Science Words That Need Simple Definitions

rpenner

2nd October 2009 - 11:16 PM

Rules: Make a list of proposed definitions and/or a wish list of science or math words that need simple definitions.

Proposed Definitions

theory -- a predictive framework which usefully and comprehensively covers multiple aspects of a field of inquiry
hypothesis -- an idea about how a phenomenon might be described usefully and predictively
empirical law -- a well-tested relationship which at least approximately holds for at least one aspect of a phenomenon

Wanted Definitions

symplectic
Lagrangian
cohomology

For the first two, (I think that) I know them when I see them, but the last one has me stumped.

// edit -- typoed a word

Beer w/Straw

2nd October 2009 - 11:30 PM

I actually had been thinking about "Theory" before. In that: is string theory really a theory if it makes no observable predictions? The theory of relativity makes observable predictions. The only one that I know it couldn't is inside a black hole. But, if that happens inside the event horizon, it is always protected from the observable universe. And yes, this smacks of Hawking.

So I went onto wiki and discovered that the word "theory" encompasses so many different aspects. And that string theory is in fact a "theory".

You can't make words so narrow. It would be like fighting with a dictionary.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/run

:EDIT: Please don't ban me for not following the rules

Granouille

3rd October 2009 - 12:04 AM

QUOTE (rpenner+Oct 2 2009, 06:16 PM)

cohomology

Oh, dear. Is it a herring?

If Wikipedia won't do for definitions, perhaps you could ask Trout. There's no doubt in my mind that he can straighten you out.

Maybe some of the intelligent members that remain can help, other than that master of all maths himself, of course.

For the benefit of Mr. Trout, whose grasp of subtlety is in question, I did not mean you, nor did I mean our esteemed clinical technician Bukh.

light in the tunnel

3rd October 2009 - 12:45 AM

QUOTE (rpenner+Oct 2 2009, 11:16 PM)

Rules: Make a list of proposed definitions and/or a wish list of science or math words that need simple definitions.

Proposed Definitions

theory -- a predictive framework which usefully and comprehensively covers multiple aspects of a field of inquiry
hypothesis -- an idea about how a phenomenon might be described usefully and predicatively
empirical law -- a well-tested relationship which at least approximately holds for at least one aspect of a phenomenon

theory should be understood as simply thought-based science.

a hypothesis is a specific proposition deduced from a theory for the purpose of testing. Testing may be empirical or theoretical.

empirical refers to sensorial observation. empirical observations must be encoded into data using language-description (including math). Laws derived from empirical observations and/or testing need not be called "empirical," because empiricism is just one step in their formulation and refinement.

I would use the term "positive laws" (refers to "positivism," not "positve/negative") to describe laws generated from empirical observation and/or testing.

I reply off-hand. I may be overlooking some issues because I don't feel like mauling over this too arduously.

[Moderator: Banned 15 days, as explained in another post, for displaying traits similar to here.]

Granouille

3rd October 2009 - 01:16 AM

You caught one already!

Goofus A Gallant

3rd October 2009 - 04:25 AM

QUOTE (light in the tunnel+Oct 3 2009, 12:45 AM)

theory should be understood as simply thought-based science.

a hypothesis is a specific proposition deduced from a theory for the purpose of testing. Testing may be empirical or theoretical.

empirical refers to sensorial observation. empirical observations must be encoded into data using language-description (including math). Laws derived from empirical observations and/or testing need not be called "empirical," because empiricism is just one step in their formulation and refinement.

I would use the term "positive laws" (refers to "positivism," not "positve/negative") to describe laws generated from empirical observation and/or testing.

I reply off-hand. I may be overlooking some issues because I don't feel like mauling over this too arduously.

Houston, we have a problem.

Granouille

3rd October 2009 - 04:12 PM

QUOTE (Granouille+Oct 2 2009, 08:16 PM)

You caught one already!

And another fish took the bait!

Confused2

3rd October 2009 - 08:24 PM

Seeking a word (if any) that means the 'physics' equivalent of reverse engineering

flyingbuttressman

3rd October 2009 - 09:33 PM

QUOTE (Confused2+Oct 3 2009, 04:24 PM)

Seeking a word (if any) that means the 'physics' equivalent of reverse engineering

Science. See LHC.

Confused2

3rd October 2009 - 09:52 PM

'Science' - good answer. Have you (personally) assimilated the entire body of knowledge known as 'science' or are there some areas which still puzzle you?

flyingbuttressman

3rd October 2009 - 10:13 PM

QUOTE (Confused2+Oct 3 2009, 05:52 PM)

'Science' - good answer. Have you (personally) assimilated the entire body of knowledge known as 'science' or are there some areas which still puzzle you?

Science is a process and a body of knowledge. Reverse engineering is a process, and science is a process. I don't have to know the entire body of knowledge to use science in my daily life. If I have a computer problem, I can use science to fix it.

There are certainly areas that still puzzle me, but that's because I have not devoted the time it takes to study them.

rpenner

3rd October 2009 - 10:49 PM

I count the reverse engineering of algorithms which I have done as science. I might not get "the" answer, but if I get an answer in constant time which is nowhere different from "the" answer, then I win.

Oh, and note that magpies has been suspended 30 days for lying and for claiming he himself does not belong on this forum.

RobDegraves

3rd October 2009 - 10:58 PM

Just when I start to despair... Rpenner is there.

rpenner

3rd October 2009 - 11:28 PM

QUOTE (Beer w/Straw+Oct 2 2009, 11:30 PM)

I actually had been thinking about "Theory" before. In that: is string theory really a theory if it makes no observable predictions?

String theory is certainly a "math theory" which is the exploration of the self-consistent mathematical results of assuming certain axioms.

String theory may be useful in physics even if not as an effective theory of everything, if it represents a useful limiting case. Such as the leading term in some (1/N) expansion, where string theory is the case if N is in fact not just large but infinite.

But until string theory is actually nailed down to the fermions and bosons as we know them today, I believe you are right that is is not a "scientific theory" by my proposed definition. I believe AlphaNumeric has written papers which may be considered progress in that direction. I don't believe he has tied his emotional well-being to string theory being a real and effective phyiscal theory which is useful at today's collider energy (its success as "scientific theory") but I suspect he will be put out if it is proven self-inconsistent in his lifetime (its longevity as "math theory").

buttershug

4th October 2009 - 12:18 AM

*raises hand repeatedly and goes "OOOHHH OOOOHHH OOOHHHH Mr. Kotter Mr. Kottter"*

Eutectic

I use the word occasionally to mean "not the inferior lead-free solder" that the EEC has foisted on the unsuspecting world.
The manufacturing definition I've seen most, is solder with no "soft" phase.
i.e. from molten to solid and vice versa with no "mushy" phase.
I've read plumbers use an alloy just off eutectic so they can adjust as the pipes as solder is freezing.

But other definitions seem to talk about the mix that provides the lowest melting temperature. Do the two concepts go together?

Confused2

4th October 2009 - 12:07 PM

rpenner -- a gentleman and a scholar

Dr Fred A Wolf

4th October 2009 - 02:18 PM

QUOTE (Confused2+Oct 4 2009, 12:07 PM)

rpenner -- a gentleman and a scholar

True .... but coming from you C2, it's nothing short of intensely creepy, obsequious sycophant-ridden lowbrow politics.

Crawleth back, beneath your cankerous heap of jissom-soaked crap, you utterly vile idiot.

[Moderator: Suspended 3 days for substituting personal bile and slurs for reasoned argument.]

rpenner

4th October 2009 - 04:34 PM

QUOTE (buttershug+Oct 4 2009, 12:18 AM)

Eutectic

The ~~entropy minimizing~~ mixture (of two pure substances), which then ~~boils or~~ melts as if it were a pure substance, without ~~distilling or~~ freezing out one substance before another.

Shorter: A mixture which does not separate into parts upon ~~boiling or~~ melting/freezing.

//Edit: It can't be entropy-minimizing, time to open a book...
Not all pairs of substances have an Eutectic mixture.
I confused it with an azeotrope which is relating to boiling.

QUOTE

The work “eutectic” (coming from the Greek, meaning “most fusible”) has at least four different, but related, meanings – a fact which sometimes causes considerable confusion.
(1) Eutectic means the reversible, isothermal reaction of a liquid which forms two different solid phases (in a binary system) upon cooling – i.e., L → α + β.
(2) Eutectic means the composition of the alloy which undergoes this reaction (Alloy III, fig. 13).
(3) Eutectic means the temperature at which the eutectic reaction takes place – i.e., the lowest liquid/solid transformation temperature in the system. And
(4) eutectic also refers to one of the specific microstructures formed by the eutectic reaction.

http://ocw.mit.edu/NR/rdonlyres/Materials-.../0/notes_10.pdf

Beer w/Straw

4th October 2009 - 04:36 PM

QUOTE (buttershug+Oct 4 2009, 12:18 AM)

*raises hand repeatedly and goes "OOOHHH OOOOHHH OOOHHHH Mr. Kotter Mr. Kottter"*

Are you making fun of me?

buttershug

4th October 2009 - 06:39 PM

QUOTE (Beer w/Straw+Oct 4 2009, 04:36 PM)

Are you making fun of me?

Only if you are Arnold Horshack.

Confused2

8th October 2009 - 08:21 PM

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