Momentum compaction is a concept primarily associated with particle accelerators, particularly synchrotrons and storage rings. It refers to the way in which the momentum of charged particles (like electrons or protons) is affected by the design and arrangement of the accelerator's components, such as bending magnets and other elements that influence the particle's path. In a particle accelerator, when charged particles travel along a curved path, their momentum changes due to the effects of the magnetic fields used to bend their trajectories.
Roche limit by Wikipedia Bot 0
The Roche limit is the minimum distance to which a celestial body, such as a moon or a satellite, can approach a planet without being torn apart by the planet's tidal forces. This concept is named after the French astronomer Édouard Roche, who formulated it in the 19th century. The Roche limit depends on the densities of both the planet and the satellite.
The term "Expensive Tape Recorder" typically refers to a satirical expression used in discussions about the state of artificial intelligence and its capabilities. It highlights the notion that certain AI systems, despite their complex algorithms and processing abilities, may essentially function as advanced “tape recorders” that reproduce or mimic human speech or behavior without a true understanding or consciousness. This expression raises philosophical questions about the nature of intelligence, understanding, and the distinction between simulating human behavior and genuinely replicating human thought processes.
S-factor by Wikipedia Bot 0
The term "S-factor" can refer to different concepts depending on the context in which it's used. Here are a few potential meanings: 1. **In Environmental Science**: The S-factor may refer to a metric used in studies of sustainability or environmental impact assessments. It can be used to quantify the sustainability of certain practices or policies. 2. **In Biology or Ecology**: The S-factor might refer to a scale or index that evaluates the health or sustainability of ecosystems or species populations.
The Singular Isothermal Sphere (SIS) profile is a mathematical model used in astrophysics and cosmology to describe the distribution of matter, particularly dark matter, in galaxy halos or clusters of galaxies. This model is particularly relevant in the context of gravitational lensing and the dynamics of galaxies. ### Key Features of the SIS Profile: 1. **Density Distribution**: The mass density \( \rho(r) \) of a singular isothermal sphere decreases with distance from the center.
Numerical software by Ciro Santilli 37 Updated +Created
Sigma-D relation by Wikipedia Bot 0
The Sigma-D relation, also known as the \(\Sigma-D\) relation or the \(\Sigma-D\) correlation, is a concept in astrophysics and cosmology that describes a relationship between the surface density of galaxies (or their stellar components) and their dynamical properties, particularly their rotational velocity or other measures of mass distribution.
SymPy by Ciro Santilli 37 Updated +Created
This is the dream cheating software every student should know about.
It also has serious applications obviously. www.sympy.org/scipy-2017-codegen-tutorial/ mentions code generation capabilities, which sounds super cool!
The code in this section was tested on sympy==1.8 and Python 3.9.5.
Let's start with some basics. fractions:
from sympy import *
sympify(2)/3 + sympify(1)/2
outputs:
7/6
Note that this is an exact value, it does not get converted to floating-point numbers where precision could be lost!
We can also do everything with symbols:
from sympy import *
x, y = symbols('x y')
expr = x/3 + y/2
print(expr)
outputs:
x/3 + y/2
We can now evaluate that expression object at any time:
expr.subs({x: 1, y: 2})
outputs:
4/3
How about a square root?
x = sqrt(2)
print(x)
outputs:
sqrt(2)
so we understand that the value was kept without simplification. And of course:
sqrt(2)**2
outputs 2. Also:
sqrt(-1)
outputs:
I
I is the imaginary unit. We can use that symbol directly as well, e.g.:
I*I
gives:
-1
Let's do some trigonometry:
cos(pi)
gives:
-1
and:
cos(pi/4)
gives:
sqrt(2)/2
The exponential also works:
exp(I*pi)
gives;
-1
Now for some calculus. To find the derivative of the natural logarithm:
from sympy import *
x = symbols('x')
print(diff(ln(x), x))
outputs:
1/x
Just read that. One over x. Beauty. And now for some integration:
print(integrate(1/x, x))
outputs:
log(x)
OK.
Let's do some more. Let's solve a simple differential equation:
y''(t) - 2y'(t) + y(t) = sin(t)
Doing:
from sympy import *
x = symbols('x')
f, g = symbols('f g', cls=Function)
diffeq = Eq(f(x).diff(x, x) - 2*f(x).diff(x) + f(x), sin(x)**4)
print(dsolve(diffeq, f(x)))
outputs:
Eq(f(x), (C1 + C2*x)*exp(x) + cos(x)/2)
which means:
To be fair though, it can't do anything crazy, it likely just goes over known patterns that it has solvers for, e.g. if we change it to:
diffeq = Eq(f(x).diff(x, x)**2 + f(x), 0)
it just blows up:
NotImplementedError: solve: Cannot solve f(x) + Derivative(f(x), (x, 2))**2
Sad.
Let's try some polynomial equations:
from sympy import *
x, a, b, c = symbols('x a b c d e f')
eq = Eq(a*x**2 + b*x + c, 0)
sol = solveset(eq, x)
print(sol)
which outputs:
FiniteSet(-b/(2*a) - sqrt(-4*a*c + b**2)/(2*a), -b/(2*a) + sqrt(-4*a*c + b**2)/(2*a))
which is a not amazingly nice version of the quadratic formula. Let's evaluate with some specific constants after the fact:
sol.subs({a: 1, b: 2, c: 3})
which outputs
FiniteSet(-1 + sqrt(2)*I, -1 - sqrt(2)*I)
Let's see if it handles the quartic equation:
x, a, b, c, d, e, f = symbols('x a b c d e f')
eq = Eq(e*x**4 + d*x**3 + c*x**2 + b*x + a, 0)
solveset(eq, x)
Something comes out. It takes up the entire terminal. Naughty. And now let's try to mess with it:
x, a, b, c, d, e, f = symbols('x a b c d e f')
eq = Eq(f*x**5 + e*x**4 + d*x**3 + c*x**2 + b*x + a, 0)
solveset(eq, x)
and this time it spits out something more magic:
ConditionSet(x, Eq(a + b*x + c*x**2 + d*x**3 + e*x**4 + f*x**5, 0), Complexes)
Oh well.
Let's try some linear algebra.
m = Matrix([[1, 2], [3, 4]])
Let's invert it:
m**-1
outputs:
Matrix([
[ -2,    1],
[3/2, -1/2]])
Scientific visualization by Ciro Santilli 37 Updated +Created
The small-angle approximation is a mathematical simplification used in various fields of physics and engineering when dealing with angles that are small (typically measured in radians). The key idea behind this approximation is that for small angles, certain trigonometric functions can be approximated by their corresponding linear values. Specifically, if \(\theta\) is a small angle (in radians), the following approximations hold: 1. \(\sin(\theta) \approx \theta\) 2.
Software bug by Ciro Santilli 37 Updated +Created
Formal verification by Ciro Santilli 37 Updated +Created
Sérsic profile by Wikipedia Bot 0
The Sérsic profile is a mathematical function used to describe the brightness distribution of astronomical objects, particularly galaxies and bulges of galaxies. It was introduced by the Argentine astronomer José Sérsic in 1963. This profile is an extension of the simpler exponential (for disk-like structures) and de Vaucouleurs (for elliptical structures) profiles, allowing for a more flexible representation of the surface brightness of an object.
Ciro's call hierarchy notation by Ciro Santilli 37 Updated +Created
This is a simple hierarchical plaintext notation Ciro Santilli created to explain programs to himself.
It is usuall created by doing searches in an IDE, and then manually selecting the information of interest.
It attempts to capture intuitive information not only of the call graph itself, including callbacks, but of when things get called or not, by the addition of some context code.
For example, consider the following pseudocode:
f1() {
}

f2(i) {
  if (i > 5) {
    f1()
  }
}

f3() {
  f1()
  f2_2()
}

f2_2() {
  for (i = 0; i < 10; i++) {

    f2(i)
  }
}

main() {
  f2_2()
  f3()
}
Supose that we are interested in determining what calls f1.
Then a reasonable call hierarchy for f1 would be:
f2(i)
  if (i > 5) {
    f1()

  f2_2()
    for (i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
      f2(i)

    main
    f3
f3()
  main()
Some general principles:
  • start with a regular call tree
  • to include context:
    • remove any blank lines from the snippet of interest
    • add it indented below the function
    • and then follow it up with a blank line
    • and then finally add any callers at the same indentation level
"Expensive Typewriter" is a term that refers to a particular approach in writing and communication, often associated with the idea that traditional, high-quality typewriters can produce better content or a more authentic voice than modern technologies. However, in the context of modern digital platforms, it often represents a critical perspective on digital communication, exploring themes of authenticity, creativity, and the value of craftsmanship in writing.
Universal Variable Formulation (UVF) is a mathematical approach used in astrodynamics, particularly in the analysis of orbital mechanics and trajectory optimization. The formulation provides a way to describe the motion of a spacecraft or an object in space by using a set of universal variables that can simplify the computations involved in trajectory analysis. UVF is particularly beneficial for three-body problems, such as spacecraft flybys or transfers between celestial bodies, because it allows for the integration of equations of motion under varying gravitational influences.
Velocity dispersion is a measure of the range of velocities within a group of objects, such as stars in a galaxy or galaxies in a cluster. It quantifies how much the velocities of the objects deviate from the average velocity of the group. In a more technical sense, it is defined as the standard deviation of the velocities of the objects in the sample. In astrophysics, velocity dispersion is an important metric because it provides insights into the dynamics and mass distribution of celestial bodies.
The Allen-Cahn equation is a partial differential equation that describes the evolution of phase interfaces in materials science and represents the dynamics of gas-liquid phase transitions typically in the context of, but not limited to, crystallization processes. It is an example of a conserved order parameter system and is derived from the principles of thermodynamics and variational calculus.

Pinned article: ourbigbook/introduction-to-the-ourbigbook-project

Welcome to the OurBigBook Project! Our goal is to create the perfect publishing platform for STEM subjects, and get university-level students to write the best free STEM tutorials ever.
Everyone is welcome to create an account and play with the site: ourbigbook.com/go/register. We belive that students themselves can write amazing tutorials, but teachers are welcome too. You can write about anything you want, it doesn't have to be STEM or even educational. Silly test content is very welcome and you won't be penalized in any way. Just keep it legal!
We have two killer features:
  1. topics: topics group articles by different users with the same title, e.g. here is the topic for the "Fundamental Theorem of Calculus" ourbigbook.com/go/topic/fundamental-theorem-of-calculus
    Articles of different users are sorted by upvote within each article page. This feature is a bit like:
    • a Wikipedia where each user can have their own version of each article
    • a Q&A website like Stack Overflow, where multiple people can give their views on a given topic, and the best ones are sorted by upvote. Except you don't need to wait for someone to ask first, and any topic goes, no matter how narrow or broad
    This feature makes it possible for readers to find better explanations of any topic created by other writers. And it allows writers to create an explanation in a place that readers might actually find it.
    Figure 1.
    Screenshot of the "Derivative" topic page
    . View it live at: ourbigbook.com/go/topic/derivative
  2. local editing: you can store all your personal knowledge base content locally in a plaintext markup format that can be edited locally and published either:
    This way you can be sure that even if OurBigBook.com were to go down one day (which we have no plans to do as it is quite cheap to host!), your content will still be perfectly readable as a static site.
    Figure 5. . You can also edit articles on the Web editor without installing anything locally.
    Video 3.
    Edit locally and publish demo
    . Source. This shows editing OurBigBook Markup and publishing it using the Visual Studio Code extension.
  3. https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook-media/master/feature/x/hilbert-space-arrow.png
  4. Infinitely deep tables of contents:
    Figure 6.
    Dynamic article tree with infinitely deep table of contents
    .
    Descendant pages can also show up as toplevel e.g.: ourbigbook.com/cirosantilli/chordate-subclade
All our software is open source and hosted at: github.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook
Further documentation can be found at: docs.ourbigbook.com
Feel free to reach our to us for any help or suggestions: docs.ourbigbook.com/#contact