shaped baloon with it's constant rotational speed. Any idea what this could be?
  33. S

    Position and Momentum: Uncovering the Mystery

    In classical physics, the two quantities that you need to know about a particle to describe it completely at an instant is x and p - position and momentum. Why is it that momentum is chosen as the second quantity - ie. couldn't we describe the particle equally well with x and v - position and...
  34. D

    Eigenvalue of x^4 Potential: A Mystery Explored

    So I'm working out on a potentials of the type x^2p, and I have a program that solves and gives the eigenenergies for a potential that I have (x^n in general). I noticed that for a ground state the potential x^4 has the smallest eigenvalue : 0.667981 in units where \hbar=m=\omega=1. I...
  35. N

    Solving the Mystery of e^(-iHt/hbar) Identity

    Homework Statement Hi guys In my book they use the following identity e^{ - i\widehat Ht/\hbar } = e^{ - i\widehat Tt/\hbar } e^{ - i\widehat Vt/\hbar } + O(t^2 ) where H = T+V, and the last term means "terms of order t2 or higher". I can't quite see how they reach this identity. First...
  36. K

    Is 2 or 128 the Answer? Unraveling the Mystery

    Is it 2 or 128?
  37. H

    Unravelling the Mystery of IUPAC: Writing Fe2S3

    Homework Statement How do you write Fe2S3 in IUPAC method, it would be great if you could explain and show some examples of IUPAC methods. The Attempt at a Solution I just want to see how you do one of them then I can probably get the rest, thanks a lot.
  38. A

    Solving the Mystery of Square Root x Multiplied by 1/x

    How is squareroot(x)*(1/x)= 1/square root x can somebody please explain this? I think I am having a brain lockup...
  39. M

    Is gravity a bigger mystery than charge?

    Dear Friends, I am presently studying physics on my own. (Not for a degree but just out of curiosity) My question is, both gravity and charge being fundamental forces, is science more comfortable in explaining one of them compared to other? I see some threads here wondering what exactly...
  40. Borek

    Unsolved Mystery - What Caused the Broken Window?

    So, yesterday I was alone at home standing in the kitchen reading a paper when I heard a loud, sharp sound, as if something felt on the floor. I checked all rooms and attic looking for what it could be, but there wasn't anything. We don't have animals, neither our own or visiting, so I could not...
  41. E

    Unraveling the Mystery of NaCl's Low Solubility Curve

    Why is Δsolubility / Δtemperature so much lower for NaCl than for other ionic compounds like KCl and NaNO3? (It's solubility curve is almost flat).
  42. O

    Ill you help me?"Unraveling the Mystery of 'e': Solving an Integral

    actually, there ıs a something I don't understand about the e value I could not figure it out this integral while solving for quantum physics, you will see the equation in figure. The problem is how We can make a solution about the e number while solving in integral.. Such as e power any...
  43. M

    Solving for d1 & d2: Unveiling the Mystery

    Homework Statement My friend just sent me an answer to a problem he solved... But I am not understanding how d1 = L*x/h2 and d2=L*x/h1 How is that so? Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution
  44. A

    One Rupee Mystery: Why Does the Coin Fall and Card Move?

    Put a one rupee coin over a piece of card paper placed on an empty glass push the card with a sudden stroke of finger card will move ahead while the stone fall in glass, Why?
  45. C

    Mystery history of double-slit experiment with electrons

    Who did and when, the first double-slit experiment using single electrons? (no wikipedia reference please...)
  46. Q

    Mystery of the Moon's Rotation: Investigating Comet Impacts

    why does the moon keep rotating about its own axis? especially after so many comets have hit it?
  47. N

    Double Angle Identity Mystery: Solving 2/(tanx+cotx)=sinx

    Homework Statement 2/(tanx+cotx)=sinx Homework Equations Double Angle Identities, Pythagorean Identities The Attempt at a Solution 2/(tanx+cotx)= 2/[(sinx/cosx)+(cosx/sinx)]= 2/[((sinx)^2+(cosx)^2)/(sinxcosx)]= 2sinxcosx/[(sinx)^2+(cosx)^2]= 2sinxcosx = sin(2x) =/=...
  48. L

    Unraveling the Mystery of Super Symmetry

    Well, I've really been getting into Quantum Relativity and Quantum physics, and one thing really just seems fuzzy to me. Super Symmetry. Wikipedia goes into too much math and history and blah blah blah... Other sites just say the history of discovering super symmetry Some sites are...
  49. B

    Solving the Mystery of the Broken Projector: +5.5 or +6.5?

    Homework Statement You have paid big bucks to see Season of the Witch at the 3-D IMAX theater in Vancouver. Just before the movie is about to begin, the theater staff tell you that the lens for the projector has just broken! You really want to see the movie and decide that it should be simple...
  50. R

    Solving the Mystery of Helium's Temperature Increase

    Homework Statement Helium has the special property that its internal energy is directly proportional to its absolute temperature. Consider a flask of helium with a temperature of 20 C. If it is heated to twice its internal energy, what will its temperature be? 1. 293 C 2. 313 C 3. 40 C 4...
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