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. G

    Explain why this is no good as a definition of continuity

    Explain why this is no good as a definition of continuity at a point a (either by giving an example of a continuous function that does not satisfy the definition or a discontinuous one that does): Given ε > 0 there exists a \delta > 0 such that |x – a| < \epsilon \Rightarrow |f(x) – f(a)| <...
  2. S

    Please explain these Equations in GR, Modified Universal law of Gravity.

    Space time Geometry and GR, taken from lecture notes http://www.mth.kcl.ac.uk/courses/cm334.html http://www.mth.kcl.ac.uk/courses/cm334/Lectures0910.pdf from pages 3 and 4 Newton's universal law of gravity is getting modified. it says using the result, from where this result...
  3. A

    Would someone explain the class equation and its corrolaries for me?

    I've read about the class equation on Herstein's abstract algebra but haven't understood it well. Would someone here explain the class equation to me and give a short proof for it and then tell me where it can be used?
  4. G

    Can any one explain Schuler cycle in Inertial Navigation System

    Can anyone please explain schuler cycle, please don not start explaining with same old pendulum with the length of radius of Earth stuff. why is it required ? what is that all about ?
  5. B

    Explain why it may be difficult to precisely date ocean crust aged

    Homework Statement Explain why it may be difficult to precisely date ocean crust aged between 85 and 125 million years old using magnetic anomalies on the sea floor. (2 marks) The Attempt at a Solution At first I thought about how long it takes for the Earth's magnetic field to...
  6. F

    Could someone explain this step in this proof to me?

    Homework Statement I already have the solutions, just don't understand one step Let (n_k)_{k=1}^{\infty} be a sequence of integers n_1 < n_2 < n_3 < ... Then n_k \geq k \forall k = 1,2, ... In particular n_k \to \infty when k \to \infty Prove this is true 2. The...
  7. P

    Explain Force of Thrust Equation: 6N/3.48s

    Please Explain this?! hey, ok so i was going tthrough my textbook and following some examples hwne i cam up to this: Force of Thrust = Ft/ delta T = 6N / 3.48s =1.7 N but it doesn't say what the equation means. can someone...
  8. O

    Why can we explain gravity geometrically but not EM force?

    Why is a magnetic field "a field-of-force in space" while a gravitiational field is "not a field in space, but a curvature of space itself"? Why can't we describe and explain EM repulsion and attraction the way we explain gravitational attraction? Why don't we say that the presence of a charge...
  9. D

    How to explain time dilation easily to others, maybe like this ?

    My idea of explaining time dilation to others (average people) was : see a light wave as the time, person A standing still sees the time (light wave) passing, person B moving sees lesser time passing when going in the direction of the light wave (while "looking" to the light wave) because he is...
  10. Z

    Can someone explain what a propagator is and does?

    So, Shankar in his famous book started to use the propagator a bunch of times in his Simple Problems in One Dimension chapter, and I have been confused to what it is and does.
  11. A

    Can someone explain this to me please?

    I'm asking this integral equation (I'm not sure if it's an integral equation or not by it's a problem in my ODE book and because it has an integral in it I called it that way). anyways, this is the problem: y=\int^{x}_{1}ty(t)dt I differentiated y with respect to x and I turned that equation...
  12. S

    Carbon Compounds: Orbital & Bonding Energies Explained

    why carbon can form polymers and sillicon not? though both are tetra valent. explain this based on its orbital and bonding energies
  13. J

    Is Archaeology Always About Digging Down and Does it Imply Earth's Expansion?

    Finding out about the past (archaeology) always involves digging down? Does this mean that the planet we live on is actually expanding? If you think about the programs on the TV! E.G. Time team, they are always digging down to find our (the planets) past. Now considering the above, Can we...
  14. andrewkirk

    How many laws explain everything we know about nature, and what are they?

    The other day, as I was struggling through my quantum mechanics text, I realized that the only physical laws presented in the text were the four postulates of QM, the last of which is Schrodinger's equation. These are presented around page 150. The first 150 pages establish the background needed...
  15. F

    Exploring Relativity: Cosmic Limits and Energy to Mass Equivalence

    So I have some unresolved issues with relativity in general (as in both SR and GR) which I would like to bring up and then discuss: First, Cosmic Limit: It is logical to find that c = maximum velocity, but what is the maximum possible acceleration? No form of non asymptotic acceleration...
  16. R

    Can someone please explain this example about cantilever beams

    This might look a bit stupid but I have just started beams and I can't understand a part in this example it is to do with finding a general equation of the height at any given point on a tapered cantilever beam can someone please explain
  17. S

    Did I explain this right? Basic absolute value functions

    Homework Statement I was helping my sister with her high school geometry homework, and she had to graph the absolute value function y=lx+6l using two linear equations. The way i did it was different than the way her book showed. Basically, I told her that when removing the absolute value you...
  18. D

    Can someone please explain this problem to me

    Homework Statement...
  19. T

    Can someone explain the quantum eraser please?

    A double slit experiment which has two stages: first the experimenter marks through which slit each photon went, without disturbing their movement, and demonstrates that the interference pattern is destroyed. This stage shows that it is the existence of the "which-path" information which causes...
  20. U

    Understanding the Universe: Explaining Light Speed and Expansion

    Dear Marcus: Many thanks for your very informative messages. Please write one more on a simple LAYMAN's question. How do we know FOR SURE what is going on NOW in the far distant places of the Universe as the light from there had originated long AGO? Why there are no chances that NOW...
  21. K

    Can someone explain what Bertrand Russell is saying on Aristotle's logic?

    http://books.google.com/books?id=Ey94E3sOMA0C&lpg=PP1&pg=PA190#v=onepage&q&f=false" Aristotle's Logic I want to know whether I have understood this right. We shouldn't be saying , "All Greeks are men,all greeks are white,therefore some men are white". So we should be saying "there are...
  22. A

    Y'' + py'+ qy = 0 explain why the value of y''(a) is determined by the values of y(a)

    Indicate why we can impose only n initial conditions on a solution of nth order linear differential equation. A) Given the equation y'' + py'+ qy = 0 explain why the value of y''(a) is determined by the values of y(a) and y'(a). B) Prove that the equation y'' - 2y' -5y =0 has the...
  23. S

    Can any one explain me about Integrals and derivatives in breif

    Homework Statement can anyone explain me about Integrals and derivatives in brief Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution
  24. N

    Can someone please explain the solution to a nodal analysis problem to me?

    Homework Statement Homework Equations V=IR, Nodal Analysis The Attempt at a Solution 1 and 2 in the diagram are the nodal equations. Considering that the left node is V1 and that the right node is V2. I don't know how to get from the nodal equations to step 3. I know that you go...
  25. N

    Can someone please explain a step to a solution? It's about nodal analysis

    Homework Statement Homework Equations V=IR, Nodal Analysis The Attempt at a Solution 1 and 2 in the diagram are the nodal equations. Considering that the left node is V1 and that the right node is V2. I don't know how to get from the nodal equations to step 3. I know that you go from step...
  26. I

    Can someone explain polarization states to me in really simple terms?

    Let's say I have an equation E=iE0cos(kz-wt)-jE0cos(kz-wt), how do I look at this and know, this is linearly polarized? or what if it changes and the kz is negative? or its a sin function with with (wt-kz-pi/4) in it. I just don't understand what this equation is supposed to be telling me and...
  27. F

    Could someone explain this part of my book for me?

    I just pulled a paragraph that's giving me a headache atm. http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/8697/unledwjt.png The LOP (Figure 2.1) they refer to is [PLAIN][PLAIN]http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/9787/unledylv.png How on Earth did they show that this feasible set is bounded? Yes I...
  28. K

    Comp Sci CAN SOMEONE PLEASE explain the this. keyword in java to me?

    CAN SOMEONE PLEASE explain the "this." keyword in java to me?! "the this keyword can be used to refer to the calling object or used inside one constructor to invoke another in its own class. I understand how it invokes another constructor. But i do not understand why i keep seeing this code...
  29. V

    I need a someone to explain something to me

    Hello all, New member here, I am in need of someone familiar with Physics to explain something to me. Its 9-11 conspiracy related so apologies to anyone who is sick of that subject but a someone has posted a stack of formula in response to a comment of mine and I would like someone who...
  30. C

    CVT: Explaining Uses & Power Analysis

    can i use cvt to act like the resistance load in the generator? to analyse if the output power is increase or decrease... its about my degree project...
  31. M

    Explain instantaneous velocity

    The question was, Explain instantaneous velocity. My answer: Limit as delta(t) approaches zero of average velocity is inst. velocity. Or as delta(t) approaches zero, average velocity approaches inst. velocity. inst. velocity is the slope of the tangent line at a given point... Then I...
  32. E

    Somebody explain railgun mechanism

    i am confused about the railguns electro-magnetic action please somebody explain if possible.
  33. A

    Vector from origin and two points/please explain how to solve it

    Homework Statement Consider two points located at r1 and r2, separated by distance r=(r1-r2). Find a vector A from the origin to a point on the line between r1 and r2 at distance xr from the point at r1, where x is some number Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I have no...
  34. S

    What does 'Explain Quantitatively' Mean?

    Homework Statement I have a question that states "Explain quantitatively why BLAH is true". What does "Explain quantitatively" mean? Homework Equations None The Attempt at a Solution I think it means give an outline of the argument, however the word quantity makes me think it...
  35. P

    Can someone explain to me the signs on this vector problem

    Homework Statement For drawing purposes, I'm just going to state the locations of the 2 points. Cable AB carries a tension of 12 kN. Point A=(0,0,70) m and point B=(35,-25,10) m. Find the corresponding force on point B as a vector. okay now this part has me confused. I'm trying to...
  36. N

    Can somebody explain what Kuhn is saying here?

    From the wikipedia page on his "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions" Can somebody explain what is meant? The way I see it, it seems so obviously wrong: I don't see any reason why two opposing paradigms can't be tested by the same experiment... For example you had the Phlogiston theory...
  37. M

    Can Someone Explain This Change of Variable?

    \frac{1}{|\partial B(x,r)|}\int_{\partial B(x,r)}u(y)\,dS(y)=\frac{1}{|\partial B(0,1)|}\int_{\partial B(0,1)} u(x+rz)\,dS(z) Why does dS(y)\to dS(z) and not dS(y)\to dS(x+rz)? If you want more information, it comes from http://www.stanford.edu/class/math220b/handouts/laplace.pdf on page 8...
  38. K

    Can the Lorentz force explain magnetic attraction when E=0?

    Given that the Lorentz force on a current when E=0 exists only at right angles to the current, such would not change the speed of the current, but only its direction. Also, when the current is parallel to a magnetic field line, no deflection of the current by the magnetic field occurs. A magnet...
  39. E

    Can someone explain? (Celcius to Kelvin question)

    A sample of liquid is heated from room temperature to just below the boiling point. The overall change in temperature is 75°C. Express this temperature change in kelvins. The book has the answer as 75K. How did they arrive at that answer? I don't think I understand the problem. I rather...
  40. M

    Please explain volume of parallelepiped

    Homework Statement Ok so my book says that the volume of a parallelepiped is: V= |b cross c||a||cos(theta)| = |a dot (b cross c)|, where a, b, and c are vectors I get the "|b cross c||a||cos(theta)|" part because I can see the geometry but I don't get how they get from that to |a dot...
  41. L

    Hi,Can anyone explain why in field theory we require [f*(x),f(y)]

    Hi, Can anyone explain why in field theory we require [f*(x),f(y)] = 0 for space-lkie intervals x,y; but not <0|f*(x)f(y)|0> = 0? Thanks!
  42. T

    Can someone explain electronegativity, please.

    I'm taking AP Bio and we're covering basic chemistry needed for it. I've not had chemistry yet, so I'm left wondering about the interesting stuff, like electronegativity. Basically, what I'm interested in, is: why is H2O polar? What is it about O that makes it magnetically attract H...
  43. N

    How do we explain electrical resistivity and heat.

    I was looking in my old physics text in connection with another thread and the text said high speed electron collisions and slow speed drift of electrons with an applied electric field don't explain resistivity very well...yielding resistivities 100 times or more than observed. For a plain...
  44. S

    Can anybody explain the modulation of radio waves in terms of photons?

    Hi All, I wonder if the modulation of RF waves (Amplitude Modulation, Frequency Modulation, and Phase Modulation) can be explained in terms of photons. Thanks, Srini
  45. D

    Can anyone explain energy levels of an Atom?

    Now, from what I understand, Bohr's model of the atom is outdated and flawed. But whenever I imagine energy levels, it is the Bohr's model that comes to mind. Do electrons really orbit around the nucleus? I would assume because of classical physics, even though the electron can be on any portion...
  46. D

    Too few examples to explain The principles of quantum mechanics by dirac.

    Too few examples to explain "The principles of quantum mechanics" by dirac. Hi! I studied my first course of quantum physics without a technical formalism (I'm studying physics engineering). I find some hindrances in paragraph 20. It says (I'm translating from Italian): After a few...
  47. M

    Inflation and entropy as information explain past hypotesis?

    Regarding the problem of the low entropy state at the big bang, people like Penrose, Page, Carroll etc. do not think that inflation solves the problem. I recently read and listen to Seth Lloyd and his explanations about the beginning of the universe from the point of view of entropy as...
  48. S

    Explain phase change of an EMW in terms of photons.

    Hi Guys, I have a question. Can we attempt to explain the phase change of a carrier wave in terms of photons? For example consider GPS signal. It is BPSK modulated, in which phase change of 180 degrees happens for multiple of 1540 cycles of the carrier. How is the phase information...
  49. G

    Was Super String theory specifically designed to explain singularities?

    Was Super String theory (theory that attempts to unite General Relativity and the Standard Model of particle physics) specifically designed to explain singularities; ie: phenomena such as black holes and the big bang? Does all other phenomena obey, and can be explained, by either classical...
  50. J

    Using the approximation, explain why the second derivative test works.

    [b]1. Homework Statement [/ Using the approximation, explain why the second derivative test works approximation=f(x0+delta x, y0+delta y) delta x and delta y are small... Homework Equations f(x0+delta x,y0+delta y) The Attempt at a Solution ok so i know the first derivative...
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