Recent content by decisivedove

I was watching his videos on the Higgs Mechanism and Electroweak symmetry breaking like 3 days ago. I did not know he passed away. That is sad indeed.

I think problem c wants you to use the center of mass frame just like it did in (b).

Update: I could not apply in 2022 due to not being able to get 3 letters of recommendations. But I did apply in December of 2023 (also without research experience but after taking graduate classes in QFT and GR) and got into Florida State University. I am currently interested in nuclear theory...

Yes. I will probably be working under a professor or at a national lab.

Yes. This time I will.

Good advice. I will use my gap year to accomplish goals I have outside of physics - spending the time to develop other hobbies and interests. But as far as physics is concerned, I have a lot of plans for my gap year. I will be attending colloquiums and research events that my current...

That sounds like a great idea actually.

Yeah. I kind of decided to take the GRE at the last moment and the accomodation process would take a few weeks.

Sure. That is some good advice. I will frame it that way while applying for graduate school.

My exam scores in my physics classes are not below average. Here is my last undergrad E&M class for example (well above upper quartile): I do not consider exam scores a true reflection of understanding. Exam problems (at least in my school) tend to be way easier than homework problems but the...

I do agree. I was self-conflicted for a long time on whether or not I should apply this year. Signing up for the GRE was an impulsive last-minute decision to try my luck for one school. I will not be applying for a PhD program this year. Next year, I will plan in advanced on how I will structure...

Yeah. I have finally decided on taking a gap year. While I want to do a physics PhD, I feel like I need to learn and grow outside of academia for at least a year. Initially my plan was to take a gap year too but I would think of me not getting into a PhD program as defining my self-esteem. But...

I just talked to a faculty advisor who has experience working with graduate admissions. The advice I got was that I still have a shot if I apply but high energy theory is highly competitive so there is a chance I do not get in. If every other part of my application is strong besides...

Yeah. I was just trying to help the OP understand how Newton's 2nd Law works in a system with multiple particles. But maybe it was unnecessary. I do not even understand what the problem excepts. The reason I brought up the spring with mass and stuff was so you can relate it better with the...

You will have to treat the spring and block with different accelerations. Using the similar expression to what I had on my last post: F_ext=m_1 a_1 + m_2 a_2. So basically the force you apply on the mass spring system is an external force and the sum of mass times acceleration of both the mass...