What is Mystery: Definition and 913 Discussions

Mystery is a fiction genre where the nature of an event, usually a murder or other crime, remains mysterious until the end of the story. Often within a closed circle of suspects, each suspect is usually provided with a credible motive and a reasonable opportunity for committing the crime. The central character is often a detective (such as Sherlock Holmes), who eventually solves the mystery by logical deduction from facts presented to the reader. Some mystery books are non-fiction. Mystery fiction can be detective stories in which the emphasis is on the puzzle or suspense element and its logical solution such as a whodunit. Mystery fiction can be contrasted with hardboiled detective stories, which focus on action and gritty realism.
Mystery fiction can involve a supernatural mystery in which the solution does not have to be logical and even in which there is no crime involved. This usage was common in the pulp magazines of the 1930s and 1940s, whose titles such as Dime Mystery, Thrilling Mystery and Spicy Mystery offered what were then described as complicated to solve and weird stories: supernatural horror in the vein of Grand Guignol. That contrasted with parallel titles of the same names which contained conventional hardboiled crime fiction. The first use of "mystery" in that sense was by Dime Mystery, which started out as an ordinary crime fiction magazine but switched to "weird menace" during the later part of 1933.

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  1. R

    Solving the Mystery of Helium's Temperature Increase

    Homework Statement Helium has the special property that its internal energy is directly proportional to its absolute temperature. Consider a flask of helium with a temperature of 20 C. If it is heated to twice its internal energy, what will its temperature be? 1. 293 C 2. 313 C 3. 40 C 4...
  2. M

    Unraveling the Mystery of Neutrons in Fission Reactions

    Homework Statement Fission reaction: 10n + 23592U --> 14156 + 9236 Kr + 3(10n) Why in the world is there a neutron on the left side of this rxn? Why not just reduce the number of neutrons on the right side to two?
  3. E

    Unraveling the Mystery of Electrostatic Force in Honeybees

    Homework Statement Measurements show that a honeybee in active flight can acquire an electrostatic charge on the order of 90.9 pC. a)How many electrons much be transferred to produce this charge? Ne =5.67*10^8 b) Supposing two bees, both with this charge, are separated by a distance of 14 cm...
  4. E

    Dark Matter - what's the mystery?

    Average density of universe is 9.3 x 10^-27 Kg-mass/M3. Volume of Cubic-Light-Year is 2.7 x 10^25 M3. Result is .25 Kg-mass/CLY. If Dark Matter is 5 x ordinary matter then 1.25Kg-mass of Dark Matter per CLY. What if there was a billion times more Dark Matter in a galaxy than in the space between...
  5. A

    Uncovering the Mystery of a Zero Watt Bulb

    greetings, what is the meaning of a zero watt bulb?how can be any bulb glow without any power consumption? thanks
  6. C

    Unravelling the Mystery of the (0,3) Symmetric Tensor

    I am a bit confused by this observation. Every tensor is it's symmetric plus antisymmetric part. Thus for the components of a (0,3) tensor F_{\lambda\mu\nu}=F_{[\lambda\mu\nu]}+F_{\{\lambda\mu\nu\}} and if I write this down explicitly I end up that for the components of ANY (0,3)...
  7. P

    Unraveling the Mystery of Eddy Currents

    i know i haven't understood the concept of eddy current and that is why i am posting this question: why are EDDY CURRENTS circular?
  8. Y

    Ken Ono cracks partition number mystery

    Hi, has anyone else seen this news item http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-01-math-theories-reveal-nature.html on how to crack partition numbers using fractals? It came out on Thursday the 20th Jan 2011. They gave a tantalising glimpse and said the full new theory will be revealed on Fri 21 st...
  9. M

    Solving a Physics Mystery: An Explanation of Landau's Collision Problem

    Hi there. I'm a second-year physics student. I'm from Mexico (so please, forgive my english), and I'm on winter holidays. I've been studying Mechanics with the first volume of the "Course of Theoretical Physics", by Landau and Lifgarbagez, that awesome though hard book series. My study plan...
  10. T

    Exploring the Mystery of Black Holes

    hi, i was just wanting to get a few opinions on where and maybe even when a black hole goes to. It's something I've read into a lot in the past few months; and I'm really interested to find out what others think. Thanks
  11. E

    Solving the Mystery of Convergence: \sum_{k=2}^{\infy}(\frac{1}{ln(k!)})

    Homework Statement I need help to decide if the series below are convergent or divergent. \sum_{k=2}^{\infy}(\frac{1}{ln(k!)}) Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I tried using the d'Alembert ratio test but the ratio is 1 if I calculated it correctly and then nothing can be said...
  12. K

    Mystery material found in ashes of fire

    I came into my engineering class this morning and our teacher showed us this strange material. He got the material from a student who recently went hiking. According to the student, he and his father went into the woods and started a fire in an old metal tire rim. They threw a bunch of old...
  13. A

    Unraveling the Mystery of Tippe Top's Spin

    Homework Statement Why when a Tippe top is spun with high angular velocity, it spins until it lifts its body of the top off the ground with its stem pointing downward? Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution The only reason I could think of was that it's kinetic energy is...
  14. S

    Uncovering the Mystery behind My Investigation: The Theory Review

    I have to finish my investigation and the outline has something called a Theory review. It defines it as: a story that generates interest in the reader for the field of your research and link to practical investigation to follow.:confused: Now this maybe very simple but I'm not sure what kind...
  15. J

    Defining Time: Our Everyday Mystery

    I recently realized that we use this concept constantly but I have absolutely no idea how I would answer this. Never in any school physics lesson or university lecture I've attended has anyone even mentioned this. It's just sort of taken for granted because we all have experience of it passing...
  16. S

    Unravelling the Mystery of "Faint Regime" in Cosmological Explosions

    What do they mean with "faint regime", when they talk about cosmological explosions?? (e.g X-ray flashes) thnx
  17. C

    What Causes Jetstream Damage on Boat Hulls?

    Hello. I'm new to the forum, and a non-expert trying to learn about topics for a mystery I'm writing. Hope someone can tell me if this is plausible: Drilling equipment on the seafloor either malfunctions or is sabotaged in a way that shoots a stream of water mixed with seafloor sand upward...
  18. B

    Unraveling the Mystery of Probability Amplitudes

    Homework Statement What physical phenomenon requires us to work with probability amplitudes rather than just with probabilities, as in other fields of endeavour? Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution Not sure. The wording of the q throws me... phenomenon i.e...
  19. D

    Solving the Mystery of Hydrogen Atom Ionization

    Here comes a pretty hard question, which not even my QM teacher has been able to answer. When we think about one hydrogen atom, and put it in an electric field along the z-axis \bar E = \bar e_z E. Then the potential for a hydrogen atom will look like this: U = -\frac{e^2}{4\pi \epsilon_0...
  20. Ivan Seeking

    Mystery Missile Launch in California

    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/americas/pentagon-stumped-by-apparent-missile-launch-off-us-coast/article1791785/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeXNC8k9FKU
  21. W

    Unravelling the Mystery of Wind Damage and Kinetic Energy

    Hi Guys, I understand that the energy associated with wind damage from a hurricane goes as the third power of the velocity of the wind. How is this relationship derived? I ask because when I think of wind energy, I think of Kinetic Energy going as the square of the velocity...
  22. nomadreid

    Exploring the Mystery of an Equation in Spacetime

    In my reading I came across the equation ds2 = −dt2 + 2t/r dtdr + (1 − (t/r)2)dr2 + (BKr)2(dθ2 + sin2 θdϕ2) where s is spacetime, t is time, r is radius and the others are not important for my question. What I do not get is the "1" in the (1 − (t/r)2)dr2, or dr2− ((t/r)2)dr2 . This seems...
  23. H

    Exploring the Mystery of Double Rainbows

    Homework Statement What causes the faint rainbow outside of the primary one, and why are its colors reversed? Homework Equations I know that rainbows form from passing through raindrops but I don't know about the second one. The Attempt at a Solution
  24. Z

    Solving the Mystery of Two Beads and a Frictionless Hoop

    Homework Statement Two beads of mass m are initially at rest at the top of a frictionless hoop of mass M and radius R, which stands vertically on the ground. The beads are given tiny kicks, and they slide down the hoop, one to the rigth and one to the left. What is the largest value of m/M...
  25. A

    Solve the Chaplin Film Mystery on YouTube

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6a4T2tJaSU&feature=player_embedded Just for fun, more than anything. But you got to admit, it is intriguing, particularly if you watch the scene more than a couple of times. It does seem that she (he ?) is talking into a cell phone .. in 1928. And no, I am...
  26. H

    The Mystery of Two-Type Speakers: Will It Work?

    I have uploaded the pic of schematic of two type speaker. The left side of pic shows the usual one speaker where sighnals are fed at both the wire of the coil. 1) I assume the right side of the pic(speaker)(which I imagine) should work , where I have grounded one of the coil and ths signal is...
  27. I

    Uncovering the Mystery of Work Done by Conservative Forces

    Homework Statement Work done by conservative forces = -\DeltaU Homework Equations Above. The Attempt at a Solution Here is the whole equation: Wc+ Wnc = \DeltaK. Wnc = \DeltaK + \DeltaU. So, Wc = -\DeltaU. But, for example, how does that apply in a situation with no...
  28. 2

    Are Wormholes Real? Exploring the Possibility of Shortcuts in the Universe

    wormholes...a mystery or not! do wormholes actually exists? if yes, then, is it true that they act as shortcuts for some other destinations in the universe? and lastly can man himself create them!?.....all a mystery 4 me!
  29. W

    The Mystery of Why Photons Have No Mass

    Why doesn't the Higgs field give photons mass?
  30. Ivan Seeking

    Is a Virus and Bacteria Combo Causing Bee Colony Collapse?

    http://wjz.com/local/honey.bees.2.1953775.html
  31. Ƒ

    The Mystery of Smart: What Does It Really Mean?

    What, in your opinion, exactly is smart? Is it looking at someone and seeing something no one else does? Is it finding a new way to do something? Or is it by being the cleverest?
  32. C

    Unraveling the Mystery of Transistors

    Homework Statement The base-emitter voltage, V_be, typically never exceeds .6V. Because of this low value, the base-emitter junction must be protected against too high a reverse voltage. A diode is usually used to protect the junction as shown in the figure for a npn transistor. a. Explain...
  33. J

    Exploring the Higgs Boson: Uncovering the Mystery

    http://www.higgs-boson.org/ Is it as garbage as it looks?
  34. F

    Exploring the Mystery of Dark Flow: How Does It Work?

    How does dark flow work? Thanks
  35. K

    Unraveling the Mystery: Comparing Neutralisation of HCl and CH3COOH

    Homework Statement 25 cm3 of 1 mol/dm3 ethanoic acid requires a smaller amount of sodium hydroxide for complete neutralisation than 25 cm3 of 1 mol/dm3 hydrochloric acid. True or False? 2. The attempt at a solution I selected true, but I was wrong. Both of them require the same amount...
  36. B

    Exploring the Mystery of ElectronicFog.com

    http://www.electronicfog.com/ Duno - it doesn't seem very believable to me but a friend of mine seems to be very convinced about it and is cussing me out about it ><" Is it basically just another one of those Bermuda Triangle superstitions/stories/myths? Thanks in advance
  37. D

    Solving a Royal Mystery: Archimedes & the Crown

    Homework Statement Once upon a time the famous archimedes was given a problem to determine if a crown supposedly made of pure gold actually contained some silver. If Archimedes was your lab partner, explain how the two of you could quickly determine if the crown were gold or not without...
  38. P

    Prime Numbers: A Mathematical Mystery

    Is there any mathematical formula to predict / generate / or test the prime number??
  39. G

    Types of Brain Signals & Writing Words: Uncovering the Mystery

    how many types of brain signals are there? or if a person thinks of writing a word the signals that perform this action what are those called..? (brain signals is not my subject but i want this knowledge to further use it in a signals and systems project relating to human brain) thnx
  40. B

    Light Speed & Expanding Galaxies: A Cosmological Mystery

    If galaxies aer expanding fast than the speed of light how are we able to see them. At the moment this expansion surpassed the speed of light shouldn't these galaxies dissappear or remain unchanged visually?
  41. K

    Unveiling the Mystery of O in F = F0 + kBT log c + ½ cb1 + O (c2)

    Please, This equation is based on the free energy of perfect gaz : F = F0 + kBT log c + ½ cb1 + O (c2) ½ cb1 is the excluded volume term (c is the concentration) but what is O ?
  42. G

    Solve the Mystery: Find the Jam Tin's Depth Under Water

    Homework Statement Atmospheric pressure is 100 kPa and a depth of 1m in water is equivalent in pressure to 10 kPa. A jam tin, open end down, is forced under water until the water half fills the can. At this stage, how far beneath the surface is the can? (ans is 10 m) Homework...
  43. F

    Exploring the Mystery of Q in Curved Mirrors

    while reading curved mirrors we come across a term denoted as Q(the distance of image from the mirror)but as the image is formed right on the mirror so the distance of the image from the mirror should be zero?? which is of course not the case.
  44. K

    Travelling at 0.5c or .43c? Unraveling the Mystery

    A particle traveling at 0.5c for 1 second covers 1.3E8m (speed=.5*3E8 and gamma=.866) and not 1.5E8. The average speed was then 1.3E8 m/s = .43c and not .5c. What is going on here? Was it travelilng at 0.5c or at .43c?
  45. T

    Solving the Mystery of the Flying Fly: How Many Trips?

    Homework Statement A car moving at constant speed of 40 km/h in a straight road which heads towards a wall makes a 900 (90 degree) turn by the side of the wall. A fly flying at constant speed 100km/h starts from wall till car and when it reaches the car turns back and flies towards wall at...
  46. L

    Exploring the Mystery of Dark Matter and Energy

    im having a hard time understanding just what it actually is. I've heard about WIMPs and now quirks. But i know we can't see it, but how dose it affect us? Why does it emit no light? I've also heard about the big crunch saying that if there is too much matter in the universe it would...
  47. V

    Mystery base current in darlington pair

    I was trying a simple Darlington circuit with two Darlington-connected NPN transistors. There is an LED in the shorted collectors, connected to a 5V supply, and the base is open. The trivial objective was to see that when you touch two fingers to the base and the supply positive, the LED turns...
  48. L

    The Mystery of Light in a Box: Where Does It Go?

    If you could build a box with a reflective inside that no light could escape. If somehow you put a laser in the box and fired the beam and then shut off the laser what would happen? Would the beam continued to bounce off of the insides of the box or would the beam dissipate somehow? If it does...
  49. J

    Mystery of the Bright "Star" - Did You Spot It?

    Saw a reaalllyy bright star-looking object in the sky tonight after looking online, I'm thinking it was Venus. That what all the articles online are leading me to believe. so... Has anyone else seen it? it looks amazing to be honest. I really wish I had a telescope.
  50. A

    Exploring the Mystery of RGBY TVs

    I just saw a commercial for http://rgbytv.com/" I understand how additive color mixing works, and how the addition of a yellow channel would allow for the creation of more http://www.ncsu.edu/scivis/lessons/colormodels/color_models2.html#saturation." yellows, but if we only have RGB cone...
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