What is References: Definition and 143 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. Simfish

    Is it polite to ask professors for references to ideas that you have?

    For example, here's a e-mail I recently sent to a professor. ""Hello Professor XX, Do you know if any theoretical work has been done on the atmospheric evolution of a tidally locked planet facing a red dwarf star? Especially a planet whose atmosphere freezes over on the cold side, but...
  2. A

    References for Nonlinear Sigma Model.

    Can anybody please suggest some references (preferably review articles or lecture notes etc, freely available online) for learning linear and nonlinear sigma models and their applications in particle physics?
  3. W

    What Are the Best Mathematical Resources for Learning EIT?

    is there any good reference on EIT? with some emphasis on the actual mathematical calculations
  4. P

    References or aids in learning QM?

    Hi, I am currently working through Griffith's textbook on quantum mechanics. I was just wondering if there are any animations or videos that work along with griffiths and clarify certain concepts. Thanks.
  5. E

    Didn't receive scholarship, notify references

    I have a yes or no question for you guys. I was recently notified that I did not receive a scholarship. Is it proper form to let my reference writers know that I did not receive the award? I did send thank you emails back in January when the application was submitted. I suppose I'm hesitant...
  6. S

    Boiling Point of Nitrogen References

    I'm writing up a report on an experiment I did involving liquid nitrogen. I need to state the boiling point of liquid nitrogen (77.36K) in the report, as I've used it in calculations, but I don't know if I should get a reference for it or not. I did use a reference (Wikipedia and Google...
  7. D

    References for non-vacuum dispersion relations

    Hi guys, I'm looking for some references where dispersion relations, say for photons, are explicitely written out in a generic medium. In other words, the dispersion relation for particles not propagating in the vacuum is a different one than the standard vacuum one E^2 = p^2 + m^2 and I'm...
  8. G

    LaTeX Latex Ref Test: x2, x3, \nearrow, \sqrt[]{}8

    x2 x3 x2 \nearrow \sqrt[]{}8
  9. D

    Thermodynamics and Statistical Thermodynamics References

    Hi, i'm an Applied Physics student (2nd year). Could you please tell me a book to study thermodynamics from? I've studied from Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory, and Statistical Thermodynamics by Sears - Salinger and it is pretty good. Has anyone "tested" : 1) An Introduction to Thermal Physics by...
  10. maverick280857

    Density matrix to represent polarization, what is this? References anyone?

    Hi, I have a particle physics exam tomorrow morning (in a few hours from now, in my time zone). I'm trying to figure out the whole reasoning behind pion-nucleon scattering. Please bear with me.. We write the scattering matrix as S = 1 - iT where T is given by T = f + i g...
  11. H

    Energy in different references

    I was thinking in special relativity and how does the energy look from one reference to another, if i consider a body making a circular motion in reference R1, with an angular velocity w1,and a stationary body in reference R2, R1 see that the body in R2 is rotating with an angular velocity...
  12. P

    Courses References for Methods of Applied Mathematics Course

    Hi, I am taking a methods of applied mathematics course in Spring 2010 semester. The previous semester proved to be a bit overwhelming and the professor used a textbook that I found inadequate in fully understanding the material. The course content will follow this syllabus with some...
  13. J

    Frame of references in time dilation

    Let's suppose that I am the Captain at a space dock sitting in interstellar space. My crew decides to go on a trip in our ship, so they board and set off at .9c. t = t0 / sqrt( 1 - v^2/c^2 ), t0 = 1, v = .9c, therefore t = 1 / sqrt( .19 ) = 2.3 (approximately) So as they speed off, 1...
  14. S

    Need help finding References for Paramagnetism and Superparamagnetism

    Hello, I was wondering if anyone could recommend some really good sources which discuss Paramagnetism and Superparamagnetism in a fairly rigorous manner. I have been using Kittel, 7th Edition of Intro to Solid State Physics, as a reference source. I was hoping to find another...
  15. Topher925

    How do you organize your references?

    It's thesis season and I'm beginning the head ache of trying to get all of my hundreds of references organized. I'm finding that this is taking a serious amount of time not to mention being a major pain. Is there some software or something that is available to aid with these kind of things or...
  16. L

    Help References & books related to EHD

    I am having my thesis on electrohydrodynamics aka EHD given by my lecture/mentor and I don't know where to start I am now a Mech Eng. student but I am still new to this EHD things. My mentor is not right here know and the most probebly I need help from you guys here. I am trying to look for...
  17. Peeter

    Electrodynamics Lagrangian. differences in sign in online references.

    In http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covariant_formulation_of_classical_electromagnetism It is written: \mathcal{L} \, = \, \mathcal{L}_{\mathrm{field}} + \mathcal{L}_{\mathrm{int}} = - \frac{1}{4 \mu_0} F^{\alpha \beta} F_{\alpha \beta} + A_{\alpha} J^{\alpha} \,. a personal...
  18. U

    Manipulating differentials - references?

    I need to confirm Equations 1.8, 1.10, 1.12, 1.15 and 1.17 are correct (in the pdf), can anyone suggest some suitable references (either books or web links) that describe the manipulations I've used? Some info about the material in the pdf below...
  19. P

    References for quantum chromodynamics

    Hey all, I am currently in a 300 level physics class, Concepts of Modern Physics, and as a semester project we are required to research a topic and do a presentation. I chose QCD because I have done some reading on it and it seemed the most interesting on the list. Although, i would like to...
  20. B

    Light moves at C from all frames of references?

    there are a few things i don't get when it comes to light moving at c from all frames of reference... i mean it makes sense to me in some cases: like if an observer on the Earth sees a missle going one way at half the speed of light, and a spaceship going the other way at the speed of light, the...
  21. F

    Exploring Exoplanets - Data, Information & References

    Was wondering if anyone has any good references on exo planets, how their data is listed, a compilation of any relevant information. Much appreciated. :bugeye:
  22. N

    Data on galaxies -good references ?

    I'm looking into galaxy rotation curves and I was wondering where I can find a good (preferentially recent) overview of measured galaxy rotation curves (refereed journal article, good website, arxiv ..). Further I was wondering how far out (from the galaxy center) one can measure rotation...
  23. L

    Nonrelativistic perihelion drift, best references ?

    Hello, I have found several overviews on the classical perihelion drift calculation from the planets perturbations. However, I could not identify what the best reference would be. I am -of course- interrested by those calculations that garantee a precision compatible with the discussion...
  24. Ivan Seeking

    Acceptable scientific references

    If you follow this link you will find the master journal list at the bottom of the page. There is a search engine that allows one to search by a number of different criteria. This is a list of acceptable references when citing scientific theories and published papers. If a journal is not...
  25. H

    A question about forces in different references of frame

    Hello Everyone, I'm new to this forum, I've to say here is one of the greatest physics communities in the net and I'm really glad I have the opportuninty to use the huge amount of information presented here. By the way, I have a question about Electromagnetics: Consider two stationary...
  26. A

    Hatch/Lid opening help against gravity- references ?

    I am looking for references to systems/designs/mechanisms that can help make the opening/closing efforts of large Hatches/Lids near effortless. Not looking for powered systems - more like energy storage/release mechanisms. Preferably very compact designs. Appreciate it if somebody can help...
  27. DaTario

    References on Maxwell's Velocity Distribution

    Dear Sirs, I would like to ask you if there is some reference where one can find a step-by-step demostration of Maxwell's Velocity distribution in a gas at temperature T. Thank you DaTario
  28. P

    Born Rigid Motion - references

    Does anyone have any good English language references (textbook references or journal articles) for linear Born rigid motion, preferably at an elementary level (i.e. just SR, no tensors). Most of what I could find (I had the opportunity to visit a good library the other day) seemed to be more...
  29. P

    Analytical Mechanics References

    Hi, I am looking for books which discuss Mechanics at the same level as "Analytical Mechanics" by Fowles & Cassiday. If you know of any can you please help. Thank you.
  30. C

    Peer-Reviewed References for ZapperZ's Ideas on Barut and Bohm de Broglie

    Since another thread was killed without any good reason, here I give some references concerning the ideas I was talking about: http://streaming.ictp.trieste.it/preprints/P/90/268.pdf#search=%22Barut%20self%20field%20account%20of%20atomic%20transitions%22 (for barut) and...
  31. kakarukeys

    How Can Fresh Graduates Contribute to the NUS LQG Group?

    We have an LQG group in NUS (National University of Singapore). Here's our website: http://sps.nus.edu.sg/~wongjian/lqg.html Please contribute any material suitable for fresh graduates!
  32. D

    Complex Schrodinger Equation, references?

    Complex Schrodinger Equation, references?? hopefully i can explain what i am looking for well enough for somebody to understand. I am interested in finding any references for work that has been done on solving the schrodinger equation in C^n rather than in R^n, as in on the complex plane with...
  33. G

    Accelerating frame of references & their trasformations

    I have various classical mechanics books but none covers this subject. Even Goldstein doesn't. Can someone suggest a book or online resource on the subject?
  34. 1

    History History References: Tips for Finding Reputable Sources

    There is a thread about references in every forum, so i will start by posting this. Feel free to add to this list with reputable sources. www.historychannel.com - why not, its the history channel! http://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/History_n2/a.html - looks good to me www.loc.gov -...
  35. F

    Designing Piping Systems for Oxygen Service: Practical References

    Does anyone, by chance, happen to have some good, practical references in the design and preparation of piping systems for use in pure oxygen service? My ASTM references are about as close to worthless as it can get. Thanks.
  36. K

    Best references for continuum mechanics

    ...I'm currently studying R. Aris, "Vectors, Tensors, and the Basic Eqns. of Fluid Mechanics." What are some of the other classic references for the mechanics of continuous media?
  37. S

    How do I properly reference plays and poems in a report?

    When I'm doing a report and i refer to a novel, then i know that i have to underline the novel's title. What if i have a play or a poem? what do i use? (e.g. underline, quotes, etc)
  38. A

    Good References for Functional Derivatives

    Does anyone know good online references about functional derivatives? Most of the documents contain only the definition, but I would like some more complete material containing, for example, rules for differentiate composite functionals and other details.
  39. K

    Inverse Trigonometric Functions / Rates of change with 2 points of references

    Hi, A questions regarding trigonometric (or inverse) functions. I just can't get it right. Q1: A picture 2 m high is hung on the wall with its bottom 6 m above the observer's eye level. How far should the viewer stand for the picture to subtend the largest possible vertical angle with the...
  40. G

    Who give me some references to Kaluza-Klain's theoy in 5D?

    I want to study the Kaluza-Klain's theory about general relativity in 5 dimensions. Could anyone give me some references to this subject? Thanks.
  41. R

    Good references on Feynman diagrams

    I'm looking for some excellent references on Feynman diagrams, from an overview of the basics to a description of the relation between the diagrams and the heavy duty mathematics that they represent. Any information would be appreciated.
  42. mindcircus

    Kinetic Energy of Ball Thrown by Woman on Train

    A train moves along the tracks at a constant speed u. A woman on the train throws a ball of mass m straight ahead with a speed v with repsect to herself. What is the kinetic energey gain of the ball as measured by a person on the train? By a person standing by the railroad track? How much...
  43. Z

    Expanding Your Knowledge of Quantum Physics: Tips and Resources

    hello all. i am new to this forum and i would like some references about quantum physics. i know basic few principles and postulates and some stuff about qt. electrodynamics, but i would like to expand my knowledge. i use arxiv.org for all my physics research, but most of the things regarding...
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