Recent content by marmot

Hi. So if you have \frac{d p_{\alpha}}{ds} = \frac{q}{c} F^{\alpha \beta} u_{\beta} how could you possibly go on proving this its form is invariant under all coordinate transformations? Or any physical law of any form, really? I guess my point is how do you represent "all possible...

I think that makes sense. So you need to fudge the time and distance interval so that the speed of light is constant, right?

So suppose in frame K at x_1 a photon is emmited and its absorbed at x_2= x_1+L so, the photon in K has traveled a total distance of L. Now suppose we have frame K' moving at some velocity Beta*c. Why is it that in K' the distance traveled by the photon is different than L if the speed of light...

Hey. Is there a sort of percentage known of how much mass in the universe is in molecular clouds compared to stars. I need this for a work I am doing. Thanks

i am sorry. what i meant is that if a mathematical method class would be enough for EM. i was taking before analysis, but i am going to drop it for that class. i am not going to drop logic because its a class i wanted to take before forever and i am willing to make a lil sacrifice fr it.

"methods of theoretical physics" vs "normal math classes" Hey. I am in a dilemma. Originally, I was going to go the math minor route but I think I am deciding against it mainly because of the structure. I wanted to take an advanced calculus class to prepare myself for EM, but I really want...

Exactly. The random packing fraction of a shape depends greately on its degrees of freedom and "contact point". It is used a lot in thermodynamics but you can use it to find the number of randomly packed things in a container too. It is different from "closest" packing fraction, which would be...

Hey. I have a question. What is the packing fraction of a container full of randomly jammed cylinders? Also, does the packing fraction depend on the ratio of the radius to height of the cylinder? There is some contest of finding certain amount of cylindrical objects inside a container (I can't...

i think the definition of "socialism" is problematic. however even if we suppose the USSR was socialistic , the USSR had some of the best scientists and technology and while scientists might not have been paid as much as american ones, they had much much much more respect and it was probably...

It is true a lot of traditional philosophy is silly but its also silly to dismiss the whole endeavour, and I suspect a lot of the physics folks who do this are the kindof people who cannot write a paper to save their lives. The only wortwhile aspect of philosophy is its ability to clarify...

A specific question would be if a potential well with infinite potenial in one side, zero in the middle, and a finite potenial in the right side would have both current going to the right and the left?

I have a problem. I am trying to selfteach myself QM but I got stumped with this. Basically, in the issue of 1D step potentias, I know that you have to divide the problem into regions and solve the Schrödinger equation for each one. However, when you solve it, you always get two solutions due...

oh thanks! got it however i don't get this...

I am not posting this in the homework section because it is not really a homework problem. Its from the schaum outline and I am stumped in this: http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/688/67356569.jpg I have NO idea about 3.2.4 and 3.2.5. Its black magic! How the hell does that substitution work...

:shrugs: Maybe some people have innate talents. It seems to me though, that while some facility is needed, a person with moderate capabilities but disciplined would excel more than a really bright kid with terrible work ethic. I've seen people around me who are really smart but who flunk all...