Difference between revisions of "Imponderables"
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==Physics questions== | ==Physics questions== | ||
| − | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_to_explain_the_diffraction_pattern_through_a_net_curtain How to explain the diffraction pattern through a net curtain?] | + | *[https://t.co/N1kGc4GhEb Why are Galilean and Lorentz transformations not equivalent at low speeds?] |
| + | *[https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_to_explain_the_diffraction_pattern_through_a_net_curtain How to explain the diffraction pattern through a net curtain?] | ||
* [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_it_possible_to_find_a_temperature_in_the_universe_lower_than_the_cosmic_background Is it possible to find a temperature in the universe lower than the cosmic background?] | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_it_possible_to_find_a_temperature_in_the_universe_lower_than_the_cosmic_background Is it possible to find a temperature in the universe lower than the cosmic background?] | ||
* [https://www.researchgate.net/post/When_do_we_use_conservation_of_momentum_vs_conservation_of_energy When do we use conservation of momentum vs. conservation of energy?] | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/When_do_we_use_conservation_of_momentum_vs_conservation_of_energy When do we use conservation of momentum vs. conservation of energy?] | ||
| Line 14: | Line 15: | ||
* [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Does_creation_of_the_universe_violate_physical_law Does creation of the universe violate physical law?] | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Does_creation_of_the_universe_violate_physical_law Does creation of the universe violate physical law?] | ||
* [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Are_there_any_aspects_of_physics_that_are_inviolate_and_absolutely_immutable Are there any aspects of physics that are inviolate and absolutely immutable?] | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Are_there_any_aspects_of_physics_that_are_inviolate_and_absolutely_immutable Are there any aspects of physics that are inviolate and absolutely immutable?] | ||
| − | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_gravitational_field_a_fiction | + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_gravitational_field_a_fiction Is gravitational field a fiction?] |
* [https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_weight_of_information What is the weight of information?] | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_weight_of_information What is the weight of information?] | ||
* [https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_many_bits_of_information_can_be_contained_by_the_whole_universe How many bits of information can be contained by the whole universe?] | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_many_bits_of_information_can_be_contained_by_the_whole_universe How many bits of information can be contained by the whole universe?] | ||
| Line 25: | Line 26: | ||
* [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_you_explain_what_happens_when_you_photocopy_a_mirror Can you explain what happens when you photocopy a mirror?] | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_you_explain_what_happens_when_you_photocopy_a_mirror Can you explain what happens when you photocopy a mirror?] | ||
* [https://www.researchgate.net/post/If_a_demon_ate_the_whole_universe_what_would_its_temperature_rise_be If a demon ate the whole universe what would its temperature rise be?] | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/If_a_demon_ate_the_whole_universe_what_would_its_temperature_rise_be If a demon ate the whole universe what would its temperature rise be?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_do_we_know_when_to_add_quantities_in_quadrature How do we know when to add quantities in quadrature?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Are_there_limits_to_the_size_of_the_single-photon_double-slit_experiment Are there limits to the size of the single-photon double-slit experiment?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_the_time_a_single_photon_source_emits_indeterminate Is the time a single photon source emits indeterminate?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Why_does_kinetic_energy_transfer_between_colliding_objects Why does kinetic energy transfer between colliding objects?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_it_possible_to_distinguish_thermal_bodies_in_equilibrium Is it possible to distinguish thermal bodies in equilibrium?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Why_does_Plancks_black-body_equation_only_account_for_polarization_modes_Why_not_OAM Why does Planck's black-body equation only account for polarization modes? Why not OAM?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_you_explain_why_a_yacht_can_go_faster_than_the_wind_driving_it Can you explain why a yacht can go faster than the wind driving it?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Where_does_the_energy_go_in_a_Mach-Zehnder_interferometer Where does the energy go in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_Einsteins_principle_of_equivalence_be_violated_near_a_black_hole Can Einstein's principle of equivalence be violated near a black hole?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Why_doesnt_the_colour_of_light_appear_to_change_when_you_pass_it_through_a_chopper Why doesn't the colour of light appear to change when you pass it through a chopper?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_would_happen_to_the_universe_if_there_were_no_vacuum_fluctuations What would happen to the universe if there were no vacuum fluctuations?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_do_we_know_if_our_physical_variables_form_a_minimum_set How do we know if our physical variables form a minimum set?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Explain_how_a_wine_glass_resonates_at_a_wavelength_bigger_than_the_glass Explain how a wine glass resonates at a wavelength bigger than the glass] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Why_does_resolution_depend_on_wavelength Why does resolution depend on wavelength?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_many_uncertainty_relationships_are_there? How many uncertainty relationships are there?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_energy_conserved_for_moving_observers Is energy conserved for moving observers?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Does_accelerated_charge_emit_photons_to_all_observers Does accelerated charge emit photons to all observers?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_the_one-way_speed_of_light_be_measured_using_entangled_photons Can the one-way speed of light be measured using entangled photons?] | ||
==Math questions== | ==Math questions== | ||
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* [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_information_asymmetry_be_exploited_for_receiver_authentication Can information asymmetry be exploited for receiver authentication?] | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_information_asymmetry_be_exploited_for_receiver_authentication Can information asymmetry be exploited for receiver authentication?] | ||
* [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_Cauchy-Riemann_a_necessary_or_sufficient_condition Is Cauchy-Riemann a necessary or sufficient condition?] | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_Cauchy-Riemann_a_necessary_or_sufficient_condition Is Cauchy-Riemann a necessary or sufficient condition?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Why_does_the_formula_for_the_Nth_digit_of_pi_have_to_be_in_base_16 Why does the formula for the Nth digit of pi have to be in base 16?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_number_system_that_would_obey_a_quantum_version_of_Erdos-Kac What is the number system that would obey a quantum version of Erdos-Kac?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/The_paradox_of_infinity_where_does_the_nonlinearity_come_from? The paradox of infinity: where does the nonlinearity come from?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_there_a_solution_to_the_paradox_of_taking_limits_to_zero_for_z_xy? Is there a solution to the paradox of taking limits to zero for z = x^y ?] | ||
==Biology questions== | ==Biology questions== | ||
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* [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Why_dont_humans_have_a_baculum Why don't humans have a baculum?] | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Why_dont_humans_have_a_baculum Why don't humans have a baculum?] | ||
* [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_there_any_known_anticorrelation_between_cancer_and_autoimmunity Is there any known anticorrelation between cancer and autoimmunity?] | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_there_any_known_anticorrelation_between_cancer_and_autoimmunity Is there any known anticorrelation between cancer and autoimmunity?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_do_high_levels_of_Strontium_88_in_human_hair_mean What do high levels of Strontium 88 in human hair mean?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_there_any_evidence_that_paternal_mtDNA_can_be_transmitted_to_ones_offspring Is there any evidence that paternal mtDNA can be transmitted to one's offspring?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Are_there_any_organisms_that_dont_get_cancer? Are there any organisms that don't get cancer?] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Botany questions== | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Why_are_figs_so_mysterious Why are figs so mysterious?] | ||
==Computer science questions== | ==Computer science questions== | ||
* [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_computation_possible_without_any_stable_states Is computation possible without any stable states?] | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_computation_possible_without_any_stable_states Is computation possible without any stable states?] | ||
* [https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_are_the_basic_ingredients_for_computation_and_what_extra_ingredient_is_needed_to_make_life What are the basic ingredients for computation, and what extra ingredient is needed to make life?] | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_are_the_basic_ingredients_for_computation_and_what_extra_ingredient_is_needed_to_make_life What are the basic ingredients for computation, and what extra ingredient is needed to make life?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_you_recommend_a_way_to_access_web_indexing_for_a_customized_search_engine2 How do you access web indexing for a customized search engine?] | ||
==Electrical & electronic engineering questions== | ==Electrical & electronic engineering questions== | ||
* [https://www.researchgate.net/post/If_an_electrical_isolator_has_a_resistor_connected_to_one_port_and_another_resistor_at_the_other_why_does_this_not_break_the_Second_Law_of_Thermodynamics If an electrical isolator has a resistor connected to one port and another resistor at the other, does one resistor get hotter?] | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/If_an_electrical_isolator_has_a_resistor_connected_to_one_port_and_another_resistor_at_the_other_why_does_this_not_break_the_Second_Law_of_Thermodynamics If an electrical isolator has a resistor connected to one port and another resistor at the other, does one resistor get hotter?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Does_a_cell_phone_transmission_penetrate_a_microwave_oven Does a cell phone transmission penetrate a microwave oven?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Why_are_there_no_practical_applications_of_negative_impedance Why are there no practical applications of negative impedance?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_it_possible_to_cheat_and_create_a_room_temperature_superconductor_that_exploits_an_external_power_source_Would_that_have_useful_applications Is it possible to cheat and create a room temperature superconductor that exploits an external power source? Would that have useful applications?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Are_wavelengths_cut_off_in_the_quasistatic_regime_of_the_wave_equation Are wavelengths cut off in the quasistatic regime of the wave equation?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_happens_when_you_drive_a_moving_plate_capacitor_with_noise What happens when you drive a moving plate capacitor with noise? ] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Do_the_number_of_electromagnetic_modes_in_a_coax_cable_depend_on_its_length? Do the number of electromagnetic modes in a coax cable depend on its length?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Why_do_TEM_modes_have_no_low-frequency_cut-off Why do TEM modes have no low-frequency cut-off?] | ||
==Philosophy questions== | ==Philosophy questions== | ||
| Line 51: | Line 88: | ||
* [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Are_there_any_mathematics_for_which_there_is_absolutely_no_application_in_physics Are there any mathematics for which there is absolutely no application in physics?] | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Are_there_any_mathematics_for_which_there_is_absolutely_no_application_in_physics Are there any mathematics for which there is absolutely no application in physics?] | ||
* [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Are_there_any_types_of_human_experiments_for_which_ethics_committee_approval_is_generally_not_needed Are there any types of human experiments for which ethics committee approval is generally not needed?] | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Are_there_any_types_of_human_experiments_for_which_ethics_committee_approval_is_generally_not_needed Are there any types of human experiments for which ethics committee approval is generally not needed?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Using_a_series_of_thoughts_can_the_human_brain_generate_a_random_number_in_an_unbiased_way Using a series of thoughts can the human brain generate a random number in an unbiased way?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_measure_of_confidence_can_be_put_into_a_long_mathematical_proof What measure of confidence can be put into a long mathematical proof?] | ||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Without_a_priori_information_is_it_possible_to_tell_the_difference_between_a_human_language_a_machine_language_and_a_biological_coding_language Without ''a priori'' information, is it possible to tell the difference between a human language, a machine language, and a biological coding language?] | ||
==Physiology questions== | ==Physiology questions== | ||
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* [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Why_do_babies_cry_to_fight_sleep Why do babies cry to fight sleep?] | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Why_do_babies_cry_to_fight_sleep Why do babies cry to fight sleep?] | ||
* [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Could_TMS_have_a_role_in_resuscitation_from_death Could TMS have a role in resuscitation from death?] | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Could_TMS_have_a_role_in_resuscitation_from_death Could TMS have a role in resuscitation from death?] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Clinical study questions== | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_there_a_significance_to_the_number_666_in_medical_case_studies Is there a significance to the number 666 in medical case studies?] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Chemistry questions== | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [https://www.researchgate.net/post/Why_is_both_acid_and_alkaline_added_to_a_cholrine_swimming_pool Why is both acid and alkaline added to a cholrine swimming pool?] | ||
==Back== | ==Back== | ||
Latest revision as of 07:59, 12 November 2017
Collecting "imponderables" or interesting unanswered questions is one of my hobbies and I list a bunch of questions here. I decided to put them on this web site to encourage students to think creatively and identify deep questions. But anyone is welcome to enjoy them. I know the answer to some of them, and I have posted them in case others come up with an answer more elegant than I know. However, many are open questions to have fun with. Maybe some can never be answered. The questions are also here to encourage interdisciplinary thinking.
For ease of updating and ease of interaction, I've decided to post all my questions on ResearchGate.
Contents
Physics questions
- Why are Galilean and Lorentz transformations not equivalent at low speeds?
- How to explain the diffraction pattern through a net curtain?
- Is it possible to find a temperature in the universe lower than the cosmic background?
- When do we use conservation of momentum vs. conservation of energy?
- Just before sunset, does your shadow move with infinite velocity?
- To what extent is thermal noise a result of the quantum world?
- Can anyone explain tacking against the wind?
- Is "left and right" fundamental in physics or arbitrary?
- Does creation of the universe violate physical law?
- Are there any aspects of physics that are inviolate and absolutely immutable?
- Is gravitational field a fiction?
- What is the weight of information?
- How many bits of information can be contained by the whole universe?
- Where does mgh potential energy reside exactly?
- Which physical variables do not exist in conjugate pairs and do not have an uncertainty relationship in quantum mechanics? Can you list which pairs exist, and list those variables that don't exist in pairs?
- Is it possible to weigh yourself only using an iPhone?
- Is there a thought experiment that demonstrates if virtual particles are real?
- Which physical variables are allowed a quantum superposition and what is it they all have in common?
- What is the nature of a vacuum that causes its permittivity to be non-zero?
- Can you explain what happens when you photocopy a mirror?
- If a demon ate the whole universe what would its temperature rise be?
- How do we know when to add quantities in quadrature?
- Are there limits to the size of the single-photon double-slit experiment?
- Is the time a single photon source emits indeterminate?
- Why does kinetic energy transfer between colliding objects?
- Is it possible to distinguish thermal bodies in equilibrium?
- Why does Planck's black-body equation only account for polarization modes? Why not OAM?
- Can you explain why a yacht can go faster than the wind driving it?
- Where does the energy go in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer?
- Can Einstein's principle of equivalence be violated near a black hole?
- Why doesn't the colour of light appear to change when you pass it through a chopper?
- What would happen to the universe if there were no vacuum fluctuations?
- How do we know if our physical variables form a minimum set?
- Explain how a wine glass resonates at a wavelength bigger than the glass
- Why does resolution depend on wavelength?
- How many uncertainty relationships are there?
- Is energy conserved for moving observers?
- Does accelerated charge emit photons to all observers?
- Can the one-way speed of light be measured using entangled photons?
Math questions
- What is the probability of finding a point on a plane?
- Can you solve the necktie paradox?
- Can the digits of pi be used as a random seed to generate itself?
- Can information asymmetry be exploited for receiver authentication?
- Is Cauchy-Riemann a necessary or sufficient condition?
- Why does the formula for the Nth digit of pi have to be in base 16?
- What is the number system that would obey a quantum version of Erdos-Kac?
- The paradox of infinity: where does the nonlinearity come from?
- Is there a solution to the paradox of taking limits to zero for z = x^y ?
Biology questions
- Are humans the only species that go through menopause?
- Why don't humans have a baculum?
- Is there any known anticorrelation between cancer and autoimmunity?
- What do high levels of Strontium 88 in human hair mean?
- Is there any evidence that paternal mtDNA can be transmitted to one's offspring?
- Are there any organisms that don't get cancer?
Botany questions
Computer science questions
- Is computation possible without any stable states?
- What are the basic ingredients for computation, and what extra ingredient is needed to make life?
- How do you access web indexing for a customized search engine?
Electrical & electronic engineering questions
- If an electrical isolator has a resistor connected to one port and another resistor at the other, does one resistor get hotter?
- Does a cell phone transmission penetrate a microwave oven?
- Why are there no practical applications of negative impedance?
- Is it possible to cheat and create a room temperature superconductor that exploits an external power source? Would that have useful applications?
- Are wavelengths cut off in the quasistatic regime of the wave equation?
- What happens when you drive a moving plate capacitor with noise?
- Do the number of electromagnetic modes in a coax cable depend on its length?
- Why do TEM modes have no low-frequency cut-off?
Philosophy questions
- Is mathematics a human contrivance or is it innate to nature?
- Are there any mathematics for which there is absolutely no application in physics?
- Are there any types of human experiments for which ethics committee approval is generally not needed?
- Using a series of thoughts can the human brain generate a random number in an unbiased way?
- What measure of confidence can be put into a long mathematical proof?
- Without a priori information, is it possible to tell the difference between a human language, a machine language, and a biological coding language?
