Phonetically accurately named theorems/results

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The discussion revolves around various theorems and concepts in physics and mathematics that have phonetically interesting names or implications. Key points include the Poynting vector, the Low energy theorem, and the Schwarzschild radius, all of which are noted for their phonetic accuracy. The Heaviside step function is mentioned for its visual representation, while l'Hôpital's rule is highlighted as a helpful tool for students facing limits in calculus. The conversation also touches on nominative determinism, referencing papers by Alpher, Bethe, and Gamow, as well as Knox et al., which play on the names of their authors. Additionally, concepts like Hausdorff spaces and Turing Machines are introduced, emphasizing their unique naming and implications. The dialogue reflects a blend of humor and curiosity about the connections between names and their mathematical or physical significance.
greypilgrim
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Hi,

I stumbled upon this:

The Poynting vector falls into a wonderful class of phonetically accurate theorems/results. Others are the Low energy theorem (named after S.Y. Low) dealing with low-energy photons, and the Schwarzschild radius of a black hole (kind of like a shield).

Any more come to mind?
 
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:biggrin: Good idea!
 
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How's about the Heaviside step function (named after Oliver Heaviside). Since the left side is at 0, as if on the ground, and the right side up at 1, it sort of seems lopsided.
 
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The l'Hôpital's rule, always there to save the students from being stuck on a limit during exams.
 
WannabeNewton said:
Killing field: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_vector_field (kills symmetry directions).
Nice. I was thinking of that one (but for different reasons, such as I'm dying to read a straightforward and intuitive explanation of what it is). :smile:

fluidistic said:
The l'Hôpital's rule, always there to save the students from being stuck on a limit during exams.
That's my favorite! Stuck on a limit? L'Hôpital the poor sucker!
 
Hausdorff Spaces

Where points can be housed off from one another with open sets.
 
Ah yes, there's a whole lot of them if you search for "nominative determinism".

There's also a paper by Alpher, Bethe and Gamow, sometimes called the http://www.snolab.ca/public/JournalClub/michael1.pdf. Bethe did not contribute, but was added by Gamow just to make it sound right.

Similarly, Knox, Knox, Hoose, Zare published a paper on the Observation of the 0-fs pulse on April 1, 1990. Wayne Knox was the only one actually contributing to the (nonsensical, I guess?) paper.
 
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Sometimes you get nominative misleadingisms as well. Before the web, I once spent a lot of time trying to make sense of a paper that used the term "Trench matrix" for something. Eventually it turned out to be a very uninteresting reference to another paper about nothing in particular, published by somebody called Trench. In fact, Trench's paper was so uninteresting that the paper I was originally reading didn't even include the reference to it. :cry:

Actually, the web probably wouldn't have helped. I just googled "trench matrix" and got lots of links about long black coats... :confused:
 
  • #11
greypilgrim said:
ASimilarly, Knox, Knox, Hoose, Zare published a paper on the Observation of the 0-fs pulse on April 1, 1990. Wayne Knox was the only one actually contributing to the (nonsensical, I guess?) paper.

Makes me think of Cox-Zucker machine.

But we are getting off topic.
 
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Which makes me think of the Turing Machine, named after Alan Turing. The name Turing sounds like touring, having implications of going round and round (and sometimes even backtracking, maybe), exploring, discovering.
 
  • #13
Christoffel symbols are pretty awful...
 
  • #14
jbunniii said:
Christoffel symbols are pretty awful...
Christ Offal? :smile:
 

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