What is Idea: Definition and 833 Discussions

In common usage and in philosophy, ideas are abstract concepts. Also in philosophy, ideas can also be mental representational images of some object. Many philosophers have considered ideas to be a fundamental ontological category of being. The capacity to create and understand the meaning of ideas is considered to be an essential and defining feature of human beings. In a popular sense, an idea arises in a reflexive, spontaneous manner, even without thinking or serious reflection, for example, when we talk about the idea of a person or a place. A new or an original idea can often lead to innovation.

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  1. 1

    Can We Prove that Non-Rational Decimals Go On Forever?

    "Infinitely repeating decimals may not exit, they may terminate somewhere down the line but we can never tell." I've heard it claimed that numbers that pi or e may terminate eventually and that there is no way of knowing. Is there no mathematical way to show that a non-rational...
  2. D

    No idea on how to do this problem

    Q: In the rectangle in the drawing, a charge is to be placed at the empty corner to make the net force on the charge at corner A point along the vertical direction. What charge (magnitude and algebraic sign) must be placed at the empty corner? The picture shows a normal rectangle. The upper...
  3. K

    Making online forum posts necessary - is this a good idea?

    One of my teachers, for AP Physics, has made it mandatory for my entire class to register on this particular forum and post three times per week. Although this is not a hugely time consuming assignment, me and many of my classmates have found it difficult to find threads to post on or places to...
  4. S

    Can any master give me some idea

    I am trying to add some linkage bar or gear mechanism to a wheelchair which can use to rise or lift the patient to the half standing position. This is to help the patient to stand up from a wheelchair by himself witount using motor or any circuit. To rise the body weight by using hand force is...
  5. T

    Can You Create a Physics Costume for an Anime Convention?

    I want to make a physics costume for an anime convention I plan on going to in May. I want to somehow create a costume that demonstrates a concept, not a person. For example, some ideas that I have had are Schrödinger's cat, the photo-electric effect, or some sort of equation. I realize that...
  6. T

    Another large scale structure of the universe idea

    Has the following explanation for the large scale structure of the universe been considered and discounted?Consider a universe many billions of times the size of the observable universe, so big that the homogeneous nature of the universe could even be an illusion. At a very large distance...
  7. A

    An idea about gun control. Let me hear you opinion

    After hearing some stories of some people about to commit suicide by buying gun and planning to kill his whole family as result of hardships in his life (fortunately he changed his mind and got over it). and some stories on news of gun shots. So my idea is What would happen if there was a law...
  8. S

    Derive time for relativity (i know how but not sure what to do i got a idea

    Homework Statement Homework Equations equation 37.23 37.30 are the following 37.23 x'=gama(x-vt) x= gamma(x'+vt') t=gamma(t-vx/c2) t'=gamma(t'+vx'/c2) 37.30 u'=(u-v)/(1-uv/c2) u=(u'+v)/(1+uv/c2) The Attempt at a Solution i tried the following... since d=vt... i...
  9. K

    Can Gravity Be Manipulated in a Science Fair Project?

    Hi, I am currently thinking of a topic for my science fair project, and I was thinking about calculating the effect of gravity between two masses. The first mass(most likely lead or some other dense material) will be taped/glued to an bar with minimal mass, such as styrofoam or thin plastic...
  10. K

    Physics Is being an astrophysicist a good idea?

    I'm a senior in high school, and I plan on going into the field of astrophysics. However, I don't know how to job opportunities are. For as much as I want to be an astrophysicist, I don't know if it's worth it. I need to be able to get a job after college. Does anyone have any advice or...
  11. K

    Can Mirrors Boost the Efficiency of a Portable Solar Panel Sphere?

    (I would've put this in the homework section except it didn't follow the template.. :P I'm really sorry) For a Science Fair project I want to make a portable energy source with solar panels. I'm thinking of making a cube of panels with the deep cycle battery within the cube. Then to make it...
  12. B

    Idea of Rolling, Rotation, and Transition

    I'm very confuse about the idea of applying Newton's law of forces and torques on rolling body. The book shows that you can separate the situation in rolling into pure transition and pure rotation. However, what I don't get is, for the calculation of Newton's 2nd law of forces on pure...
  13. G

    Maxwell's idea to measure aether

    On this webpage http://www.mathpages.com/home/kmath241/kmath241.htm" are these words of Maxwell: "The only practicable method of determining directly the relative velocity of the aether with respect to the solar system is to compare the values of the velocity of light deduced from the...
  14. D

    Motivated, but have no idea where to start

    Hi, I am not a math person. I am terrible at math and have made it to college feeling like I have missed out on something great. Not only have I made it to college, but I am what liberal arts students consider "retired from math". I have completed the math credit I need to fulfill my major...
  15. M

    Crazy idea to teach myself Calculus

    (Let me start by saying this: I am not good at math, nor have I ever been. What I want to do is simply an experiment and nothing more.) First off, I just had this crazy idea to teach myself Calculus out of seemingly nowhere. The question I have is, what tools and resources do I need. And...
  16. C

    Find a Mechanical Engineering Project Idea

    Homework Statement please suggest me an idea for doing project in mechanical engineering Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution
  17. Z

    What Was Your Original Speed on the Freeway?

    Homework Statement Driving along a crowded freeway, you notice that it takes a time t to go from one mile marker to the next. When you increase your speed by 7.0 mi/h, the time to go one mile decreases by 12 s. What was your original speed? Homework Equations D = VT The Attempt at a...
  18. G

    Am I going into Physics for the wrong idea?

    I need to know this before I truly make the final decision. When I was a child I was fascinated by the concept of immortality and living forever and how time-travel can make it all happen and so i decided set on studying theoretical physics since time-bending is part of it. Now when I look at...
  19. S

    Stanford Solar Research: Carbon Dioxide Idea to Create Flexible Panels

    A Standord Solar Research Post about a new Solar Membrane Panel, flexible for a wide variety of uses, (clothing rechargers anyone?), offered that the panel design includes deposition of Carbon atoms extracted from Methane. My concept went to extracting Carbon Atoms from Carbon Dioxide and...
  20. K

    Misc. DIY Gas Turbine Blades: Can I Make Them Using Ceramic and Carbon Fiber?

    I have been researching DIY gas turbines lately, and I have concluded that I want to make one. :smile: My only issue is that all amateur designs I have seen use turbochargers. I would like to see an axial, multi-stage compressor/turbine design. Obviously this would require one to fabricate the...
  21. Topher925

    Interning at a national lab: good idea?

    I'm a first year PhD ME student and I'm thinking about applying for an internship at a national lab next summer. Are interns typically treated well at labs, as in they do somewhat meaningful work and research? I'm not looking for some kind of REU experience but something that would actually...
  22. heusdens

    Here is some weird idea: Dark matter/energy explained by negative mass matter

    I have before theoretized about the idea if matter with a negative mass could theoretically exist, and what it's properties would be, acc. to the standard theories (GR). In fact you could argue for two kinds of models for this hypothetical negative mass matter, namely: model-1: anti-symetric...
  23. Z

    Bizzare idea, I need expert opinions?

    Okay, you know how the maximum entropy can only stay the same or increase given time. I am talking about entropy in the sense of heat (Thermodynamics) where its measured as the amount of joules that actually do work. What if energy with maximum energy is converted into matter and then converted...
  24. M

    Finding golf balls in the rough (ultrasonic idea)

    Hi, I'm trying to design a solution to the problem of finding golf balls in the rough. I've had a few thoughts so far: - Image processing to detect white objects in a predominantly green environment - UV light emitter and detector to take advantage of fluoresence of the whitening coating of...
  25. D

    Does anyone have an idea for a self-study syllabus?

    A very odd question... But never-the-less I need some help w/ my personal QM studies. I'm just a lowly freshman here at UCSB and suddenly discovered an urge to study quantum mechanics. My roommate is a top-notch Physics grad working on his PhD, and he helps me with problem solving; but his...
  26. G

    Programs Is getting a physics degree a good idea?

    Hey everyone. I'm getting ready to start college in a few months, and I've started to get a little worried about what I'm going to major in. Right now, I've been thinking of doing a physics/math double major, as they're both complementary and easy to pull off (there's a lot of overlap for degree...
  27. J

    Animals have idea that humans' face is primary front to observe world

    I have observed that the animals and birds have a kind of idea that humans' face (and eyes) is a primary front to observe the world around them. If one has his back toward the bird, then the bird won't feel that uncomfortable. But when you stare at an animal or bird, it becomes shy or afraid and...
  28. T

    New idea about generating electricity

    A month ago or so, an idea popped into my head. Here it is in a nutshell: If you send a space device or ship in an orbit that takes it to do gravity assists over and over again to increase its velocity to generate lots of kinetic energy. If you do that, how much kinetic energy would be created...
  29. S

    Is it possible to create a lamp that shines darkness?

    Since 7, I always have a weird idea in mind As light can be in any colors, then why not black Later at 15, I understand that black = absence of (visible) light (photons) but would it be cool if we have a lamp that shines darkness? I once have discussed this idea with my physics teacher...
  30. P

    Sound wave no idea how to do it

    Homework Statement (a) A thin, taut string tied at both ends and oscillating in its third harmonic has its shape described by the equation y(x,t) = 5.60cm (sin[(0.0340 rad/cm)x]sin[(50.0 rad/s)t]), where the origin is at the left end of the string, the x-axis is along the string and the...
  31. S

    What do you guys think of my final project idea?

    i'm about 1.5-2 years away from graduation and I'm thinking about what i might build for my senior project. i was thinking of a pneumatic vehicle of some sort, maybe a go cart or motorcycle, which uses modified pneumatic wrenches as motors. some of these wrenches seem to make a decent amount...
  32. r-soy

    How Do You Calculate Secretariat's Speed and Acceleration in the Kentucky Derby?

    Hi all Q : Secretariat ran the Kentucky Derby with times for the quarter mile of 25.2 s , 24.0 s , 23.8 s , and 23.0 s . (A) Find his average speed during each quarter-mile segment . (B) Assming that Secretariat's instaneous speed at the finish line was the same as the average...
  33. 1

    Deciding on PhD Route: Shortcut or Bad Idea?

    I just finished my sophomore year majoring in EE at a top 5 school. I want to get a phd involving systems modeling, probably EE signals/controls, maybe others as well. I need help deciding between 4 routes: 1) take my time and stick with EE. Problem is that I only like signals and really hate...
  34. D

    Is transitioning from chemical to nuclear engineering a good idea?

    I’d like to be a nuclear engineer. I live in South Carolina and I’ve been accepted into Clemson for chemical engineering and also NC State for nuclear. I hear a lot of people have gotten their bachelors in something else and then get their masters in nuclear. Since I plan on getting a...
  35. F

    Share Your Thoughts: An Idea to Consider

    This really is just an idea, but I want to hear what you think.
  36. F

    Need help with understanding an idea

    Hello ! I'm just a passionate reader of popular physics books. Often I'm in trouble understanding concepts and ideas. hopefully this time someone here will help me... I'm reading atm "From certainty to uncertainty", the book of David Peat. He mentions in the first chapter about 2 clouds that...
  37. F

    Planar vibrating airfoilcould this idea work?

    I have a concept for an airfoil that might be capable of providing vertical take-off and hovering (as well as forward or backward flight), but I need feedback to see if this would be feasible from an engineering / aeronautical standpoint. Bernoulli's Principle is classically demonstrated by...
  38. C

    Better idea to stay in undergrad for 5 years?

    So I got to thinking...it might be better for me to delay graduation by a year..or maybe just a semester. But I need advice on this issue (and others) from a lot of different people, and I figured this is one of the places I should ask. I just finished sophomore year and I feel like I'm not...
  39. P

    An Idea I've been Thinking of

    When talking about classical probabilities, like whether the ball is in one of two boxes, with 1/2 probability for the ball to be under either box, we see that the probability and the ball are two separate things. The probability is just based on how much you knowledge you have about the ball...
  40. C

    Is it a bad idea to take Calc III and Diff EQ in the same Semester?

    Is it?
  41. B

    Is pantheism compatible with an anthropomorphic view of God?

    I was reading about Spinoza on wiki and wondering what others think. Is the idea of pantheism or whatever it's called, that God-Nature is the same thing, really all that incompatible with the anthropomorphic idea of God as a being? I tend to take Karl Jung's route to understanding God/divinity...
  42. C

    Have an any idea about hoist used in crane?

    i am working on a project of 450t eot crane project for final year. want detail on hoists and motor used for hoist. how i choose it?
  43. L

    Can particle accelerators be used to create small objects like legos?

    for some reason i can't explain i am horrible with words... so if this is the worst composition of the English language devised by man, please forgive me. ps, be glad i have a spell check >_> late one night i was out on the balcony and something occurred to me. particle accelerators could be...
  44. O

    The idea of god, faith, and existance

    So through my life i have been through very unusual events... dayshavoo, preminitions, control of dreams (lucid dreams), and other nitches not understood by science yet. i believe iv made a way for EVERYONE to be satisfied with what ever they "BELIEVE". First you have to ask the question that...
  45. J

    Calorie burner: Can this idea work?

    I've an idea to help to burn calories without doing any exercise. Stay outside on a cold winter night, without much winter clothes. Our body keeps trying to maintain the temperature and eventually burns lots of calories for doing that. Will need some research to find out the threshold...
  46. D

    Want to Create a Traffic Light System for Your Next Capstone Project?

    Hey guys, just found this site and i am currently in need of help to find a good capstone project. I am currently a senior in high school and this capstone course is 12 weeks long. After high school i want to go to collage for electrical engineering so that is what i want to do with my capstone...
  47. J

    Why is this highly distributed array a bad idea?

    I once ran into a nobel-winning astronomer at a conference and suggested to him putting small internet-controlled telescopes for free (and fully supported) on a the roof of any household that wanted one. The telescopes would be controlled by "The Project" from a central server, and the "owner"...
  48. C

    Idea for using a Desktop GPU on a Laptop to Drive Internal LCD

    There are a couple of products on the market which allow you to attach an external desktop gpu to the laptop and then use an external monitor and play games using the the desktop gpu instead of the weaker gpu in the laptop. It's a great idea but it means that you must carry an external...
  49. MTd2

    John Baez' idea: GR described as a 3-group gauge theory.

    http://golem.ph.utexas.edu/category/2010/03/an_invitation_to_higher_gauge.html#c032039
  50. L

    Silly idea of BEC in any temperature

    Hi, all, as the title mentioned, its a really silly idea: A box of fermions,at any give temperature, theoretically, and occasionally, number of particles might have zero velocities due to collisions in a very short time period. Then in this time period, (although its short, let's put it...
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