What is Choice: Definition and 693 Discussions

A choice is the range of different things from which you can choose. The arrival at a choice may incorporate motivators and models. For example, a traveler might choose a route for a journey based on the preference of arriving at a given destination at a specified time. The preferred (and therefore chosen) route can then account for information such as the length of each of the possible routes, the amount of fuel in the vehicle, traffic conditions, etc.
Simple choices might include what to eat for dinner or what to wear on a Saturday morning – choices that have relatively low-impact on the chooser's life overall. More complex choices might involve (for example) what candidate to vote for in an election, what profession to pursue, a life partner, etc. – choices based on multiple influences and having larger ramifications.
Freedom of choice is generally cherished, whereas a severely limited or artificially restricted choice can lead to discomfort with choosing, and possibly an unsatisfactory outcome. In contrast, a choice with excessively numerous options may lead to confusion, reduced satisfaction, regret of the alternatives not taken, and indifference in an unstructured existence;
and the illusion that choosing an object or a course, necessarily leads to the control of that object or course, can cause psychological problems.

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  1. T

    Help with choice of undergrad physics program

    I am a junior in high school and am beginning to evaluate different colleges to see which one I want to attend. I want to be a physicist so a good physics program is mainly what I am looking for in a college. I have heard that most undergrad colleges provide a comparable education and that the...
  2. E

    Gauge Choice and Consistency with EOMs

    Hello, just had a quick silly question about the coulomb gauge here, though I guess it applies for gauge transformations in general. The problem is, I'm concerned about my gauge choice not being consistent with the equations of motion. For example, suppose I'm working with a nonrelativistic...
  3. G

    Best undergraduate choice, Cornell v. Penn State

    I am a rising high school senior who will be entering college in 2013 as a Physics major. I am currently deciding between two options and was wondering what you guys think would be best for my ambitions of entering a top graduate program. 1. Penn State: Academic scholarships would make it...
  4. N

    Frequancy choice for echolocation & sonar

    Hi. My understanding of sonar is that the choice of frequency of the pulse, or of the frequncy sweep, is related to the size of what is being sought. That is, a frequency resonant with the range of likely objects, will reflect more strongly, and a non-resonant one be scattered more. Is this...
  5. R

    Understanding delayed choice experiment

    What I understand from the delayed choice double slit experiment, is that , only after we see in the detector of the whereabout of the particle, we get the patter according to it. That is if we have destroyed the detector and then we observe the screen we get an wave pattern. Barbecue we didn't...
  6. M

    Computer Science Careers with Human Interaction & Diversity

    What careers can a computer science graduate get into other than the obvious software/ web development? Are there any careers with less computer work and more human interaction lol, and a more mixed workforce. From experience, workplaces in this field are hugely dominated by men to the...
  7. J

    Choice of pressure when using ideal gas equation

    100g of CO are contained in a weighted piston-cylinder device. Initially, the CO is at 1000kPa and 200°C. It is then heated until 500°C. Determine the final volume of the CO treating it as an ideal gas. This is what my lecturer gave in his solution...
  8. V

    Portable laptop choice for a physicist?

    Hi, I am a norwegian Theoretical Physicist working on string theory I need to buy a new laptop that's portable and can handle heavy mathematica but it can't be to expensive though i have a budget that's around 1200$, i want it to be around 13"-14". Please reply as fast you can :)
  9. P

    Help with mechanism choice please

    Hello, I hope you super-geniuses will please take a moment to point a layman in the right direction. If I can get past this sticking point I can complete the rest of this project myself. I need something small (tennis ball sized or smaller, smaller is better), lightweight, fast, electric, and...
  10. Duderonimous

    Multiple choice conceptual question on the photoelectric effect

    Homework Statement In a photoelectric effect experiment, the frequency of the light is increased while keeping the intensity of the light constant. What effect does this have? A) fewer electrons will be ejected B) more electrons will be ejected C) the same number of electrons will be ejected...
  11. ?

    The connection as a choice of horizontal subspace?

    Hi, I'm trying to understand the fiber bundle formulation of gauge theory at the moment, and I'm stuck on the connection. Every reference I've found introduces the idea of a connection on a principle bundle as a kind of partitioning of the tangent space at all points in the total space into a...
  12. W

    Torque multiple choice question needing explanation

    Homework Statement If two forces of equal magnitude act on an object that is hinged at a pivot, the force acting farther from the pivot must produce the greater torque about the pivot. a. False b. unable to decide without knowing shape of object c. True Homework Equations T=rxF...
  13. A

    Fluid Statics (multiple choice question)

    Homework Statement #1 If you hold a block of lead and an identical size block of Styrofoam under water, the buoyant force will a) be greater on the lead block. b) be greater on the Styrofoam block. c) be the same on both blocks. d) depend on the depth that each block is held. #2 Salt...
  14. SixNein

    News Criticize your choice for president

    Lets face it, we spend a lot of time criticizing the person we don't want to see elected; however, we don't spend much time criticizing the person we do want elected. So just for fun, post who you want to see be elected president and offer your criticisms of him. Please keep your criticism to...
  15. M

    Multiple choice, magnetic force on the particle

    Homework Statement Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I know that since the charge is negative qo*Vperpendicular would be traveling in the oppsite direction. Which by the right hand rule ultimately affects B. So using the formula F=q0V(perpendicular)*B...
  16. agnibho

    Thinking about the right career choice

    Thinking about the right career choice! I am currently studying in class XI. I like physics, chemistry and computer science. I also liked biology, but the choice was in between bio and computer science, so I chose computer science. I am preparing myself for the competitive exams. I draw very...
  17. M

    Multiple choice Current through Bulb A

    Homework Statement Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution First I originally tried using kichhoff's rules, but didn't get far. What is throwing me off is they are giving me the current of the battery instead of the voltage. Since I know circuits in parallels all have...
  18. J

    Schools College drop out, Good choice educationally?

    I am a sophomore math and physics major who would like to go to study biological physics as a graduate student. My aim is not to go into the medical field, i.e. Hospitals, pediatricians etc. but my interest generally is to research ways to prolong the human lifespan. Lately I have been thinking...
  19. J

    [Power system] The choice of transmission line

    Hi, I'm kind of struggling on finding information regarding the transfer of 1000MW to a load located 500km away. As far as 400kV transmission line is considered I can't find a design similar to these therefore would anyone be able if the following would be correct: Assumption: (using...
  20. A

    What is the best design for an egg drop from gym class bleachers?

    Hello, everyone, I am doing an egg drop for my science class, (not sure where to put it so I put it here, sorry if it's the wrong place.) and I have developed a few designs. I would like to know which you think would be most successful. (Dropped from gym class bleachers.) Parameters: Must...
  21. B

    Theorem in applied mathematics that relies on the axiom of choice

    Hi there, Im looking for a theorem that relies on the axiom of choice, but is used in applied mathematics (economics, physics, biology, whatever). In other words a mathematical theory we use to say something about the real world. This is because I'm wondering if discarding the axiom of...
  22. N

    Best choice of KVL and KCL in a circuit

    Hi everyone! Since this is very confusing for me, i wanted to know what is the best choice to take in choosing the kvl and kcl. The questions are ? How many KVL and KCL i should take ?? ( best number, without redundance) And is there a way to see if a kvl or kcl is linear dependent on...
  23. N

    Multiple choice question on the absolute uncertainty?

    An experiment is performed to determine a physical quantity and 10 trials are made. The absolute uncertainty in the quantity can be given by a. the mean of the data b. the standard error of the data c. None of the above I'm leaning more towards b because absolute uncertainty has to deal with...
  24. U

    Choice of Contour in Complex Analysis

    Say you want to evaluate an integral over some domain, so one option is to write the integral as a contour integral in the complex plane. However, there can sometimes be several different contours that all cover the same domain, but may lead to different values in the event of singularities...
  25. E

    What happens when we insert detectors in a delayed choice experiment?

    Consider the below (figure 1), an electron gun is made to emit electrons one by one through two slits S1 and S2. There is a screen at the other side and a pair of telescopes (with electron detectors inside them) T1 and T2 trained on the slits S1 and S2 respectively. We can choose to bring down...
  26. J

    Delayed Choice Quantum Eraser Question

    I've heard we can rule out retro-causal effects if we think of the photon as both being a wave and a particle simultaneously. However I understand wave-particle duality as being the sum of all possible paths taken by a particle to a detector whilst being impossible to predict individual paths...
  27. M

    AP Physics B Course Description Multiple Choice #3-4

    Homework Statement http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap-physics-course-description.pdf Page 45 Homework Equations sinθ = opp/hyp tanθ = opp/adj cosθ = adj/hyp G ≈ 10 m/{s}^2 The Attempt at a Solution I know that the weight is a force pointing downwards...
  28. DeusAbscondus

    MHB Chain rule problem and choice of notation

    I have attached a pdf setting forth my question. This is a write up of a lesson i just had on yourtutor, in which i think the tutor might have made an error: this is a direct quote from the whiteboard: $Let g(x)=2x, f(y)=e^y\Rightarrow(fog)(x)=f(g(x))=f(2x)=e^{2x}$$\\Now...
  29. D

    Question on Decoherence and the Delayed Choice Quantum Eraser

    From what I have read online, decoherence is an irreversible process that gives the appearance of wave function collapse. For example, a macroscopic measuring device will always interact with the particle it is trying to measure, and the particle becomes entangled to this environment, and...
  30. S

    Axiom of Choice and Metric Spaces.

    So the axiom of choice is confusing to me, apperently there is a distinction between the exsistence of an element and the actual selection of an element? I'm confused as to how much the axiom of choice is needed in elementary metric space theorems? As an example, is the Axiom of Choice needed...
  31. S

    [Paper choice] Numerical Mathematics or Analog Electronics and Circuit Analysis.

    I am a physics major and have to make a choice between either of these two papers. The numerical mathematics is at the equivalent to US senior level and the electronics paper is equivalent to US junior level. I'm quite interested in biophysics and/or medical physics for grad school but I'm not...
  32. H

    Guidance on choice of a thesis topic in Renewable Energy for an undergraduate

    I'm presently pursuing my undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering, and I need help in choosing a thesis topic in Renewable Energy(as that is what I want to pursue my future in). My university is not equipped with state of the art labs, though they manage to meet the requirements of having the...
  33. K

    Engineering Engineering Physics seems like a poor choice now

    Hello everyone! I am currently studying Engineering Phyics at Lund University in Sweden. I have one year left, which will give me a master of science degree with a specialization in simulation and scientific computing. Thing is, people have always been telling me that Engineering Physics is a...
  34. S

    Math Does my choice of courses as a math major matter much?

    Hi. I am thinking about majoring in mathematics. I'm interested more in statistics and applied math. I only started prerequisites during my sophomore year so I don't have a lot of choices. I am not planning on going into research. I probably will get a master's degree in statistics or applied...
  35. J

    Schools Need help with my physics choice at university

    I'm going to do physics at university and I really want to do a masters and go into research. Currently, I've just finished my AS Levels so I'll be going to university in 2013. I really want to do research because I want to try to solve and work on new, cutting edge research, not look at proven...
  36. L

    Could ‘Wheeler's delayed choice experiment’ be delayed？

    http://www.bottomlayer.com/bottom/basic_delayed_choice.htmThis link is from wiki's . And my question is whether we can delay the choice？If we watched the photon which has passed the slit，did we have enough time to take measure to remove the screen？ We watch！ And the speed of the photon is as...
  37. A

    Doubt in Wheeler's delayed choice experiment

    Sir, I've gone through wheeler's delayed choice experiment recently...i've got few couple of doubts in it..Please clarify them...Actually Wheeler wanted an answer for his questionthat "what happens when a single photon, presumably already determined to get detected as part of a two-slit...
  38. L

    Couple multiple choice: Confirmation needed

    1. For which following condition, will the cross product of two vectors be zero? a. If the angle between them is 90°. b. If the angle between them is 0°. c. If the angle between them is 45°. d. If the vectors have the same magnitude. 2. If a = (5, 2) and b = (-3, 1), then which of the...
  39. T

    Schools Advice on university choice

    Hello, I would like to ask you for advice regarding my university choice, as I do not know personally anybody who could give me an informed opinion. I won a scholarship for a Master's degree in Computational Science and Engineering at ETH Zurich and a scholarship to follow a similar degree...
  40. A

    Question about a modified delayed choice quantum eraser. 2nd order interference?

    OK, a quick intro to the delayed choice quantum eraser is at wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed...quantum_eraser ). I have attached a figure of the modified DCQE. In this setup there is no delay, there is no choice, and there is recombination of the idlers instead. In the...
  41. A

    Question about the delayed choice quantum eraser experiment

    In the delayed choice quantum eraser experiment of 2000 (DCQE http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_choice_quantum_eraser) which I have attached a simplified figure for, there is the use of a downconversion crystal which converts pump photons into two photons of half the energy, signal and idler...
  42. Y

    Simple multiple choice questions

    I'm taking a final tomorrow and was just wondering if someone could confirm that these (most missed) multiple choice questions on the previous exams are answered correctly. Again, this isn't homework, they are old test questions The "Principle of Equivalence" states that __________ and...
  43. B

    Physics Choice of Medical Physics MS Programs

    Good morning, I have a choice to make between MS programs in Medical Physics this Fall: Wayne State vs the University at Buffalo. Are there some graduates from these programs out there who might offer some perspective on one over the other? Buffalo ranks higher for science in general, but...
  44. N

    A design using quartus software, can't figure out how to choose my choice

    hello, i designed a project and i finished it my final step is i want the user to enter 3 bits if it was 000 i will do the first choice, which has 4 inputs and 14 outputs displayed on the 2 digit 7 segment dispaly if it was 001 i will do the second choice, which has 5 inputs and 7 outputs...
  45. U

    Given g from X onto Y, can we find some f from Y into X without the axiom of choice?

    I thought of this today while eating apples. Suppose we have two arbitrary sets X and Y and a surjection g:X→Y. We seek an injection f:Y→X. Each element of Y has at least one pre-image in X, but there might be more than one; the nonempty sets X_y = \{ x\in X : g(x) = y \} are subsets of X...
  46. J

    Is C the Best Language for Beginners and Which Book Should I Buy?

    Hey everyone. I recently decided which language I wanted to start programming with, C, and I also bought a book for guidance/referece. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0672326663/?tag=pfamazon01-20 I have never programmed before and after doing an extrenious amount of research I have...
  47. M

    Which describes the interference at P? (Multiple Choice)

    Homework Statement In Young’s double-slit interference experiment, if the rays that reach point P on the viewing screen have a path length difference of 2.50 wavelengths, which describes the interference at P? A. It is the central bright fringe. B. It is the first dark fringe to either...
  48. G

    Magnetostatics multiple choice

    Homework Statement A charged particle traveling with a velocity v in a magnetic field B experiences a force F that must be: A. parallel to v B. perpendicular to only v C. parallel to v-B D. parallel to B E. perpendicular to v x B Homework Equations Requires this right hand...
  49. T

    Maybe nursing wasn't the right choice

    Just as a warning: I'm functioning on very little sleep right now, so my apologies in advance if I don't make much sense at times. :) I am currently more than halfway through a nursing program, partly because AP credits covered much of the core curriculum at my school. To put it bluntly...
  50. J

    Newton Law Gravitation - Multiple choice question?

    Newton Law Gravitation - Multiple choice question?? Homework Statement Newton’s law of gravitation can be applied to the Earth-Moon system. Which of the following statements is not correct? A The value of G at the surface of the Moon is the same as that at the surface of the Earth...
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