Layman Definition and 71 Threads

Hello everyone. I have tried to do as much research as my layman mind will allow on how an electromagnetic wave propagates in relation to how a sound wave for example does. I understand that an acoustic wave is longitudinal and works on compression and that a light wave is a transverse wave...

Hi all, I'm a new poster here, so sorry if this question has been asked before! I'm a student in the social sciences and humanities, who often wishes he were a physics major. Physics has always been a passion of mine, and a subject I hope to pursue more seriously someday, when I have the...

Hi all, I was trying to explain to my girlfriend how you can `derive' Schrodinger's equation using the Planck relation E = \hbar \omega, the de Broglie relation p= \hbar k and conservation of energy. If you assume that the fundamental wavefunction is of the form \psi = e^{i(kx - \omega...

Hello there, I've been here before to ask for help with my fears about the LHC a while ago. Suffice to say I eventually overcame them thanks to the help from some members of this forum and that of Michaelangelo Mangano of CERN. However recently I've decided to revisit the old LHC Defense forums...

I've been reading a lot about physics on the web, which has got me curious. Particularly about things like the EPR paradox, entanglement, quantum physics, unification theories, supersymmetry, etc...you know, all the interesting stuff. I just want dumbed down books on all this stuff because it's...

Hey folks. I'm giving a poster at a conference in a month or so and I'm supposed to explain my research (optimal control of quantum systems in dissipative environments) to people from many other disciplines (psychology, biology, etc). I'd like to hear any tips those on this board have on how to...

I know only the basics about relativity, and was explaining to my friend that as you travel at a speed that approaches c, you experience less time than an observer. I believed that it was explained in "A Brief History of Time" such that your 'velocity' vector can only have a magnitude of c, and...

I'm a middle school history teacher and I have to explain to a group of parents what 400 Newtons is. It's a long story... I've googled Newtons and understand that they're a measurement of force. It would be great if someone could give me some real world examples of what can produce a force...

I've read Brian Greene's "Elegant Universe" and most of Lee Smolin's "The trouble with Physics". I found them both to be decent books. Honestly, I like them because they did not go to in depth with any math. I've read other misc papers that have been posted here at PF, but some of those...

Hi there I have a question that has possibly been covered before, however, I cannot find the answer that I seek in any of the threads much less understand the odd mathamatical symbols and explanations that go with most of them. I have no physics backgroud so most of the posts are filled...

I got as far as Calc 2 in college, took some college physics and read lots of popular cosmology books. What if I want to get technical now? What specific math do I need to know to fast track it without learning things that are irrelevant? It's too late to go back to school now.

Hello there. This is my first post here but just spent the last couple of hours browsing the forums. There seems to be some pretty smart people here and so I would like enlist their help in helping me understand some of the principles of time and space. A little background; My name is Nick...

[SOLVED] Radios for a layman I'm trying to somehow wrap my mind around how a simple radio works, but I've run into some problems at the tank circuit, what it does, and how it works. The various resources I've tried to get answers from don't seem to be able to discuss this part of a radio...

Do MWI and String theory conflict? (sorry--I'm a layman) Hey, Well basically I've been skimming over lots of different multiverse theories and as I don't have a science background (total layman) my question is basically can these two theories co-exist or do they not leave room for each other...

I have read that an electric filed is a vector of electric charge and this explains its effects and boundaries. How, in practice, is the charge mediated across the field from the source charged particle so that the particle can interact with any other charged particles that come within the...

I am a bit "obsessed" with cosmology and the universe. Unfortunately, although very intelligent physics is not my strong suit. But- even the most detailed available books cannot always answer my questions and thoughts. With that said I have another question- not exactly a physics one though :)...

We have 1 particle. Classical Mechanics says: If I know the initial state I can predict with absolute certainty what position (etc.) it will have the next second. Quantum Mechanics says: I don't know the position the particle will hit. But If I know the state I can tell you the possible future...

Point 1. All speed is relative to an observer and is never absolute (because there is no absolute frame of reference from which one can observe and measure). Point 2. The laws of physics hold true for all frames of reference (i.e., an inch is an inch no matter how fast you are traveling)...

I have very little knowledge of physics, I'm 16 and won't be taking physics for another 2 years. But regardless, I'm curious, could somoene explain what exactly causes lightning, what makes it strike etc.? In 7th grade this was actually covered, I think I remember something about differing...

Physics books/papers for the layman. I'm pretty much a laymen when it comes to physics, I really only joined this forum to get a few specific questions answered but now my curiosity about physics in general has been piqued, but I find that I can't understand most anything that's discussed...

Forgive me if this is an ignorant question. I have only a very superficial grasp of GR and SR, but this has been really bothering me ever for a while now. I understand that according to SR, nothing can excede the speed of light. I also understand that constant-velocity motion is relative to...