How Do I Find the Slope and Intercept of this Crystal Formation Experiment?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the slope and intercept of a plot of ##\ln(t_{ind})## versus ##\ln(\Gamma)^{-2}## as described in a specific equation from a provided document. Participants explore the mathematical formulation and its implications in the context of a crystal formation experiment, touching on both mathematical and physical aspects of the problem.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that the slope is ##\frac{B \gamma}{T}## and the intercept is ##(0,0)##, but expresses uncertainty about the physics involved.
  • Another participant corrects the slope to ##\frac{B \gamma^3}{T^3}## and questions the assumption that ##\ln(t_{ind})=0## when ##\ln(\Gamma)^{-2}=0##.
  • There is a discussion about the need to express the relationship in the form of ##y = mx + b##, with participants clarifying the roles of the variables and coefficients.
  • Some participants express confusion about the physical constants involved, suggesting that knowledge of physics is necessary to understand how to derive or use these constants in the context of the experiment.
  • One participant mentions that the numerical estimate for the slope from least-squares regression is ultimately substituted by a formula involving physical constants, indicating a need for physics-specific knowledge.
  • A later reply elaborates on the experimental context, explaining how the constants relate to the physical properties of the crystal formation process.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correct slope and intercept, with multiple competing views on the mathematical formulation and the role of physical constants. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the assumptions and implications of the physics involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of understanding the physical context to accurately interpret the mathematical results, highlighting potential limitations in the mathematical approach without considering the underlying physics.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals interested in the intersection of mathematics and physics, particularly in experimental contexts involving data analysis and modeling in crystal formation studies.

WWGD
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Hi all, my friend asked me how to find the slope and intercept of ##ln_(tnd)## vs ##ln(\Gamma)^{-2} ## in equation 7 of p 1031 in the file attached. I believe the slope is just ##\frac {B \gamma}{T} ## , the coefficient of ##ln(\Gamma)^{-2} ## and, since the relation goes through the origin, the intercept is ##(0,0)##. This seems sraightforward Mathematics, but since I don't know any Physics beyond a basic level, I may be missing something. Could someone verify/correct? Thanks.
 

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WWGD said:
Hi all, my friend asked me how to find the slope and intercept of ##ln_(tnd)## vs ##ln(\Gamma)^{-2} ## in equation 7 of p 1031 in the file attached. I believe the slope is just ##\frac {B \gamma}{T} ## , the coefficient of ##ln(\Gamma)^{-2} ## and, since the relation goes through the origin, the intercept is ##(0,0)##. This seems sraightforward Mathematics, but since I don't know any Physics beyond a basic level, I may be missing something. Could someone verify/correct? Thanks.
I can't read the text in the image. Could you please blow it up a bit?
 
tnich said:
I can't read the text in the image. Could you please blow it up a bit?
Sure, sorry
 

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WWGD said:
Sure, sorry
This looks exactly the same as the first image.
 
Ok, please see (7) in page 1031: to find slope of ##ln_(t_{ind})## vs ##(ln(\Gamma))^{-2} ##. I think it is just the coefficient ## \frac {B (\gamma)^3}{T^3} ##
 

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tnich said:
I can't read the text in the image. Could you please blow it up a bit?
What you need to do is put this in the form ##y = mx + b##, where y is your independent variable ##ln_(t_{ind})##, x is your independent variable ##(lnΩ)^{-2}##, m is the slope and b is the intercept. You have almost done that, but you have left out the power of 3 in the slope and it is not clear to me why you assume that ##ln_(t_{ind})=0## when ##(lnΩ)^{-2}= 0##.
 
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tnich said:
What you need to do is put this in the form ##y = mx + b##, where y is your independent variable ##ln_(t_{ind})##, x is your independent variable ##(lnΩ)^{-2}##, m is the slope and b is the intercept. You have almost done that, but you have left out the power of 3 in the slope and it is not clear to me why you assume that ##ln_(t_{ind})=0## when ##(lnΩ)^{-2}= 0##.
Thanks. Isn't the coefficient m ##\frac {B (\gamma)^3}{T^3} ##? Also, I guess here is where I need some knowledge of physics to find out intercepts. I have no idea how to solve for the RH side, setting it to 0. Nor for the RH side, while setting ##(lnΩ)^{-2}= 0##
 
WWGD said:
Hi all, my friend asked me how to find the slope and intercept of ##ln_(tnd)## vs ##ln(\Gamma)^{-2} ## in equation 7 of p 1031 in the file attached. I believe the slope is just ##\frac {B \gamma}{T} ## , the coefficient of ##ln(\Gamma)^{-2} ## and, since the relation goes through the origin, the intercept is ##(0,0)##. This seems sraightforward Mathematics, but since I don't know any Physics beyond a basic level, I may be missing something. Could someone verify/correct? Thanks.
The two variables are ##\ln(t_{ind})## and ##\left(\ln(\Omega)\right)^{-2}##. The coefficient of the latter expression is ##\frac{B\gamma^3}{T^3}##, not ##\frac {B \gamma}{T} ## as you wrote.

You could write the equation in the form of y = mx + b, with y being ##\ln(t_{ind})## and x being ##\ln(\Gamma)^{-2} ##. The slope m would be ##\frac{B\gamma^3}{T^3}##, and presumably the intercept would be the 2nd and 3rd terms on the right side of eqn. 7 of the PDF.
 
Last edited:
Thread moved to General Math section, as what we're talking about here is less about physics than it is about mathematics.
 
  • #10
Mark44 said:
The two variables are ##\ln(t_{ind})## and ##\left(\ln(\Omega)\right)^{-2}##. The coefficient of the latter expression is ##\frac{B\gamma^3}{T^3}##, not ##\frac {B \gamma}{T} ## as you wrote.

You could write the equation in the form of y = mx + b, with y being ##ln_(tnd)## and x being ##ln(\Gamma)^{-2} ##. The slope m would be ##\frac{B\gamma^3}{T^3}##, and presumably the intercept would be the 2nd and 3rd terms on the right side of eqn. 7 of the PDF.
Ah, yes, I wrote it the slope without the cubes in one and with the cube in the other. Yes, I thought of it as a straightforward math pre-calc problem but I was not sure if there would be some Physics-related issues I was not aware of.
 
  • #11
Mark44 said:
Thread moved to General Math section, as what we're talking about here is less about physics than it is about mathematics.
Yes, but you see, there were some additional questions I wanted to ask that are outside of the scope of the Math alone. We take data for values of (x,y) , then we re-scale to (lnx, lny ) and we get a statistically-significant line. BUT there must be some Physics-specific tweaking to find the slope of the line to be the expression ## \frac {B \gamma^3}{T^3} ##. Here ##\gamma## is surface energy and B is some sort of Boltzmann constant/expression, T is temperature. These values do not, AFAIK, pop up from doing a regression; there must be some Physics tweaking, I believe, shaping the choice of these coefficients.
 
  • #12
WWGD said:
Yes, but you see, there were some additional questions I wanted to ask that are outside of the scope of the Math alone. We take data for values of (x,y) , then we re-scale to (lnx, lny ) and we get a statistically-significant line. BUT there must be some Physics-specific tweaking...
Seems to me that any "physics-specific tweaking" would have to be mathematically valid.
 
  • #13
Mark44 said:
Seems to me that any "physics-specific tweaking" would have to be mathematically valid.
True, but it requires Physics-specific knowledge too. How do I know that, e.g., I should use the/(a?) Boltzmann constant in this case?
 
  • #14
WWGD said:
True, but it requires Physics-specific knowledge too. How do I know that, e.g., I should use the/(a?) Boltzmann constant in this case?
I don't see how a named constant will affect what you're doing to find the slope and intercept of a line.
 
  • #15
Mark44 said:
I don't see how a named constant will affect what you're doing to find the slope and intercept of a line.
The thing is that ( as I understand it) , we are doing a least-squares regression on a collection of data points ##(x_i,y_i)##. This returns a numerical estimate for the slope together with a confidence interval for it. But somehow this numerical value is ultimately substituted by a formula ## \frac {B\gamma^3}{T^3} ## where T is the temperature and B, gamma are constants. These constants are not derived/derivable by least-squares alone. Some knowledge of Physics is necessary to use and adjust these constants. EDIT : With ## x_i :=ln(t_{ind}); y_i= =ln(\Gamma)^{-2} ##
 
Last edited:
  • #16
WWGD said:
The thing is that ( as I understand it) , we are doing a least-squares regression on a collection of data points ##(x_i,y_i)##. This returns a numerical estimate for the slope together with a confidence interval for it. But somehow this numerical value is ultimately substituted by a formula ## \frac {B\gamma^3}{T^3} ## where T is the temperature and B, gamma are constants. These constants are not derived/derivable by least-squares alone. Some knowledge of Physics is necessary to use and adjust these constants. EDIT : With ## x_i :=ln(t_{ind}); y_i= =ln(\Gamma)^{-2} ##
It looks to me like you have been given a lab exercise dealing with the formation of crystals in which you have varied saturation state ##Ω## and then measured the values of induction time ##t_{ind}##. The journal article you provided explains the physics and shows how to estimate surface energy ##γ## by fitting a line to suitably transformed data point pairs. The idea is not to estimate values of ##B## and ##T##. You need to control temperature ##T## in your experiment, and calculate ##B## from Boltman's constant and a nucleus shape factor. Then you can use that information and the slope of the line to calculate an estimate of ##γ##. So yes, you need to calculate a value of B using some knowledge of the crystal you are dealing with.

By the way, the independent variable in your equation for the line is ##ln^{-2}(Ω)##. That should be your value of x in the equation for the line ##y=mx+b##. You have x and y reversed in your recent edit.
 
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  • #17
tnich said:
It looks to me like you have been given a lab exercise dealing with the formation of crystals in which you have varied saturation state ##Ω## and then measured the values of induction time ##t_{ind}##. The journal article you provided explains the physics and shows how to estimate surface energy ##γ## by fitting a line to suitably transformed data point pairs. The idea is not to estimate values of ##B## and ##T##. You need to control temperature ##T## in your experiment, and calculate ##B## from Boltman's constant and a nucleus shape factor. Then you can use that information and the slope of the line to calculate an estimate of ##γ##. So yes, you need to calculate a value of B using some knowledge of the crystal you are dealing with.

By the way, the independent variable in your equation for the line is ##ln^{-2}(Ω)##. That should be your value of x in the equation for the line ##y=mx+b##. You have x and y reversed in your recent edit.

Thanks, tnich, this is from a friend who asked me for help. I can help her with Math aspects, but not with the Physics part.. And, yes, I have mixed the two too many times; I need to pay attention more carefully.
 

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