What is Systems: Definition and 1000 Discussions

A system is a group of interacting or interrelated elements that act according to a set of rules to form a unified whole. A system, surrounded and influenced by its environment, is described by its boundaries, structure and purpose and expressed in its functioning. Systems are the subjects of study of systems theory.

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  1. J

    Relaxation in classical systems

    Dear all, I'd like to specify meaning othe relaxation phenomenon on example in some classical system. For example in Wiki I found example of dampled oscilator where the relaxation time ( the time is needed for the system to return to the equilibrium fluctuation pattern) add exponential decay...
  2. Q

    Ground Wire in Transmission/Distribution Systems

    Does the ground wire used in transmission/distribution systems also serve as a neutral wire in some cases or is it used only to protect the conductors against lightning strikes?
  3. C

    Systems of equations with many equations, more than 3

    I'm doing quadratics and I broke down some data into 8 systems of equations and I was wondering what the best way to solve this was. Someone online mentioned doing Gaussian Matrix but I don't know what that is. Any suggestions?
  4. F

    Theoretical: Cooling systems on Mars

    OK, before I get into the main question, I figure I should give a little background. First off, this is not something that is going to be made for real. It's for a flight simulator called Orbiter (found here), and in particular for a personal project to update and improve upon the existing...
  5. P

    Rotational mechanical systems and electrical analogs.

    Hi, Homework Statement Upon converting rotational mechanical components into their electrical analogs, one thing in particular baffles me. When is a rotational component converted into two sets of dependent sources and when is it converted into a single set? Let me try and clarify my question...
  6. B

    Newton's Laws Applications - Systems

    Hello, I am taking intro Physics and we are having a little quiz this friday. Professor gave us handouts and told us to solve them by ourselves, and then study those problems because the same problems will be on the quiz. Now, my problem is, is that I really don't understand the subject...
  7. B

    How Do You Calculate Capacitance for a Low Pass Filter to Attenuate 60Hz Noise?

    A resistor and capacitor are in series. The signal is at 3 herts and a passive filter must be used to remove a 60hz noise with -10db attenuation. The resistor is 100 Ohms. HOw do you find the capacitance, I've been tryin it for an hour. Usually you would find it with the corner frequency but...
  8. G

    Dover style book on control systems?

    Been reading some Dover books (topology, ODE:s, complex variables) and I think they've been just brilliant so far. I'd like more books in the same vein on other subjects. Most engineering books are absolutely awful in my opinion (books in the style of Merriam/Kraige mechanics - utterly...
  9. M

    Work Energy Theorem for Variable Mass Systems

    How do we know that the work-energy theorem holds for variable mass systems? Or rather, since I'm sure that we can at least know it to be true experimentally, what is the mathematical basis for the work-energy theorem? I know for fixed mass systems, a rather simple derivation comes from...
  10. M

    Two systems merging, what is final temp?

    Hi all, I just want to see if my work is correct because it's not matching the answer in the book: A tank has a volume of 0.1 m^3 and is filled with He gas at a pressure of 5x10^6 Pa. A second tank has a volume of 0.15 m^3 and is filled with He gas at a pressure of 6x10^6 Pa. A valve...
  11. PhysicsKid0123

    Kinetic Energy of many-particle systems

    Okay, so I'm at conundrum with my physics textbook and I cannot seem to understand a few concepts. Allow me to elaborate. 1. Why is the total momentum of a firecracker sliding on ice the same before and after it explodes? Shouldn't the explosion cause the momentum to increase since the...
  12. Y

    MHB Systems of equations - further understanding

    Hello again, I have a few more questions regarding systems of equations, I will collect them all here in one post since they are small. 1. The first is the following system: x+2y-3z=a 3x-y+2z=b x-5y+8z=c I need to determine the relation between a,b and c for which the system has infinite...
  13. G

    Special Relativity: Angles in different Inertial Systems

    Homework Statement a) A light-source at rest in an inertial system S' is emitting light with angle θ' relative to the x'-axis. The System S' is moving at speed v (along the x-axis) relative to the laboratory system S. Show that the emitted light is making an angle θ with the x-axis of...
  14. S

    Help regarding hybrid power systems

    I have been given a topic called 'Protection schemes for hybrid power systems' as an assignment and i have to prepare for a seminar on it. Can anyone help me with what the topic means as in is it electrical protection or physical protection and so on? Can you also please give any info regarding...
  15. F

    Why do we use the work energy theorem in systems of energy and work problems?

    Hey all, I was feeling confident with the idea of work when dealing with vectors and using the dot product to find the work. However, recently we have begun to discuss work while considering the object experiencing the force as part of a system. I'm having trouble transitioning into this idea...
  16. L

    Coordinate systems. Derivatives

    ## \vec{r}=\rho \cos \varphi \vec{i}+\rho \sin \varphi \vec{j}+z\vec{k} ## we get \vec{e}_{\rho}=\frac{\frac{\partial \vec{r}}{\partial \rho}}{|\frac{\partial \vec{r}}{\partial \rho}|} \vec{e}_{\varphi}=\frac{\frac{\partial \vec{r}}{\partial \varphi}}{|\frac{\partial \vec{r}}{\partial...
  17. M

    Thermodynamics of Multicomponent Systems

    Can someone provide me with a general understanding of the steps involved in completing this problem. How do I get started? Calorimetric data on triethylamine (EA)-benzene (B) solutions at 298.15 K were obtained and follow the following expression: Hmix – [xBHB + (1 - xB)HEA] = xB(1 -...
  18. S

    Studying Chaotic Systems and Careers

    If a person gets a phd studying controls theory, shouldn't they have the skills (as a researcher) to publish electrical engineering research one year, economics the next year, and biology the next? Since someone that studies "systems" generally works in high abstractions, I don't see why the...
  19. B

    Calculating Tension in Frictionless and Massless Pulley Systems

    Give the correct tension, T, in the marked rope for each situation. The rope is held so the system is stationary. All ropes and pulleys are massless and frictionless. Follow link for a picture of the pulley systems: http://i.imgur.com/2eBZpC3.jpg A) T = W B) T = W/2 C) T = W/3 D)...
  20. F

    Finding Solutions to Linear Systems: Matrices and Variables

    Homework Statement Find all the values of h and k such that the system: hx + 6y = 2 x + (h+1)y = k has: (a) No solutions (b) A unique solution (c) Infinitely many solutions Homework Equations - The Attempt at a Solution I've tried putting the system into echelon form and got...
  21. X

    Tension in pulley systems Concept help

    I need help understanding why in problems tension is modeled as T-mg = ma. I understand there are different variations, but the main concept is what I need help with. For example: If i have 2 masses hanging off a pulley (m1=5kg & m2=10kg) then m1 has a downward force of 49N down. The...
  22. craigi

    Why are other systems so sensitive to decoherence?

    It seems that many systems currently studied, are very fragile to dechorence. Great care is taken to isolate them from even the smallest amount of interatction with the outside environment. Yet, the most well known quantum mechanics experiment, the double slit experiment, seems incredibly...
  23. T

    Internal visualization (mind's eye), theoretical systems, and belief

    So I have a question or two that I've wondered about for a while and am hoping that this is the right forum to (maybe) get some answers. The thing I've been wondering about is how important the visualization process is in dealing with more abstract, theoretical problems, especially as it...
  24. X

    Visualising Potential Wells in Two Body Systems

    I am currently working through Griffiths' textbook on quantum mechanics. The hydrogen atom was first modeled as a one body system with the proton fixed at the origin. In this case the potential was given by Coulomb's law, V(r) = -\frac{e^2}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\frac{1}{r} \ , where r is the radial...
  25. Q

    What sort of degree is best for working on propulsion systems?

    Hello I am currently an aerospace engineer at university and was beginning to wonder whether it was the best idea to be an AE engineer. The curriculum involves courses on propulsion systems and the different methods as well as other courses about the actual structure of aircraft and...
  26. M

    2 Rotations on different coordinate systems

    I have a question that i been trying to solve which seam simple but been having trouble. Today I thought about rotation matrix and how the following problem would be solved. Initial Coordinate system (x,y,z) a rotation is desired about x let's say α=30 degrees so that a new coordinate...
  27. D

    Habitable zone for binary star systems

    Does anyone know which type of orbit is most likely to result in habitable worlds in a binary star system -- a planet orbiting one of the two stars, or orbiting both of the stars, or are they both very likely/unlikely? Wikipedia quotes a paper that simulated binary stars and found that 50-60%...
  28. C

    Solving systems of equations with trig functions

    I've stumbled upon a system of equations that involves trig functions... 100cos(θ) + 200cos(ω) = 250 100sin(θ) + 200sin(ω) = 0 How do you go about solving a system like this? It's nonlinear, so linear algebra won't work...
  29. B

    Problems with lagged turbo and exhaust systems

    hello, does anyone know if lagging a turbo and exhaust system would cause failure of the turbo. my thought is that on the lagged turbos the heat can not disperse causing early failure due to expansion of the casing, bearings and shafts. could it also effect the oil viscosity ? any thoughts...
  30. H

    Help with partial fraction in control systems

    I'm having problem with task (a) in this problem The question My attempt The solution Why don't I get the same after I take the partial fraction using my calculator? And where does this R(s)=1/s^2 come from
  31. O

    Column Loading Analysis: Strain and Stress Graph for Tubular Support

    Homework Statement A tubular column supports a mass as shown in the diagram below. A strain gauge is placed transversely on the outside diameter of the bar to act as a load measuring device. The column has an outside diameter of 50 mm and an inside diameter of 40 mm. The modulus of...
  32. S

    Understanding Forces and Accelerations with respect to pump systems

    I am familiar with the idea of pump head and system pressure losses, pump curves etc. However, a friend was asking about the relationship between static pressure, force and acceleration. For example, if the pump supplies a certain pressure (P) at a given flow rate, is there not a force...
  33. P

    Linear Systems with pseudoinverse matrix using SVD

    Hi! I have a question concerning solving a system of linear equations. I know that the pseudoinverse matrix by using SVD is useful for this, but haven't gotten the pieces together yet. Let's assume I have this system of linear equations with each equation having one 3-component vector (V1)...
  34. E

    Question Concerning Probability Systems

    Does probability necessitate an underlying deterministic foundation in order to offer a degree of prediction? Thank you in advance!
  35. E

    Question Concering Recursive Systems

    Heyo, I'm not sure if this is the proper place to post this question, but as far as I could tell it's the closest place to appropriately do so. Anyways, here's the question; Are all isolated, deterministic systems inherently recursive? Keep in mind by isolated, I mean completely closed...
  36. D

    What Does Hard-Point Core Interaction Mean in the Ding-a-Ling Model?

    Hi all, I am studyng the "ding-a-ling" model for the Heat transfer in a 1D chain. Particularly, from this article: http://polymer.chph.ras.ru/asavin/teplopr/mb97pre.pdf I need help with the equation (1), I don't know specifically what the "hard-point core" interaction means. I was thinking...
  37. N

    Control Systems: How Does High Gain Affect the System?

    I came up with this question while studying for an upcoming exam. I had a design problem, my solution gave me a gain of about 5500 with a PI compensator. Does having that high of a gain screw with my system? It gives me the desired results in MATLAB, but are there any drawbacks to doing that?
  38. D

    Linking Lower Voltage and Higher Voltage systems?

    Linking "Lower" Voltage and "Higher" Voltage systems? I'm an undergraduate in EE (entering sophomore level) and I have been wondering about how a low voltage control system is connected to a relatively higher-in-voltage system. (An example would be how a thermostat turns off and on a heater or...
  39. A

    Computers before operating systems

    I was wondering how people ran computers before operating system. Since there is no OS to load our program, run it and then show the result, was it all done manually? What was the procedure to load your program into the memory? I have heard something called dumb terminals. Was that used...
  40. W

    Name of compensation factor when converting between coord. systems?

    Homework Statement When converting from one coordinate system to another, you cannot just use standard conversion formulas, but have to compensate using a special factor term. What is the name of that special compensation factor? I'm having no luck with finding the name.
  41. P

    Which Course to Choose: FPGA with VHDL or Control Systems Design?

    Hello folks, I am having hard time to decide which class to take in my senior year. I have two choices: Embedded Systems with primary focus on FPGA and VHDL and another class is Control Systems design. I like both of them, but the problem is that they are offered almost at the same time, so I...
  42. J

    Solving autonomous linear systems of differential/difference equations

    I would like to ask if anybody knows something about the methods of solving infinite linear autonomous systems of first-order differential (or possibly difference) equations. There is a well-known method for solving finite-dimensional systems based on the computation of eigenvalues of the...
  43. I

    Development of new automation systems and very accurate encoders

    Hi friends, I have two different questions. 1. I search information about development new automation systems, not regular development that develop a new algorithm or new control method or search after the dynamics of the system but development without research and without to take out new...
  44. F

    Looking for an Interesting Project in Control Systems Engineering?

    Heyo, Finally taking my first senior level course in Mechanical Engineering - Dynamic Systems and Controls. I find it incredibly interesting and was hoping someone could suggest an easy to medium difficulty project I could do on my own. This is for my own edification. The book that my class...
  45. D

    Classical Dynamics of Particles & Systems

    This is an image of Classical Dynamics of Particles & Systems, chapter 1 In deriving the equations for the rotation of a coordinate system I understand the equations 1.2a & 1.2b b, but why is the projection of x2 on the x'1 equal to ab +bc and why is the vector de equal to the vector Of? I...
  46. dexterdev

    Can linear algebra used to deal with non linear systems?

    Hi all, Can linear algebra used to deal with non linear systems? and why linear algebra is 'linear'? :( -Devanand T
  47. B

    Circulant linear systems and the Discrete Fourier Transform

    Homework Statement Hi, this is not a homework question per se, but something I'm wondering. Let C be a circulant n x n matrix, let x, b, be vectors such that C x = b. We would like to find a solution x. One way is to use the DFT: According to section 5, In Linear Equations, in the wikipedia...
  48. A

    Derivation of Potential Energy for Multi-Particle Systems

    I am reading 'Classical Dynamics: A Contemporary Approach' by J. Jose, and I am confused about a step in the author's development of potential energy for a system of many particles. He begins by writing down a term equivalent to the total change in kinetic energy of the system: \sum_i...
  49. B

    Orthogonal Coordinate Systems

    Hey guys, I'd really love it if you could post little essays explaining your intuition on how to derive the x, y & z coordinates from all/any of the orthogonal coordinate systems in this list, how you think about, say, bipolar coordinates if you had to re-derive the coordinate system on a desert...
  50. fluidistic

    Confused on phase diagrams for binary systems (thermodynamics)

    I'm confused regarding the phase diagrams of binary systems. Let's suppose we mix 2 liquids, A and B at a given pressure P that won't change during the whole experiment. I raise the temperature until I observe that some of the mix of liquids vaporizes. What boggles me is that it seems I can...
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