What is Reference: Definition and 1000 Discussions

Reference is a relationship between objects in which one object designates, or acts as a means by which to connect to or link to, another object. The first object in this relation is said to refer to the second object. It is called a name for the second object. The second object, the one to which the first object refers, is called the referent of the first object. A name is usually a phrase or expression, or some other symbolic representation. Its referent may be anything – a material object, a person, an event, an activity, or an abstract concept.
References can take on many forms, including: a thought, a sensory perception that is audible (onomatopoeia), visual (text), olfactory, or tactile, emotional state, relationship with other, spacetime coordinate, symbolic or alpha-numeric, a physical object or an energy projection. In some cases, methods are used that intentionally hide the reference from some observers, as in cryptography.References feature in many spheres of human activity and knowledge, and the term adopts shades of meaning particular to the contexts in which it is used. Some of them are described in the sections below.

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  1. T

    A Lecture notes on Finite Difference Methods

    I have lately been working with Numerical Analysis and I am using Finite Difference Methods for Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations by Randall J. LeVeque. It was recommended to me by a friend of mine (physicist) https://epubs.siam.org/doi/book/10.1137/1.9780898717839?mobileUi=0&...
  2. websterling

    What are Good Reference Books for Python?

    Back in the day, when Perl was my go to language, Programming Perl, the Camel Book, from O'Reilly was The Reference. It was the quick and concise way to get an answer. And you'd probably learn something you weren't necessarily looking for and get a chuckle along the way. Now that Python is my...
  3. Singalo

    A simple question about non-inertial Frames of Reference

    Hello Is it even possible to have an answer for D given condition #4 ? i need help in just for question D, and not everything else . Thanks :] The Attempt at a Solution Because Either S or S' Could be accelerating, and depending on which one and how much is accelerating, there will be different...
  4. P

    B Converting between frames of reference

    Hi everyone. Please be gentle with me, I am not a physicist! I am a layperson with an interest in learning more, and I’m reading a book called ‘How to Teach Relativity to Your Dog’ by Chad Orzel. It’s supposed to be physics for dummies, but it’s clearly not dumbed down enough for me because...
  5. olgerm

    Moving charges in a moving frame of reference

    Hi. If 2 bodies with charge q are in rest then both have electric force ##F_1=\frac{q*q*k_q}{|\vec{r}|^2}##. But in another frame of reference, that is moving with velocity v relative to first frame of reference, they feel both magnetic and electric force...
  6. Opressor

    I Inertial Ref: Can Light Photons Be a Privileged Frame?

    Can light photons be considered as a privileged inertial frame?
  7. J

    I Relativistic Reference Frames and the Big Bang?

    Peeling this out into its own thread for clarity: How is time dilation of extreme reference frames (photons, black holes, intergalactic space-time) taken into account in Big Bang cosmology? Since from the POV of a singularity or a photon, their clocks have effectively stopped and any lower...
  8. M

    A Reference for the A field of the Weak Force

    A reference please to a review paper, textbook, or website for an expression, or development of an expression for the field in Electro weak, similar to the A field in EM.
  9. A

    What is and some explamples of inertial frame of reference ?

    I know this is a basic question, but I haven't understood deeply what a inertial frame of reference is, to be more specific, its relation with the first law of motion.
  10. D

    I The Expanding Universe and a stationary frame of reference

    What is the rate of expansion of the universe and what is it's acceleration rate of expansion? Exactly? I recall it's about 67km/s at 1 mega parsecs? But then what's the acceleration rate? This exact information I cannot find. If the universe is expanding, and this expanding is accelerating...
  11. Pencilvester

    I Locally inertial reference frame problem

    Hey PF, I am working on a problem set, and one of the problems is proving that the Christoffel symbols vanish at the origin of the coordinates ##y^{\alpha}## given by the coordinate transformation: $$y^\alpha (x) = x^\alpha - x^\alpha_{(0)} + \frac {1} {2} (x^\mu - x^\mu_{(0)} )(x^\nu -...
  12. L

    Relativistic Dynamics Problem - Reference Frames

    Homework Statement Two images are attached. The first image details the problem. The second image has an x',y' coordinate system depiction of the problem. Homework Equations The total energy of a particle is defined as E = mc^2, with m = γ*m_0. The Attempt at a Solution If the x', y'...
  13. T

    Reference frames and Galilean transformation

    Homework Statement I am having a issue relating part of this question to the Galilean transformation. Question Relative to the laboratory, a rod of rest length ##l_0## moves in its own line with velocity u. A particle moves in the same line with equal and opposite velocity . How long dose it...
  14. e0ne199

    Good reference to learn high energy physics

    hello everyone, i just want to know about some good reference to learn high energy physics, maybe with some examples for real world practical application... and i heard that old books with this topic is far better than the new ones, can anyone here recommend a book or two? thanks before and i am...
  15. PeroK

    I What's the best reference for learning about MWI?

    I'd like to learn about the MWI. I know undergraduate level QM (Copenhagen) and can, within reason, cope with a mathematical formulation of it. What's the best reference for learning the MWI? Thanks
  16. Urs Schreiber

    A Reference for Hadron mass & spin problem?

    I am looking for articles or books that would clearly and succinctly state the open problem of and issues with computing hadron masses and spins in QCD from first principles, preferably in relation to the open problem of confinement and the general open problem of non-perturbative QCD. Any...
  17. O

    How to design a motor with a given set of requirements?

    Let's suppose we are given a set of requirements and we are to design a motor that meets them. Requirements are: 3 phase synchronous, 480v, 50Hz and of hysteresis type and alnico is the only available option and it should deliver a 0.6N.m output torque. Dimensions should not exceed 150 mm and...
  18. physicschick21

    Deriving Ball Movement on Northern Hemisphere with Rotating Reference Frame

    I have a ball of mass m that is situated on horizontal plane on the northern Hampshire. I am asked to show that the ball is moving, clockwise, in a manner of r = v / ( 2Ω*sin(λ) ) where v is the ball's velocity, Ω is Earth's angular velocity, and λ is the terrestrial latitude So here's what...
  19. H

    A Reference frame conversion for a moving sphere

    Hi here is the situation; There's a spherical particle contained with a MEMS sensor (3D accelerometer and gyroscope) moving down a bed. What we want is to estimate the total kinetic energy of the particle. The total kinetic energy has two parts, translational part and rotational part. for the...
  20. J

    Position of particle in inertial reference frame

    Homework Statement The position of a participle in a fixed inertial frame of reference is given by the vector r = i(x0 + Rcos(Ωt)) +j(Rsin(Ωt))where x0, R and Ω are constants. a) Show that the particle moves in a circle with constant speed Homework Equations F = mv2/r The Attempt at a...
  21. Swag ranger

    Acceleration in an inertial reference frame

    Homework Statement 3. (a) If an object's acceleration is zero in one inertial reference frame then is its acceleration zero in all other inertial reference frames? (b) If an object's velocity is zero in one inertial reference frame then is its velocity zero in all other inertial reference...
  22. C

    Understanding meaning of inertial reference frames

    Homework Statement Which of these situations describes you observing from an inertial reference frame? a. you are in the car of a train, seated at a table, and the train suddenly slows down b. you are in the car of a train, going north, and the train goes around a curve to go west c. you are in...
  23. F

    I Non-inertial reference frames question

    Do you really need to absorb an advanced paper to answer the question? Let's view the problem this way: The ship is traveling at a constant .999c relative to Earth just prior to reaching Earth The ship puts on the brakes moments before reaching Earth, so that it is now at rest relative to Earth...
  24. A

    MHB Reference request for self-studying multiple Riemann integrals

    As the title says, I would like to self-study multivariable real analysis (integration, specifically; the Riemann integral) and I need some recommendations (resources, books, videos, ...). I'm from Croatia and got my hands on some Croatian notes about multivariable real analysis so if some of...
  25. B

    Twin Paradox from Moving Reference Frame- Return Journey

    Homework Statement a) Alice is observing a small ball of mass m in relativistic motion bouncing elastically back and forth between two parallel walls separated by a distance L with speed u. After each collision it reverses direction, thereby creating a clock. What does Alice observe as the...
  26. V

    B Special relativity - frame of reference

    This must be a basic question. :) Bob and Alice have the same age. So in special relativity Bob leaves Alice and travels at very high speed and when it returns is younger than Alice. Bob's time is dilated and his space is contracted from Alice frame of reference. But now, if I take Bob's frame...
  27. Pratik Saha

    Gravitational Potential Reference Point

    Can someone please show that calculation of gravitational potential energy at a point R+h from the centre of the Earth by choosing the centre of the Earth to be at zero potential. Here R is the radius of the Earth and h is not very small wrt to R
  28. G

    What are non-inertial frames of reference?

    I am reading through a textbook on AP Physics, and I came across a few references to non-inertial frames of reference. It doesn't clearly say what a non-inertial frame of reference is. Based on the examples it gives, I assume that it is a frame of reference where the observer is experiencing...
  29. P

    I SI definition of second: what day/year is the reference year

    The SI definition of a second was originally based on 1/86 400 of a day - but the Earth's rotation is a) unsteady and b) changing so it was changed to a defined number of cycles of an atomic clock. Was there a specific day for which the atomic clock was calibrated? Put another way, why were 9...
  30. G

    A Reference for Oppenheimer Snyder Collapse Paper

    I want to make a comment on the Oppenheimer Snyder collapse, and before doing so want to read the original Oppenheimer Snyder paper. All I have been able to find is the paper "On continued gravitational contraction" in the Sept '39 Physical Review, but I get the impression that to most people...
  31. C

    Frames of Reference and Time Dilation

    Homework Statement Imagine that you are flying on an airliner on a long flight to Europe, at a constant speed of 300 m/s. a) You throw a ball towards the back of the plane at 20 m/s. You then shine a beam of light towards the back of the plane. How will these two things—the ball and the...
  32. Passionate Eng

    I Measuring Speed of Light: Reference Guide

    I don't know what's the appropriate title for my question but here it is: What's the reference we consider to measure the speed with respect to when we say that as the speed of a moving object approaches the speed of light the time becomes slower in the frame of this moving object.
  33. J

    Reference to this formula X = cube root of R

    Hi, Sorry for this weird question. My computer crashed and also the notes in it. I had a book wherein I'd written all the formulae. There is one formula in notes of Power System. X = cube root of R. I remember there was a website that even had its derivation, but I don't have the bookmarks...
  34. M

    A Explaining the Geocentric Celestial Reference System

    Hi there guys, I was wondering does anyone have a layman's explanation of the GCRS as defined in the title. I am confused as to whether this is an inertial or non inertial system. In text modern reference books such as this (chapter 10, section 10.3.2) they define rotating/non rotating...
  35. quasarLie

    MATLAB Struct contents reference from a non-struct array object

    Hello, i need help with my code please , i have a file named 'bic' which contain only 2 columns . I want to plot this two columns. Data=importdata('bic.dat'); g=Data.data(:,2) r=Data.data(:,1); delta=r-g; plot(r,delta,'b*'); And i have this error struct contents reference from a non-struct...
  36. C

    Forces in inertial and non-inertial frame of reference

    Imagine such situation: A bus is moving at constant speed, a man is standing on the bus and is not holding to anything - he is simply standing. Now, the bus starts breaking with constant negative acceleration and so the man will change his relative position due to the force of inertia. Now...
  37. Joppy

    MHB Differential forms - Reference request

    Hi. Can anyone recommend a text introducing differential forms along with all the necessary pre-requisites for understanding them? For example, I'm not really familiar with tensor calculus but would like to shortcut studying it completely separately to learning differential forms. If that's too...
  38. K

    Math of Reference Frames: Spanning Vector Space

    I'm aware that there are definitions of how reference frames translates to mathematics. But I've came to the following. How incomplete would be to say that, mathematically speaking, two Lorentz (or whatever) inertial frames are two subspaces of a given vector space whose span is the same vector...
  39. B

    Elastic Collision in Two Reference Frames

    Homework Statement 1. Two skateboarders start from rest on opposite sides of a ramp like the one in the image, roll down and collide elastically on the level part of the ramp. The masses of the skateboarders are m1 = 48 kg and m2 = 55 kg and they both start from the height h = 4.70m. Ignoring...
  40. F

    Synchronized clocks in two moving reference frames

    Homework Statement My professor gave us a werid question which is as follows In the laboratory frame, two clocks are synchronized and measure two light sources at the same time situated at 3 years in time axis and 3 light years and 2 light years in x-axis >At what velocity is the frame ##S'##...
  41. M

    MHB What is the reference number given -5π/6?

    Given -5π/6, find the reference number. Let r = reference number I decided to graph -5π/6. r = -π - (-5π/6) r = -π + 5π/6 r = -π/6 Book's answer for r is π/6.
  42. M

    MHB What is the reference angle for 60° and -60°?

    1. Find the reference angle given 60°. Let R = reference angle I decided to graph 60°. We are in Quadrant 1. R = 90° - 60° R = 30° Book's answer for R is 60°. 2. Find the reference angle given - 60°. I decided to graph - 60°. We are in Quadrant 4. R = -90° - (-60°) R = -90° + 60° R...
  43. Physics345

    Frame of reference/ time dilation

    Homework Statement Imagine that you are flying on an airliner on a long flight to Europe, at a constant speed of 300 m/s. a) You throw a ball towards the back of the plane at 20 m/s. You then shine a beam of light towards the back of the plane. How will these two things-the ball and the...
  44. Robert Shaw

    I Do we need a reference frame in Quantum Hilbert space?

    Entangled states are only separable relative to certain basis states. So does that mean that reference frames have importance beyond those in spacetime?
  45. Joppy

    MHB Reference request - Measure theory

    Hi! Can anyone recommend a good introductory book for measure theory? I've found Terence Tao's online book to be a good start, but would I be asking too much if I wanted something even more introductory? Ultimately I'm working toward Ergodic theory (and probability theory along the way) with...
  46. House

    Fake forces on rotating frames of reference.

    Suppose we have a rotating frictionless disk and there is a rotating observer on the center of it. Furthermore, suppose a very small ball on the disk's edge. Now we clearly know that the ball is not moving but the rotating observer sees the ball following a circular path with an angular velocity...
  47. sparkie

    Using reference angles to evaluate trig function

    Mod note: Moved from a Homework section, as this is more of a conceptual question than an actual homework problem. I can't really memorize the unit circle, but I do remember my instructor teaching us how to use reference angles to evaluate any trig function without needing the unit circle. I was...
  48. K

    Is Wikipedia a reliable reference for the physics student?

    In the past, many others have asked this same question. Some teachers and professors have discouraged using Wikipedia. Articles in Wikipedia are followed by a list of books and references for further study. Except for string theory and loop quantum gravity theory, physics is less "political"...
  49. nomadreid

    I CMB and the reference point for vacuum energy

    From the basic definition of vacuum energy as being tied in with the Uncertainty principle, I would expect this not to include the Cosmic Background Radiation. Right? On the other hand, in figuring out (a) the Casimir effect, one attributes the force to the field between the plates carrying...
  50. M

    Best Algebra TextBook For Self Learner?

    Hi there, I have been searching multiple websites and forums but have not found a cohesive answer to my queries. I am currently going through this textbook to learn pre-algebra: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0618250034/?tag=pfamazon01-20 Also, is this a good book to be studying as an autodidact...
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