What is Explain: Definition and 1000 Discussions

An explanation is a set of statements usually constructed to describe a set of facts which clarifies the causes, context, and consequences of those facts. This description may establish rules or laws, and may clarify the existing rules or laws in relation to any objects, or phenomena examined.Explanation, in philosophy, is a set of statements that makes intelligible the existence or occurrence of an object, event, or state of affairs. Among the most common forms of explanation are causal explanation; deductive-nomological explanation, which involves subsuming the explanandum under a generalization from which it may be derived in a deductive argument (e.g., “All gases expand when heated; this gas was heated; therefore, this gas expanded”); and statistical explanation, which involves subsuming the explanandum under a generalization that gives it inductive support (e.g., “Most people who use tobacco contract cancer; this person used tobacco; therefore, this person contracted cancer”). Explanations of human behaviour typically appeal to the subject’s beliefs and desires, as well as other facts about him, and proceed on the assumption that the behaviour in question is rational (at least to a minimum degree). Thus an explanation of why the subject removed his coat might cite the fact that the subject felt hot, that the subject desired to feel cooler, and that the subject believed that he would feel cooler if he took off his coat.

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  1. rhody

    Uh I need a runway, really let me explain

    http://tinypic.com/a/2im4z/3" If you have not been bitten with a life long love of two wheel rapid transit systems then this thread is not for you... Some additions/replacements to the "Work in Progress..." The top two left images, thrust/hp/torque, the top two right images are of a...
  2. Gspace

    Can someone explain this Heavieside Theta problem?

    Homework Statement
  3. Z

    Can someone please explain to me how this works?

    If let's say we have the following expression √(x^2 - y^2) If I wanted to factor out x, then why can't I just take x out because a square root of a square is the base. x√(1 - y^2) But it turns out that the answer to this is incorrect and the answer to factoring out x is. x√(1 -...
  4. S

    Explain the term permittivity and how this affects force

    Hey everyone I just started an engineering course and have been given a few questions but I am struggling with this one as i feel that i have not included all the info that should be there. Can someone tell me briefly what they would explain the term permittivity as and how they think it would...
  5. E

    Can someone explain to me the R-Formula?(trigonometry)

    Can someone explain to me the R formula?(expressing \displaystyle a cos \theta + b sin \theta in terms of R sin(\theta + \alpha) ) I don't really understand my textbook at all which jumped straight to the questions. Could someone please enlighten me on the logic behind this concept and how...
  6. D

    Can any one explain how to draw a leading edge circle of an aerofoil.

    Can anyone explain how to draw a leading edge circle of an aerofoil. Where is the center and what is the radius of the leading edge circle
  7. K

    Wow Anyone seen these pictures? Could they explain dark matter?

    http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/498884main_DF3_Fermi_bubble_art_labels.jpg http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/GLAST/news/new-structure.html Could these structures account for the dark matter, or is the density profile inconsistent with two big blobs of matter/energy on both sides of the...
  8. M

    Please explain this paragraph from The Selfish Gene

    Please explain this paragraph from "The Selfish Gene" edit: I just noticed that I misspelled 'Selfish' in the title. However I have no idea how to edit the title after posting so kindly ignore the mistake. I have been reading "The Selfish Gene" by Richard Dawkins and all the while he looks...
  9. J

    Explain why ∑(1+n)/(1+2n) is divergent

    Homework Statement As the title says. Homework Equations mentioned in solution The Attempt at a Solution Let Sn = {(1+1)/(1+2) , (1+2)/(1+4), (1+3)/(1+6), ...}. If ∑(1+n)/(1+2n) is convergent, then lim n-->∞ Sn = 0; to put it another way, there exists an N so that whenever n ≤...
  10. P

    How can entropy explain formation of soap bubbles

    I've taken basic college physics and chemistry courses where I learned about entropy and thermodynamics, and I can tell you that I don't know that much :) That's my background. I understand that entropy is a description of 'randomness' and possible 'states'. When I wash my hands with soap...
  11. M

    Please Explain this reation to me Very Briefly

    Hi All Will you please please explain this reaction to me.. Very Briefly?? The reaction of a metal eg. Fe with an oxidizing acid eg. conc sulphuric or dil or conc nitric... Fe + 4HNO3 -----> Fe(NO3)3 + 2H2O + NO 3Fe + 8H2SO4 ----conc hot-----> Fe(SO4)3 + 4SO2 + 8H2O Of course...
  12. I

    Explain the ratio of time scales, easy,

    Homework Statement Beta = b/sqrt(mk) Explain how Beta can be interpreted as a ratio of time scales. What do the time scales measure? b: damping coefficient of spring (dimension: M/T) m: mass attach to spring (dimension: M) k: spring constant (dimension: M/T^2) The Attempt at a...
  13. W

    Could someone please explain to me the integral used to compute work done?

    I know the integral to compute work done is (integral from a to b) F * dl where F and l are vectors, but I don't understand how I would use that in a problem. 1. Are a and b moments in time? 2. What is dl? Is that the same thing as l2-l1? So would it be (integral from a to b)...
  14. L

    Could someone explain the fourth dimension?

    Could someone explain the fourth dimension to me? I understand that it represents time. Could anyone thoroughly explain the concept? Thank you.
  15. T

    Could someone help me explain this situation

    I have read a section but I don’t know their explanation , so please explain for me Thank you
  16. Shackleford

    Anyone care to explain the TA's note?

    Omega here is frequency. I used lambda = c/f. Why is it (2*pi*c)/omega and not c/f or c/omega? http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n149/camarolt4z28/2010-10-04203213.jpg?t=1286245112 http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n149/camarolt4z28/2010-10-04203118.jpg?t=1286245065
  17. I

    Can Somebody Explain These Steps for Me(answer given, dont get steps in between)

    2.45 and 2.55 i don't get the steps, on how they get to the final answers, can someone explain please. http://ea2.mccormick.northwestern.edu/homework/hw1-sol.pdf
  18. S

    Can anyone explain Gravity to a biologist?

    Gravity has to be the most screwed up force in the universe and the most enigmatic. It pulls on a boulder and a feather to produce the same acceleration. How screwed up is that? It is even more improbable as a moon always showing the same face to the planet it orbits. There is an infinate (or...
  19. K

    Help and explain to me how to solve it ?(new question )

    Homework Statement 1)a student saves his pocket money with the intention to buy an encyclopedia set costing RM1200.If he saves RM50 in the bank each month and the bank pays him an interest of ½ % per month , how many months has he got to saves before he can afford to buy the encyclopedia...
  20. J

    Can someone explain Earnshaws Theory

    I know Earnshaws Theory basically states that it is impossible to levitate a charged object using static electric field. But can someone explain it in simple lamens language what exactly going on on an atomic level and how it ties in with Gauss's law? I look forward to hearing your replies
  21. S

    Please explain this question to me (F2 field)

    Please explain these question to me ... Homework Statement 1)A system of m equations over F2 in n unknowns has exactly 2n−m solutions. • A. True • B. False answer: false 2)How many roots x \in F2 does the polynomial x2+x+1 have? answer:0 3)Which of the following is a cube root...
  22. A

    Refrigeration - Explain the picture please

    Can someone please explain the picture attached below ? It has been taken from a lab where the supervisor actually failed to tell what is the remote sensing bulb doing attached to a condenser. I would like to know that why is it there and is the wire that is sticking out a capillary tube? If not...
  23. L

    What is the total time in the air for the parachutist's jump?

    Hey could someone explain to me this problem because i tried every single variation of the rules i learned in class, v = delta d/ delta t a= delta v/ delta t ect.. and i kept getting the wrong answer. A parachustist jumps from an airplane and freely falls y=53.2 m before opening his...
  24. S

    How does M-theory explain genesis of the 11th dimension?

    I read Stephen Hawking new book and did a little research on M-theory. Apparently in the 11th dimension there are different brains that crash into each other. 2 of these brains crashing supposedly rendered our big bang, and explains why stuff came out in blobs (not homogeneous). But how...
  25. S

    Explain the pressure terms in Bernoullis Equation

    The Bernoullis Equation for an Incompressible Inviscid flow (say water) is as follows: p + (1/2).ρV^2 + ρgh = constant where, In words, static pressure + dynamic pressure + pressure energy due to height = constant It gives the Energy...
  26. M

    How Maxwell's equations explain the Lorentz contraction?

    I did more than one course of classical electromagnetism in college. Recently, however, after reading "How Relativity Connects Electric and Magnetic Fields" (http://galileo.phys.virginia.edu/classes/252/rel_el_mag.html) I was astounded to realize how little I knew about it! In college (if I...
  27. B

    Random questions: explain BB gun bullet dent in (regular) glass?

    Hi all, this has been bugging me so maybe you can help me out. In the front window of my house, there is a dent in the glass that looks somewhat similar to this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/guerra/2557095422/" However, there is not hole in the glass. But the shape of the dent is...
  28. U

    Please explain how can this be parrallel?

    In this circuit, please tell me how they got the 4 ohms and the 12 ohms in parrallel when they look like they are in series Please help me i am so desperate for an answer!
  29. S

    How do you explain this, Equation?

    A person who weighs 200 lbs is falling through the sky while attached to a parachute. The equation of the downward velocity as a function of time for this is: dv/dt = g - (k/m)v Where g is the acceleration due to gravity, m the person's mass, and k is a constant depending on the physical...
  30. I

    Kinematics problem(already have the answer, but i need an someone to explain it to me

    Homework Statement A motorcycle is following a car that is traveling at constant speed on a straight highway. Initially, the car and the motorcycle are both traveling at the same speed of 48.0mph , and the distance between them is 60.0m . After t1 = 5.00s , the motorcycle starts to accelerate...
  31. P

    Please explain my answer in Proof Inequalities

    Homework Statement I solved the problem and it matches the answer at the end of the book. Please explain why am I right? Why these two answers are correct? THank you Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution
  32. N

    Maths of E=MC squared, please can someone explain the maths?

    please can somebody explain the maths of E=MC squared thank you
  33. N

    Please can you explain some of the quantum maths and formulas?

    I'm relativly new to quantum ohysics and have only read a few books, please can people explain some of the equations and the maths of quantum physics I can understand matrices and diracsc equations but please and somebody explain the maths of probability and other matters thx
  34. P

    Please explain the solution (Real Analysis)

  35. Q

    Can someone explain inharmonics to me and give me some examples?

    Thanks in advance, mainly I just need some examples.
  36. S

    Explain when will upthrust change?

    Hi.. Can someone explain when will upthrust change? cos i come across books saying that upthrust will not change when two objects of different density but same material are placed in the same fluid. I also come across that upthrust will not change when same objects are being transferred from...
  37. B

    Can someone explain Pulsars and Quasars?

    I know that pulsars are Neutron stars that emit their energy through their poles, bit why do they emit it through their poles, and not their sides? And Quasars, I though that all mater that falls into a black hole never escapes, so how do we see the...''stuff'' leaving it?
  38. L

    Can anyone explain this term is antisymmetric in SU(3)

    Hi, I'm reading the SU(N) chapter in Jones' Group theory book. In SU(3) we have these 3 component spinors which transform as \psi^{'}_{a}=U_{a}^{..b}\psi_{b} and we have upper spinors defined by \psi^{a}=\epsilon^{abc}\phi_{[bc]} Now if consider building up higher-dimensional reps, by taking...
  39. J

    Explain this to me as if I were 5 years old

    Homework Statement 5.10. Definition. A permutation of a finite set S is a bijection from S to itself. The word form of a permutation of [n] is the list obtained by writing the image of i in position i. We write n!, read as "n factorial", to mean n*(n-1)*(n-2)* ... *2*1. Homework...
  40. R

    Is the physics concept of tires kinematics or work/energy? Please explain why.?

    Is the physics concept of tires kinematics or work/energy? Please explain why.?
  41. S

    Can someone explain a polar coordinate conversion?

    I am having trouble understanding how (2x - x2)1/2 becomes 2 cos θ. Thanks
  42. M

    Explain the basic concept of IGBT inverter ?

    Hi friends is there anything that can explain the basic concept of IGBT inverter for ac motor drives..? Help me please... Hery
  43. J

    Please explain the Big Bang and universal expansion

    I think I understand the basics of the Big Bang but after trying to explain it to someone else, I've discovered that there are many details lacking in my knowledge. So I have come here in the hopes of alleviating my ignorance... I understand that in the very early universe, all the energy in...
  44. ThomasT

    Requirements for LR model - please explain.

    Requirements for LR model -- please explain. In a recent, and ongoing, thread it was asked what are the requirements that an LR model of entanglement must meet. The following response was given by DrChinese. I still don't understand what he's talking about, so if DrC, or anyone else, would...
  45. C

    Found core loss equation, please explain

    this is the formula for calculating core loss http://power.thayer.dartmouth.edu/pictures/function.jpg alpha, beta and k are constants that have to do with the material of the core. what are f and B, and what exactly does Pcore mean
  46. A

    Why did my milk bottle shrink?

    I observed something interesting yesterday. At first, I couldn't explain it, but I figured it out after a few minutes, and I figured it might be interesting enough a problem to pose here. Yesterday, on my way to work (at about 7 in the morning) I picked up a pint of milk from UDF and drank it...
  47. D

    Math to Explain Theories: Fundamentals & Calculation

    Allright, looking at at a bunch of string theories and using math to explain, it really looks like nonsense. Calculus is easy math to learn because it means something, eg. explaining and altering functions to make sense fundamentally. What I don't understand, is how people use math to model...
  48. A

    Please explain what a Fourier transform is?

    I understand Fourier Series fairly well and how to use them to approximate functions (I even wrote a C program to do it) but Transforms are really confusing. If I was to take the value of each Fourier coefficient and plot it on the y-axis against the angular frequency on x-axis (obv. there...
  49. J

    Please explain General Relativity to me

    I've always wanted to understand the Theory of General Relativity but I've never found anyone to properly explain it to me. I was hoping that someone here could explain the principles to me in fine detail. I find the sheet of rubber with masses bending it to be an irritatingly unsatisfying...
  50. J

    Hello Guys,It would be really great if any one can explain me what

    Hello Guys, It would be really great if anyone can explain me what does mode of vibration exactly mean?? What does 1st,2nd ,3rd and 4th mode of vibration at 3Hz, 15Hz ,20 Hz and 40 Hz mean to the system.? Please check my knowledge on order of vibration too.. Order of vibration:-If a...
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