Questions tagged [scope]
For discussions about the site's scope - what questions and topics should and should not be on-topic on the site.
295
questions
-8
votes
2answers
113 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
329 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
120 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
681 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
314 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 ...
-2
votes
1answer
148 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 ...
20
votes
5answers
347 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
61 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
70 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?
-5
votes
2answers
192 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
98 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 ...
0
votes
3answers
78 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 ...
3
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 ...
-6
votes
1answer
153 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
98 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
188 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 ...
20
votes
5answers
510 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 ...
-1
votes
2answers
139 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
54 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
93 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
133 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
351 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 ...
10
votes
1answer
267 views
Questions about physics teaching pedagogy
Are questions that relate to how physics is being presented in teaching on topic in this site?
0
votes
0answers
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
153 views
Are Questions about Unrealistic Physics Off Topic?
A few days ago a question was asked about how close one could safely approach a small non-radiating black hole.
A comment was made that "Micro black holes do evaporate, so this question is fictional ...
0
votes
1answer
67 views
Are questions of this sort allowed?
So I was tempted to ask this question (after some slight physics edits - see comment section) in physics stack exchange and would like the wisdom of the community if it would be closed or not?
Why I'...
0
votes
2answers
93 views
Are negative mass questions on/off topic?
I searched for the question about negative mass and they aren't closed as off-topic. But recently I posted this question and somebody voted to close this as off-topic (non-mainstream).
So I want to ...
-3
votes
1answer
83 views
Would a site on the interdisciplinary topic of climate change in Stack Exchange be supported? [closed]
The topic of climate change is an exemplary case of an interdisciplinary topic.
There is not one single scientific discipline of science working on it, but a wide spectrum.
It primarily includes ...
1
vote
0answers
78 views
Can I present an answer in the form of a leading question? [duplicate]
Like "Jeopardy" presents answers in the form of questions can I post a physics question and post my own answer to it? The presentation I want to make is a new type of math method to calculate and ...
2
votes
1answer
61 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 ...
2
votes
3answers
246 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 ...
15
votes
8answers
729 views
Why is this question not considered an off-topic homework problem?
This question currently has a bounty on it and is receiving a lot of attention. But to me it looks like a question that is normally closed for being off-topic. The question reads like a homework ...
1
vote
0answers
32 views
Can we ask about book for studying? [duplicate]
I'm starting to study a new topic (spinors) and I don't know where I can study it, is it possible to ask for studying material?
3
votes
2answers
137 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 ...
0
votes
2answers
115 views
Why is this question asking about lectures closed as a duplicate?
This question is currently closed for being a duplicate of this question. The closed question asks about recommendations about video lectures for quantum lectures while the second question asks about ...
2
votes
1answer
115 views
How does the reason for closing a question correspond to the actual question?
My most recent question, Why do we assume fundamental properties like charge or mass do not consume anything? (currently deleted while I rephrase it), was put on hold given the following reason:
"We ...
8
votes
2answers
182 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
72 views
Are questions about research topic considered to be on topic on Phys.SE?
I'm interested in working in a PhD research on a particular field. I've talked to a professor that despite his interest in supervising this work he would like me to come up with a few concrete ...
3
votes
3answers
421 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
60 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
126 views
Where should I post a question about logic circuit minimisation?
I have a question about some logic circuits (I have the Boolean functions and truth tables) that I would like to minimise. Where would I post a question about this? I was thinking Physics firstly but ...
4
votes
3answers
251 views
Are partial answers to homework questions allowed?
I gave a partial answer to a homework questions here (now deleted; screenshots: question, answer) and was firmly told in comments that even partial answers to homework questions are not allowed. Is ...
2
votes
2answers
90 views
My question was put on hold
My question was put on hold because "homework-like".
I would like some clarification on this please. I am not asking anybody to do a conversion of me, I am asking whether the conversion mol/mm3 <->...
7
votes
1answer
130 views
Are industry related questions acceptable?
I was looking at this question on Physics SE which looks very much like a "trying to find an easy solution by someone else and take the credit at work" kind of thing. I personally think that this kind ...
4
votes
0answers
88 views
The on-topic page in the help center does not mention engineering
It recently came up in a meta post that OP had checked out the on-topic page in the help center, and could not see anything about engineering. That does seem to be the case, and although the tour ...
5
votes
1answer
89 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 ...
8
votes
4answers
321 views
Requests for Solutions Manuals
In a recent meta post, 20 most viewed questions that need answers, there was a discussion on whether a couple questions (specifically Cohen Tannoudji solutions to exercises and Is there any solution ...
-3
votes
2answers
218 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 ...
