Tags
A tag is a keyword or label that categorizes your question with other, similar questions. Using the right tags makes it easier for others to find and answer your question.
Vector-fields are vector valued functions which define a vector at each point in space. Examples of the vector field include the electric field and the velocity of a fluid.
1361 questions
A tag for questions about rotational motion, including angular velocity and angular acceleration.
1354 questions
For questions related to methods, analysis, accuracy, presentation, or interpretation of measurements. It is not intended for abstract quantum measurement questions such as how a wave function collaps…
1344 questions
for non-relativistic material strings, such as, e.g., a guitar string. PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS TAG for relativistic strings and string theory.
1341 questions
Any of the various explanations of gravity as a quantum theory, including string theory and loop quantum gravity.
1335 questions
Questions that ask about some aspect of physics research or study which doesn't involve the actual physics. In general, soft questions can be answered without using physical reasoning.
1332 questions
A research field within general optical physics concerned with light and its material interaction: where light is modelled by full quantum mechanical description.
1327 questions
A gas that behaves as randomly moving, non-interacting molecules. This allows a simplified equation of state.
1317 questions
The special-relativistic relation connecting energy with mass, $ E^2 - (m c^2)^2= (pc)^2 $. May be used to provide accounting constraints in energy and momentum, both conserved in total, even in reac…
1316 questions
The imitation of a real-world process using an analogous process that is easier to control and experiment with.
1302 questions
A postulated symmetry between bosonic and fermionic fields in quantum field theories and string theories.
1294 questions
How is physics taught and learned. Teaching strategies, class examples and demonstrations; learning resources, career advice, etc. For explicit problems, use the 'homework' tag instead.
1287 questions
Polarization characterizes the oscillations in time the electromagnetic field is doing in the plane perpendicular to the propagation direction of a wave
1280 questions
For questions about the propagation of waves carried by space-time, for instance as described by general relativity. Not to be confused with gravity waves, such as ocean surface waves.
1259 questions
A fully relativistic (Lorentz covariant) description, first put forward by Paul Dirac in 1928, of the first quantized, spin one half fermion with nonzero mass. Physical notions to do with this equatio…
1250 questions
for questions regarding to the boundary conditions (b.c.) which expresses the behaviour of a function on the boundary (border) of its area of definition. The choice of the b.c. is fundamen…
1239 questions
The study of the composition or dynamics of the gaseous layers around planets, often applied to questions on Earth's atmosphere but can be applicable to all planets & moons in the solar system.
1237 questions
A symmetric rank-2 tensor in relativity, which expresses the flux of energy-momentum along timelike and spacelike axes. Also known as the stress tensor or the energy-momentum tensor. In the Einstein f…
1235 questions
Any of several principles that find the physical trajectory of a system by minimizing or maximizing some value computed over the proposed path (for instance geometric optics can be reproduced by insis…
1228 questions
A mechanical or electronic system or device that works on the principles of oscillation, that is a periodic fluctuation between two things based on changes in energy. These range from abstract models …
1226 questions
A vector space $\mathfrak{g}$ over some field $F$ and kitted with a bilinear, antisymmetric and Jacobi-identity-fulfilling product ("Lie Bracket" or "commutator"). In physics, most often arises as the…
1223 questions
Units are standards of measurement used for different types of quantities.
1222 questions
The influence one event, process, or state, has on another event, process, or state, whereby the latter is at least partly dependent on the former.
1212 questions
A rough calculation or an approximation of the value, number, quantity, or extent of something so that it is usable for some purpose even if the input data may be incomplete or uncertain.
1212 questions
The force on a body resulting from it's motion through a fluid (gas or liquid). This force is directly opposed to the direction of travel.
1207 questions
Diffraction is defined as the bending or flaring of light around the corners of an obstacle or aperture into the region of geometrical shadow of the obstacle. This flaring is consistent with the sprea…
1193 questions
Calculus is the branch of mathematics which deals with the study of rate of change of quantities. This is usually divided into differential calculus and integral calculus which are concerned with deri…
1190 questions
1176 questions
This Higgs field breaks electroweak symmetry and provides mass to particles though a process called the Higgs mechanism. The excitation of the Higgs field is called a Higgs boson.
1161 questions
According to the current cosmological theories, it's the model that explains the early life of the universe, starting from a rapid expansion of hot and dense matter.
1154 questions
Earth is the planet on which we live, the 3rd planet from the Sun. Questions using this tag should be about Earth the planet and not Earth-like planets nor earth, as in dirt or soil.
1148 questions
the practice of separating a signal by frequency (or sometimes energy or momentum) and analyzing the resulting spectrum.
1138 questions
Quantum-ChromoDynamics (QCD) is the quantum field theory believed to describe the strong nuclear force.
1138 questions
To be used for linear algebra, and closely related disciplines such as tensor algebras and maybe clifford algebras.
1124 questions
for questions relating to what, if anything, the quantum mechanical formalism and experimental results say about the way the world works.
1095 questions