Questions tagged [scope]
For discussions about the site's scope - what questions and topics should and should not be on-topic on the site.
322
questions
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1answer
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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 ...
-7
votes
3answers
168 views
Are future physics discoveries properly categorized as mainstream or not? [closed]
"Non-mainstream" physics is often equated to fallacies and fringe theories, including on this forum. Mainstream physics is rigorously categorized in specific historical scientific contexts, ...
11
votes
1answer
358 views
Why was this entanglement-harvesting question closed as off-topic?
I just noticed that the question
What happens to the vacuum when entanglement is harvested?
was closed as off-topic a couple of months ago, and I don't understand why. The topic is basic quantum ...
1
vote
1answer
72 views
Should we take the terminology an asker might be unfamiliar with into consideration when it comes to expectations for research effort?
The reason I would suggest that an askers knowledge of terminology should be taken into consideration is that if by research effort we mean looking something up on the internet before asking a ...
9
votes
4answers
174 views
Would original posts meant to share knowledge instead of ask questions be on topic on the site?
For a long time the way I tended to see the Schrödinger equation written, some of the notation was like a foreign language to me, and so I couldn't work out how to actually use it to model anything, ...
5
votes
2answers
211 views
How is this question about a black hole passing through the solar system non-mainstream?
A question of mine was closed on the grounds of being non-mainstream. Mainstream is defined below:
Mainstream physics is physics which has been accepted by a significant portion of the physics ...
10
votes
4answers
329 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, ...
-8
votes
3answers
418 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, ...
2
votes
1answer
51 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
111 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 ...
-3
votes
1answer
97 views
I think that this question is not off-topic
The following question has been closed because it is off-topic:
An approximation for path integral kernels
However, I'm presenting a new idea in that post: Set N=2 in the formula of the path integral ...
0
votes
0answers
73 views
Why has my question about the Einstein field equation been closed? [duplicate]
I would not have wanted to write this. In fact, I am so sorry of the fact that many times some questions are not considered as they are too stupid.
My question Scalar curvature is $0$ for ...
6
votes
0answers
142 views
Soft-question or off-topic question?
Where is the boundary between a soft-question and an off-topic question?
The issue has come up in connection to question Does physics explain why the laws and behaviors observed in biology are as they ...
8
votes
3answers
270 views
Why is it so difficult to apply the site policy consistently for opinion-based questions?
I already noticed a certain number of times that some questions have been closed based on the policy for "opinion-based" questions. Reading the rationale for that policy, I find:
Many good ...
0
votes
4answers
132 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 ...
41
votes
12answers
1k views
Folks, we need to talk about the surface-area-of-a-chicken question
This question
How do I find the approximate surface area of a chicken?
underwent a severe close/reopen yo-yo cycle. It was closed once by a moderator, then reopened by community members, then re-...
1
vote
1answer
65 views
"State of research" questions
Are questions asking for what the current research topics in a certain field allowed? Under what circumstance would they be? In case they are allowed, after how much time would it be allowed to ask ...
5
votes
1answer
269 views
Textbook questions
There seems to be quite a lot of questions that demand for textbook answers. These are technically not homework questions - i.e., they are not asking for solutions to problems - but grounded in not ...
-3
votes
2answers
104 views
What Limiting Standards should be applied to a Speculative Idea?
What kind of criteria would make a speculative question of sorts a well-founded question? A possible rough draft would be:
Clearly display some honest work on the question
Question overlapping ...
18
votes
4answers
649 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 ...
8
votes
1answer
225 views
Why was this question on fiber switches closed?
Yesterday the question How do non-mechanical solid-state optical switches work? was closed as off-topic. I don't quite understand why, as questions about physics lab equipment are considered on-topic. ...
1
vote
1answer
83 views
My question is "engineering" but
My question: What is the ideal gap between two panes of glass for insulation?
According to this: Are engineering questions appropriate for this site?
When constructing a product for use in the world, ...
11
votes
1answer
293 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 ...
11
votes
0answers
220 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 ...
-8
votes
2answers
131 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 ...
-2
votes
2answers
357 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
votes
2answers
140 views
Why would someone think this question NOT mainstream physics?
I've asked a question that's mostly about optics with a little touch of thermodynamics to it: Can you use an invisibility shield to insulate from infrared radiation?
But I'm getting 2 close votes to ...
20
votes
4answers
696 views
Should we leave technical astronomy questions to Astronomy SE?
In 2012, when the first incarnation of Astronomy SE closed, the community at Physics SE felt compelled to give a home to astronomy questions and overwhelmingly voted to expand the scope of the site.
...
11
votes
2answers
332 views
May I ask questions about physics lab equipments?
I'm looking for a specific lab equipment, but I don't know the exact English words to describe it, so my searches are useless. To give an idea, I'm interested in a gyroscope with gimbals and a motor ...
8
votes
1answer
249 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
votes
1answer
152 views
Can we restrict what kinds of identification questions are on topic?
Recently there was a significant discussion about whether a question on the main site should be on topic. I very strongly believe that it is not a good question for the site and should not be on topic ...
21
votes
5answers
366 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 ...
2
votes
0answers
64 views
Is "here a problem and my solution with my reasoning for each step, where has my reasoning gone wrong?" question considered off-topic? [duplicate]
I specifically used the formulation in the title from here, the only place I found to deal with this. But I do not know, what to take from it.
To elaborate:
This question arose from comments on this ...
2
votes
1answer
74 views
Is asking how to derive an expression in a paper on topic here?
Is asking how to derive an expression in a paper on topic here?
If not where should I ask?
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votes
2answers
200 views
Why is everyone so keen to answer physics questions by writing down tons of equations? [closed]
As a physicist, when you are tackling some new problem, shouldn't the first thing that comes to your mind be a rough idea? Why can't you answer questions with those rough ideas first?
Math is just a ...
5
votes
1answer
102 views
Are book/reference identification questions on topic?
While reading the general policy on resource recommendation, I was not able to answer if paper/book identification qualifies as an on-topic question.
This is inspired by this Meta question that asks ...
1
vote
3answers
83 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
votes
0answers
60 views
Are "Do this calculations for me" question allowed here? [duplicate]
I have a problem to be solved (here) and an answer that brings all the necessary calculation steps (here). I can't do the calculations myself because I don't have enough knowledge and skills. I went ...
-5
votes
1answer
176 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
100 views
Can I ask here a simple calculation-like questions that I can't solve myself?
I have a simple (?) calculation like question that I can't solve myself due to not enough knowledge. Nearly like homework question, but hopefully not. Can I ask this kind of questions here?
For the ...
-9
votes
2answers
119 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 ...
5
votes
1answer
189 views
Question closed. Anything I can do to reopen it?
Not sure why this was closed:
How do you show that the Lorentz metric is preserved for $\zeta^{3,1}?$
I think it was closed because I bit off more than I could chew so to speak and should have just ...
18
votes
5answers
515 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 ...
-2
votes
2answers
141 views
Please help with alternative wording of question to conform with expectation of site
What changes would need to be made to the following question for it to be on-topic on this site?
Is there an alternative number to the 100% miscommunicated and hard-to-comprehend “total number of ...
2
votes
1answer
56 views
Question closed because considered opinion-based. How to change it?
I asked the following question a couple of days ago:
Difference in material covered between Zwiebach or Adams quant mech I on mit ocw?
The original question was deemed opinion-based (which I in hind ...
2
votes
2answers
96 views
Thought experiment closed as off-topic and better suited for engineering. But that's a thought experiment
The question in consideration is: Could there theoretically exist a material so light, that it can levitate in the air just due to the in height decreasing air pressure?
I think that's definitely a ...
1
vote
1answer
72 views
Question closed as opinion based, that is unusual but clearly not opinion based
The question in consideration is Actual eletronic games (as in, games played using electrons)?
I understand that this question is different from other questions on this site, but I think it can be ...
6
votes
2answers
134 views
Would this question be on-topic here? Might it be likely to receive an answer?
I'm writing a program and need a way to identify and enumerate the number of possible distinct crystallographic domains when depositing one 2D lattice on top of another.
I've posed this as a question ...
2
votes
5answers
358 views
Why was this Hot Network Question closed?
Why would this question be closed as Off-topic?
How is a 25-year-old can of soda now empty without having been opened or poked?
The topic seems to be suitable for this site, and the question was ...
9
votes
1answer
270 views
Questions about physics teaching pedagogy
Are questions that relate to how physics is being presented in teaching on topic in this site?
