What is Idea: Definition and 833 Discussions

In common usage and in philosophy, ideas are abstract concepts. Also in philosophy, ideas can also be mental representational images of some object. Many philosophers have considered ideas to be a fundamental ontological category of being. The capacity to create and understand the meaning of ideas is considered to be an essential and defining feature of human beings. In a popular sense, an idea arises in a reflexive, spontaneous manner, even without thinking or serious reflection, for example, when we talk about the idea of a person or a place. A new or an original idea can often lead to innovation.

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  1. L

    Is it a good idea to take Calc 2 and Engineering Physics in the summer?

    I've had to take a handful of prerequisites for Math and it's caused my academic schedule to get jacked up - To keep a full-time load in each semester I will have to take Calc2(4 credits) and Engineering Physics 1(4 credits) during next summer (eight week session). It would be a Mon-Thursday...
  2. J

    No idea where to start for linear transformation question from P2->P2

    Let T:P2\rightarrowP2 be given by T(x-1)=1-x T(x2-2x)=-1+x-2x2 T(3-x2)=-1+2x+3x2 Find the matrix for T with respect to the standard basis B={1,x,x2}for P2 To be honest, I have no idea where to start. Help would be greatly appreciated
  3. P

    Origins of the idea of a tachyon? (and a greeting)

    Hello! Firstly, I'd like to say this is my first post, as I could not find a "new members" sub forum or anything of the sort. I'm a high school student (technically junior, but one year off) with a keen interest in the sciences, particularly in the fields of cosmology, particle physics, and...
  4. D

    Why is everyone so stuck to the idea of the Big Bang?

    This is not a pro creationism question. I can see where people are coming from with it but there is so much that it doesn't cover or explain but it is treated like the holy grail of "where the universe comes from" ideas/theories. I have nothing against Dr. Hawking by any means but something...
  5. Z

    A Physics Professor's Mobile Video Diary: An Inspiration for Aspiring Academics

    How awesome would it be if a competent physics professor clipped a high-quality mobile video camera on his shirt pocket, and recorded all the events in a few of his work days.. This kind of "vicarious video" experience will probably come down the line, as there are already these mobile camera...
  6. K

    Why Does the Water Bend Towards the Comb and Not Away?

    Homework Statement 1. A frictionless slope has a hypotenuse of 2.0m and a height of 1.0m. A box of mass 40kg is pushed up along the hypotenuse with a force of 250N. Since work done is defined as the product of the force and the distance moved by the object in the direction of the force, we...
  7. R

    How Much Does It Cost to Use a Hair Dryer for a Year?

    Make an order-of-magnitude estimate of the cost of one person’s routine use of a hair dryer for 1 yr. If you do not use a blow dryer yourself, observe or interview someone who does. State the quantities you estimate and their values.
  8. Saladsamurai

    Fortran FORTRAN: I have no idea what is happening

    I am freaking out man :smile: I have this program and in it I have the variable nPT declared as Integer. Somehow, after nPT is passed to subroutine, its value changes to a very large negative integer value. I cannot make sense of it. In the subroutine pasted at the bottom, the value of N (which...
  9. S

    Space ship design idea, how to approach with out air resistance

    ok so here is what i was thinking when a spaceship enters the atmosphere the reason for the high impact velocity is that the air is spinning at 66000mh AND that to keep an orbit you need certain speed with is different from the Earth's rotation... now if you slow down/speed up to match...
  10. madmike159

    Does this idea sound plausible

    I am about to go into my 3rd year of my Electronic Engineering degree, and as part of that I will be taking part in a group project. Out project involves making a remote control surveillance car with cameras, sensors etc. We also want it to be long range (i.e. more than the 10m or so you get...
  11. Ryan_m_b

    When an idea pops fully formed into your head

    Something's been bugging me lately. A while ago I read a book on consciousness (A very short introduction by Susan Blackmore) that outlined a term for when an idea get's subconsciously worked out and then arrives fully formed in your conscious. You know the type of thing when a problem at...
  12. A

    Any idea how to get started on this INSANE puzzle?

    lol...the task is sisyphean for sure. http://www.highiqsociety.org/Sisyphean%20Airlines%20Puzzle%20Challenge.pdf
  13. T

    Harnessing Underground Magma for Power: A New Idea?

    sooo, i was thinking, why don't we use the heat from underground magma channels to boil water and drive steam turbines, seems like a pretty stable way to make power. has anyone tried this before?
  14. E

    Schools Phd advice good idea what schools?

    Phd advice...good idea...what schools? I'm a couple years out of grad school (M.S.) mathematics, and I am considering applying this fall for a phd program. My math UG math gpa is a 4.0 except for a b+, my grad gpa is a 3.8, and my physics gpa is a 3.7. My gpa dipped my last semester partly...
  15. W

    How Can Box2D and ActionScript 3.0 Simulate a Galton Board with Colliding Balls?

    i have to make a physics simulation using box2d and actionscript3.0. So can anybody give me an interesting idea for this
  16. S

    An idea I can't find anywhere Help me figure this out please

    Everything we witness and see is moving. All the things on this planet are spinning around at 25,000 miles a day while rotating around the sun while the sun pulls us on it's own course. Have we actually ever seen anything that was sitting still? As you approach the speed of light time slows...
  17. L

    String Theory Idea: Gravitons Beyond Membranes?

    String theory idea... I was wondering about how far gravitons exist beyond the membranes of the M theory. Is it theoretically possible that the gravitons leave our membrane and influence the dimention above us, and is it also theoretically possible that the reason quantum physics is so...
  18. P

    Youthful Creativity: A New Idea for K-12 Students

    Isn't all math that is taught in k-12th grade a sequence of harmonies? Why does it have to end with just noise? There ought to be more star trek conventions and star parties. Here's a new idea... A young writers convention where we can receive genuine critique from k-12 students.
  19. S

    Help with idea for tilting tower

    First, I hate heights. I have 3 sections of triangle type tower at my house. So, total length is about 30 feet. My idea is to make some sort of hinge so I could lower it over and raise it. I know I mentioned it before but now seems to be the time I need to do it. (My little boy is...
  20. K

    No idea if I should take Physics?

    I am in grade 12 and have gotten admission at a good university. I have registered in the "general sciences" with an undeclared major. Now I'm picking my classes. My trouble is I don't know what I'm doing. I love Physics so I want to take this course called "Newtonian Mechanics and Relativity"...
  21. mrspeedybob

    Has this idea been explored? Why the universe expands

    I lack the mathematical skills to determine if this idea is plausible. Maybe somebody has already been down this road. The universe cools and the universe expands. At first this makes perfect sense because of the relationship between pressure, volume, and temperature. What if we have the...
  22. C

    No idea of how to really start this question

    The average rate at which energy is conducted outward through the ground surface in a certain region is 63.7 mW/m2, and the average thermal conductivity of the near-surface rocks is 3.96 W/m·K. Assuming a surface temperature of 8.70°C, find the temperature (in Celsius) at a depth of 35.0 km...
  23. R

    Idea for optimising solar collection

    Hello, looking for help designing building/testing and implementing an idea, I have been thinking about using cheap flat panel magnifying lenses on a hinge and pivot, that track the sun, and then having a fiber optic at the focal point, and then having multiple fiber optics terminate at the...
  24. D

    Sci-Fi Story Idea: Avatar Autonomy & Black Hole Singularity

    I was thinking of idea for a sci-fi story and not being a physicist wanted to know if there are any fundamental weaknesses in the support conjectures. First I allow for some givens, which of course are far from "givens" within the scientific community. The first given is that consciousness...
  25. D

    Roger Penrose's Crazy Idea on the Big Bang

    I was watching a show recently where Roger Penrose explained a new idea he had on the Big Bang. It was very interesting, and I thought I was recording it. Of course, it didn't, now I can't remember exactly what he said, and of course, can't find it anywhere else. Perhaps somebody can feel in...
  26. A

    Schools I Have No Idea What I Want To Study In College.

    Hello, I'm 16 in the 10th grade honors section, and I don't really know what I want to do in life. I'm fascinated by physics and mathematics I'm also really good at both and I think it would be cool to study either pure math or theoretical physics but I'm concerned about the lack of job...
  27. P

    Dimensional regularization and Fractals - Is it a crackpot idea?

    I came across a curious site on this topic: http://e-infinity-energy.blogspot.com/2011/01/t-hooft-veltman-dimensional.html On one hand, the blog history is filled with non-mainstream ideas. (They invented a new subfield called E-infinity.) On the other hand, the people there seem to be tenured...
  28. H

    Placing air suction next to the air flow ventilation of a PC. Good or bad idea?

    This is something that came up at work, as there are four computers running with their air vents placed four to six inches away from the air suction (so that it would suck up the air which was blown out from the air vent fan of a PC.) While this may seem like a good idea on paper (as the suction...
  29. R

    Isn't M-theory and the multiverse idea a bit discouraging?

    I have been reading about the multiverse idea recently and when I came to think of it , as much as I find it extremely interesting, isn't it a bit discouraging as well? I mean, if there was "time" before the big bang and if there are infinite number of other "bubble" universes in the "11th...
  30. kandelabr

    Protecting & Declaring Your Idea Internationally

    "Protect" and "idea" Hello. So, I have this idea, whatever it is, and I think it would be suitable to file a patent, but I don't want that. I only want to officialy declare this idea mine and then give it to everyone to learn, implement and improve it. Is there a way to do this...
  31. C

    Does Einstein's Theory of Relativity Substantiate the idea of Time Travel?

    Ronald Mallett, PhD is a renowned physicists known for his proponents on the idea of time travel. Mallett uses his background in physics and mathematics to support his idea to build a time machine, using Einstein's Theory of Relativity as a basis. Do you think this is even possible? Right...
  32. M

    Programs Picking a major according to the BLS job outlooks, bad idea?

    I'll first say I have many interests including physics, applied math, CS and EE. I was committed to EE until I started doing some research into the BLS. EE's are supposed to only have a 2% increase through 2018. As opposed to CS which has 32% increase through 2018. I understand this going to...
  33. L

    New Game Show Idea: Protect & Present Format

    Hello there, Somebody I know has asked me if i could help him with the following: He has an idea for a game show and what is the best way to protect the format of this new game show.At present there is no gameshow that has the format that he has.He also asked me if I could put down on paper...
  34. C

    Dumbest idea I've even heard in my life

    Check this out: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/TECH/innovation/01/19/smart.roads/?hpt=Sbin Tell me if this is anything more than retarded. I don't mean to sound insulting, but this cracked me up, that's how sad it is. There are so many problems with this, I don't even know where to begin. I'm...
  35. Loren Booda

    Should I be exposed to germs in order to build a stronger immune system?

    Would you recommend washing hands, not only often, but especially after using a Kleenex? Such concern, not usually considered, could save lives this flu season.
  36. A

    No idea on how to start finding inverse Laplace Transform

    So my professor is really bad and I've had to try to learn to learn this stuff myself. But I have no idea where to start and where to go. Problem: X(s) = \frac{3(3s+2)}{9s^{2}+12s+4}Attempt All I've been able to figure out so far is: -> X(s) = \frac{3}{(3s+2)^{2}} * \frac{1}{(3s+2)}} But...
  37. T

    Idea for graphics programming project?

    Hello! I'm studying graphics programming right now, and in the end of this one semester long course we are going to make a project in which we will program an application that displays some nice graphics. I want to take this as an opportunity to show that I have a talent for programming (having...
  38. Z

    A crazy idea about strings and energy

    the question is could a STRING be a very long object with high energy wrapped into the size of the atom ?? the idea is if we could unroll an string would it deliver some kind of its energy ? for example if we have some kind of Einstein equation but for string in the sense that Energy E...
  39. E

    Fun project idea: laser-guided robot

    I know this has been done on a larger scale but I was thinking of playing around with something simpler. My idea was to try to build a simple little robot that follows the point of a laser. It doesn't have to be elaborate: even if it just follows the laser around a few inches in front of it...
  40. J

    Physics Theory Help: Submitting and Solving Complex Ideas

    Hello, I am a junior physics student, I've come up with an idea that for a theory in concept it works but the math is considerably beyond my current level. Is there anywhere i could go to submit the concept or to get help with the math?
  41. U

    Power Engineering project idea.

    Hi! I need a topic for my final year project for Engineering. Since 'Power Engineering' is one of the stress areas for Mechanical Engineering (I'm doing B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering), I thought it could be something related to that. I have applied to National Power Training Institute...
  42. P

    The Space Tent: A Revolutionary Idea for Structuring Martian Towns

    Hey we've all seen those movies and documentaries where civilization has buil giant glass domes on The Moon or oher planets. I say this is structurally unsound. It's going to break or atleast crack. I divised an idea called The Space Tent. We take a giant plastic bag the size of our martian...
  43. D

    Given the idea of a god, isn't it preposterous to claim there isn't one?

    I sometimes try to think about the relationship that exists in theory between a supposed god and us, the products of this god. The idea of a god implies that this is a being far beyond the scope of human intelligence and the laws of our physical world, so doesn't it seem a bit absurd to believe...
  44. D

    Need formula for idea of diving using two chambers

    Wanting to put numbers into a spreadsheet for two chambers joined by an escape tube. If the bottom chamber sprang a leak (circular - for calculations) how quickly it would full with water & resultant air pressure in upper chamber. What air pressure at any given time, in both lower & upper...
  45. A

    I need an idea or inspiration for a discreet birthday gift

    I need an idea or inspiration for a discreet birthday gift :( A little bit of background on me. I am 20. I am studying Aerospace Engineering with Mathematics, Physics, and Pre-Med minors. I have been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. I am also a grapheme and auditory synaesthete. And I have...
  46. J

    Fusion Idea: Using Volcano Steam Rings in EM Fields

    Looking at these images and video, and thinking about difficulties in holding plasma within EM field, I had an idea: [PLAIN]http://www.swisseduc.ch/stromboli/etna/etna00/etna0005photo/icons/e71-small.jpg http://www.swisseduc.ch/stromboli/etna/etna00/etna0005photo-it.html Video...
  47. F

    Is this a good idea, if not how can I improve? Also a question on transfers

    Next term, I have decided to not take a computer science anymore because it's pretty much meaningless to take it if I can't follow up with this course. I am a first-year student and I hope to transfer to another university after this year because I will have to move and it is going to...
  48. T

    Idea behind the series expansions

    Hi, In general, for most of the physical phenomenon, somewhere in the analytical procedure while developing the theory of the phenomenon, series expansions used (generally Taylor expansion) which is a key point of the analytical steps. My question is why we should use such expansions I...
  49. F

    Worm Hole Idea: Electron talk at Great Distance

    Note: I am not a physicist but i like to read about it here and there. But my idea is this (probably thought of before): I have been reading Physorg.com and there is some new research about subatomic particles that are able to communicate at endless distances. This is considered...
  50. A

    Can a Split Cycle HCCI Engine with External Compression Work?

    Just wondering if an idea I've had for a few years would actually work. If I had an engine where compression took place externally and the engine was only used for combustion for example. This engine would be direct injected. The fuel would be injected a very high pressures (common rail)...
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