All Questions
88 questions
4
votes
1
answer
93
views
Mainstream Physics: Unconfirmed Particles
Asking regarding potential questions I might pose soon. While asking a well formulated question about tachyons in special relativity is allowed (as I did last week), I’m wondering how far that goes.
I’...
BuzzMod
- 17.1k
1
vote
3
answers
162
views
Is it valid to ask for a brief translation for a paper in a foreign language?
I have been deterred to ask for a brief translation of an old physics Russian paper in the stack. Is it valid to ask such a question according to the policies of the site? If not, could it be worth to ...
- 2,666
1
vote
0
answers
81
views
How do we deal with interdisciplinary questions?
As the borders between various disciplines are slowly vanishing with the advent of interdisciplinary areas like Biophysics, Environmental and climate studies, and Complex systems, how do we deal with ...
- 12.6k
0
votes
0
answers
145
views
Formally asking for allowing this *specific* list like question about divergent series
So I'm interested in formally asking if this question to collect examples of divergent series in physics can be opened:
There are examples of this that come up in QFT and I found one example closer to ...
QmechanicMod
- 213k
23
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Good list, bad list
The Stack Exchange model does not work well for "big list" questions, and these are banned network-wide for good reason. However, many of the other Stack Exchange sites allow or even ...
- 2,350
32
votes
3
answers
958
views
Should history of physics questions be on topic?
When we last visited the issue of history questions, the dedicated History of Science and Mathematics Stack Exchange was in its early stages. At that time, we decided against closing questions for ...
- 27
0
votes
0
answers
103
views
Can we ask for the physics summer internships options on the 'Physics' Stack Exchange site?
I am trying to find summer internships for physics in the USA and as an international student, I am having a tough time finding more options. I was planning to ask this question on the Physics Stack ...
- 2,350
4
votes
2
answers
231
views
Can I explicitly ask for a specific proof that involves a long calculation?
Recently, I was unable to perform a physical calculation correctly, and I could not find any explicit proof of it, not online or in any book, to understand what I was doing wrong.
This calculation ...
- 42k
2
votes
1
answer
52
views
Can I ask for an example?
I'd like to ask for an example in which the minimum energy principle is used (thermodynamics). However, I've never seen a question in which examples are required, so I got the doubt that it's not ...
- 2,350
-5
votes
2
answers
133
views
Why don't we allow check-my-work questions?
John Rennie's answer in the meta thread currently has ~3x the upvotes of ACuriousMind's accepted answer. This seems to indicate we should allow check-my-work questions.
Why do we still consider these ...
- 2,350
-3
votes
2
answers
135
views
Questions being responded to negatively
I know that there are some similar questions like this one, but I have a genuine concern. For example, the question A puzzling simple question on thermodynamics or another I had deleted.
Apparently ...
- 292
9
votes
2
answers
347
views
Is sharing recreational physics models allowed?
As someone interested in physics and creating theories for games, I tend to develop realistic physical models that might explain them out of curiosity. However, I do not know if it fits the Physics ...
- 2,350
15
votes
0
answers
204
views
Education tag and questions on physics education
Today, I have seen this question closed as an opinion-based question.
I have read previous (short) discussions about the issue of questions on physics education topics in SE (see also this), but I do ...
- 2,350
-10
votes
3
answers
113
views
Has it become time to change the homework policy?
I believe at this point the strict homework policy is reducing the ability of the site to grow. The initial idea of banning homework so that people don't use this site as course help has been long ...
- 47.8k
-3
votes
1
answer
53
views
Is this question on-topic? Infinitely fast and strong laser targets the Earth
I would like to ask a purely hypothetical question regarding the following:
What if I had an infinitely strong and fast laser that can cut through anything it passes. If it has a fixed diameter (let's ...
QmechanicMod
- 213k
9
votes
1
answer
262
views
Are "check my understanding" questions permitted?
I know that "check my work" questions are off-topic, I understand the reasons behind that, but does this also apply to "check my understanding" questions?
For example:
My ...
- 2,666
10
votes
4
answers
359
views
Why would my question on tachyons be closed as off topic if most other questions on tachyons are still open?
When I type tachyons into the search engine of the site I find a lot of open questions about tachyons but my question about tachyons was closed as off topic
If electrically charged tachyons exist, ...
- 55k
-9
votes
3
answers
455
views
Is EM theory appropriate on Physics.SE?
I'm having trouble posting anything relating to EM theory derived from Maxwell on this site. I'm continually having posts deleted 7 day ban's refusing to accept references particularly my own work, ...
- 302
3
votes
1
answer
54
views
Is a question about whether something is possible on topic?
Is a question that asks whether something is possible within the laws of physics on-topic here?
(Very vague) Example: assuming any level of technology, can you do this within the laws of physics, or ...
- 58.5k
2
votes
1
answer
123
views
Posting and self answering basic derivations
It can be difficult at times to find quality derivations for 'some' of the basic formula used in high school physics, so I thought what if I post and self answer the basic derivations. Does this sound ...
- 2,666
0
votes
4
answers
140
views
Should "fun questions" be considered on- or off-topic?
There are a number of questions on this site that start with a fun, sometimes ironic context. Here are some more recent examples
How do I find the approximate surface area of a chicken? (meta ...
- 105k
18
votes
4
answers
740
views
Bounty on "entrance exam" question
On the question Why is the center of a torch beam visible even through an opaque body like my finger?, the OP started a bounty stating
I really need this material to answer my entrance examination ...
- 753
11
votes
1
answer
300
views
Does 'Semiconductor Physics' have a home in Physics SE?
I have seen a number of questions on PN-Junctions, Avalanche Breakdown, Biasing and MOS...etc, that have gone largely untouched; which is understandable, do these types of questions belong here or ...
robMod
- 94.2k
11
votes
0
answers
240
views
Are Fermi problems allowed on physics.stackexchange? [duplicate]
I am new to physics.stackexchange.com, but I not new to Stack Exchange per se. I asked a question which I consider a Fermi problem:
In physics or engineering education, a Fermi problem [...] is an ...
robMod
- 94.2k
2
votes
2
answers
347
views
Can I ask silly Fermi questions?
Can I ask a Fermi question on Physics Stack Exchange and looking for creative and plausible answers? Even that may sound silly? Such as: How much sea level will it rise if you pee at the sea?
CommunityBot
- 1
-9
votes
2
answers
164
views
Why is the 'Physics' Stack Exchange site closing some interesting questions?
I came to the main site for searching an interesting question about a possible universe inside atoms.
Here is a list of questions:
Universe inside atom
Does our Universe reside in the smallest ...
- 30.2k
-2
votes
2
answers
375
views
Deleting answers due to the Homework policy is not beneficial
The homework policy doesn't seems like a counter-productive policy on Stack Exchange.
I understand Stack Exchange policing their questions, but policing removing answers to "homework like ...
- 2,350
21
votes
5
answers
409
views
Are questions about the identification of physical phenomena on-topic?
This question was just closed as off-topic. It is a well presented question, which was well-received, and it got a good, canonical answer. The stated reason for closing was that "it doesn't ...
- 11.8k
-7
votes
1
answer
254
views
Asking if the following post could be suitable for the main site Physics Stack Exchange
I've cross-posted yesterday this on Meta of the site MathOverflow Asking if the following post could be suitable for the main site MathOverflow.
I would like to ask if the following questions can be ...
-9
votes
2
answers
126
views
Easing our policy for some topics
At Physics StackExchange, we discuss almost all types of physics topics. Some get more attention and some get less, but it depends upon various things, including our site policy. Our policy has been ...
- 52.2k
18
votes
5
answers
573
views
Is error-analysis not a physics topic?
I have a question about my Physics Stack Exchange post: How to incorporate the uncertainty of the model coefficients in the prediction interval of a multiple linear regression
I am dealing with a ...
- 65k
0
votes
0
answers
54
views
Can I ask about these shoes from Dr.Stone? [duplicate]
I'm watching Dr.Stone (an anime/manga) and have noticed the rather odd shoe design used by a people of a village (shown below). Can I ask about how those shoes would be of benefit to the environment ...
17
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How to deal with questions based on videos?
Here are two recent questions that I would consider low in quality:
Is coherent light required for interference in the Young double slit experiment?
What theories explain the wave-particle duality as ...
QmechanicMod
- 213k
2
votes
1
answer
70
views
Are all history questions now off-topic? [duplicate]
I saw that this question: Einstein's initial clue that spacetime is curved being flagged as off-topic, as it belongs on History of Science SE. However, there is a tag here for 'history' and it ...
ACuriousMindMod
- 129k
11
votes
2
answers
306
views
Revisiting history
I've been following the history tag for some time now, and it led me to this Phys.SE question, which was recently closed. While the cited reason was
This question does not appear to be about ...
QmechanicMod
- 213k
2
votes
3
answers
257
views
Can we consider MR Imaging questions as on-topic unless they ask for specific engineering solutions?
Context: This question on basic principles of image formation in medical MRI was asked in May 2014, received an accepted answer at the time, and was left unchallenged until August 2019, at which point ...
- 58.5k
3
votes
2
answers
141
views
What, really, is a good question?
So it seems like the general consensus of a "good" question is one that includes adequate research/reasoning to provide context for/justify the question being asked, and if applicable cites sources ...
- 77.3k
8
votes
2
answers
188
views
Asking about the origin of an equation?
Some grad colleagues in a local forum were asking about a certain system of equations of unknown origin, and I was wondering if I would be allowed to ask about it in the Physics Stack Exchange. My ...
- 8,338
3
votes
3
answers
457
views
How to handle references to literature in predatory journals
Are questions or answers that cite, refer to or are based on work published in predatory journals (in the sense discussed here, here, or here) to be tolerated?
If no, how do we check if a journal is ...
- 28.8k
2
votes
1
answer
79
views
Where am I supposed ask questions regarding Physics education/research?
I asked this as a soft question How to explore Physics research as an undergraduate, keeping in mind the ever increasing weightage on publications?
I have explictly asked if this is the right place ...
- 77.3k
5
votes
1
answer
96
views
Questions about statements in papers
I often read papers and am stuck on important statements/equations that are not satisfactorily explained to my understanding. Sometimes references are provided, but even then it's cumbersome to ...
- 28.8k
-3
votes
2
answers
231
views
Are questions regarding gravitational waves allowed? [closed]
A question I have is "We know gravitational waves exist, but how do we detect them?"
"I have heard astronomers talk about gravitational waves being created when two black holes collide or when two ...
robMod
- 94.2k
0
votes
2
answers
523
views
Physics vs philosophy
I understand we deal with mainstream physics here but as physics has been developed from philosophy only why are questions based on speculations and those which are related to looking for ...
QmechanicMod
- 213k
26
votes
6
answers
1k
views
Is the demise of Stack Exchange (as we know it) ineluctable?
I feel concerned about a thought that I had recently.
I am wondering if the current policy about duplicate questions may become problematic in the (very) long term for the health of Stack Exchange.
...
- 119
4
votes
1
answer
515
views
Why can't I ask hypothetical questions?
Why can't I ask hypothetical questions about situations that can't happen in the first place, if I'm interested in the resulting phenomena and/or said situation will cause?
- 135k
-3
votes
1
answer
184
views
What does conceptual mean?
I've told to come here by another user after my question was put on hold a few days ago for being "off-topic".
What does "conceptual" mean? It's a word I see floating around a lot on this site and it'...
- 135k
1
vote
1
answer
75
views
I need more light on the homework policy
Please, I need to know what is wrong if one posts their homework here and it is well formatted?
The actual thing is they might have tried solving before coming here in the case where they didn't ...
- 113
5
votes
1
answer
272
views
Engineering, what does Phys.SE deem as not Physics?
Right so I posted a question about something (not really important because the response is the important part).
One of my responses (who I believe flagged the article) complained that it was not ...
- 15.4k
5
votes
1
answer
283
views
Answering own question: "work" of the question in own answer
After reading the links provided by the mods in a question I recently posted with an answer, I believe that my question conforms in spirit the criteria that the moderators have tried to infuse in our ...
QmechanicMod
- 213k
25
votes
3
answers
879
views
Users that post every question in their homework/exams
Everybody who's been here for a while knows that the homework policy is not as advertised.
If the exercise is sufficiently interesting, and the OP is sufficiently polite, the question often stays ...
- 235k