Recent content by lufbrajames

I'm from the UK but I am lead to believe that in the US not all of the modules/courses a degree specific, unlike in the UK where if you take a physics degree every course you do will be in physics, except perhaps for a management/personal development course. Correct me if I'm wrong. So I think...

3 - 4 years from when you start your PhD some people have masters degrees, some go in straight from a bachelors. In the UK funding is usually only for 3 years, so if you go over that you have to fund yourself. The last year is usually used to write up your thesis. Jim

A PhD / DPhil is 3-4(sometime longer) years of solid research. Jim

I don't think I've seen a pencil in years! I always use a pen for all types of assignments, except pc based ones. I don't think any of my professors would have a problem with me using pencil, although i would be a tad anxious that things may be accidentally erased . Jim

Hi I'm a little worried that everyone is talking about C programming, I have been taught to program in Fortran 90, is this going to be a disadvantage to me? Thanks Jim

I would apply as soon as you have this years results, and if you get an offer it will usually be dependant on you getting certain results next year. Jim

I had a thought earlier about the infinite universe theory, and it got me wondering if the universe is infinite, that means infinite stars/galaxies etc, which means infinite energy, so why did the universe cool down? Jim

Thanks for everyones input, I can't say that I'm not a little confused. So assuming that is correct (but for 3D for our universe) if you set off in any direction you'd get back to where you started? What evidence/theory has lead us to believe this? It seems quite odd. Jim

Hi I'm an undergrad studying Materials Science in the UK and hope to move more and more towards physics in my academic career, and was wondering if anyone new of any good books to introduce Special Relativity, I can do basic calculus, and I am OK with classical mechanics, and know a little...

I'm not quite sure I understand what a common frame of reference is. But if you were inside a balloon, given enough measurement you could work out where the centre is, relative to you, but that's not important, it's the fact that there is a centre that's important. Jim

I've been trying to avoid this phrase but i don't have anything else to say That doesn't make sense (which isn't exactly an argument in physics) Space may be infinite but from what I understand there is a finite number of galaxies in the universe. So if you plot coordinates of each of the...

Interesting question i don't have a physics degree,but surely if Photons do not experience time, they appear (at least to themselves) to be 1 dimensional lines from point of origin to there eventual absorption, or for there infinite journey outwards from the universe, So to them they are not...

If you're in Europe you should be able to get onto a PhD with a good bachelors degree. Probably not at the best universities for astrophysics but it should be possible, and the MSc could play to your advantage as it shows you have experience with doing research, which is all a PhD really is. Jim

Yes but if you track all the galaxies paths, you'll get to a single point, that point must still exist surely? The universe would have expanded around it but surely it should still be there? Jim

Ok perhaps i worded it wrongly, what i meant was that, surely if you trace all of the galaxies motions back in time, you will get a single point. At this point, there is surely the least gravitational effect, because everything is moving away from it?