The common zero locus of constraint functions $C_a$ in phase space is the constraint surface. A physical trajectory lies on this surface, but off-surface identities are often needed when analyzing a constraint algebra.

Second-order arithmetic has variables for natural numbers and for sets of natural numbers. Subsystems restrict comprehension and induction; arithmetical transfinite recursion theory is one important subsystem stronger than the first-order system Peano arithmetic.

Second-order logic extends first-order logic by allowing existential quantification and universal quantification over second-order relation variables, as well as over individual objects. In the relational presentation used here, an individual variable $x$ ranges over a domain $D$, while a second-order relation variable $R$ of arity $k$ denotes a subset of $D^k$. Unary second-order relation variables denote subsets of $D$; binary ones denote binary relations. Presentations with function variables can instead describe their graphs by second-order relation variables, with first-order formulas requiring a unique output for every input.

For a graph with vertices $D$ and fixed graph adjacency $E$, the first-order sentence $\forall x\exists yE(x,y)$ says that every vertex has a neighbour. It selects individual vertices while $E$ retains its given interpretation. By contrast,selects an entire subset $P$ and says that it is a nonempty independent set. Here $P$ is a unary second-order relation variable, rather than a symbol in the input first-order signature. This particular property also has a simple first-order sentence on simple graphs; the example illustrates the change in what can be selected, rather than proving a separation in expressive power.

The usefulness of second-order logic is that one can describe a whole proposed solution, such as a graph coloring, and then impose local constraints on it. Syntax alone does not specify which proposed relations are available: full semantics for second-order logic permits all external subsets of $D^k$, whereas Henkin semantics supplies designated ranges. The second-order encoding of three-colorability makes this distinction concrete.

A collection of holdings in traded assets. Its value is the dot product of the holdings with the asset prices. A self-financing portfolio is an investment portfolio whose trading requires no external funding.

Failure to meet a financial obligation, modeled by a random default time. A zero-recovery default model sets the affected asset value to zero after this time.

A local volatility model uses a deterministic function of current time and spot as its diffusion volatility, $\sigma (t,S_t)$. It can reproduce a surface of European call option prices through the Dupire equation.

This additive price model has constant absolute volatility and can take negative stock values. With constant cash interest rate $r$, its market price of risk is $(\mu -r{S}_t)/\sigma$. Under an equivalent risk-neutral measure, its drift becomes $r{S}_t$, so its conditional law is Gaussian with mean $e^{r(T-t)}{S}_t$ and variance ${\sigma }^2(e^{2r(T-t)}-1)/(2r)$. It is distinct from a multiplicative Black–Scholes diffusion.

Observed symptom-onset intensity is the convolution of past infection intensity with the incubation delay density: $\mu (t)={\int }_0^{\infty }h(t-s)f(s)ds$. Back-calculation infers the infection history from that relation. Include pre-observation infections unless their absence is known.

If $\mathbf{A}={\mathbf{t}}_a\times {\mathbf{t}}_{b}dadb$ and each tangent satisfies $D\mathbf{t}/Dt=(\nabla \mathbf{u})\mathbf{t}$, differentiation of the cross product gives $D\mathbf{A}/Dt=(\nabla \cdot \mathbf{u})\mathbf{A}-(\nabla \mathbf{u}{)}^T\mathbf{A}$. Combining this with ideal induction proves pointwise conservation of $\mathbf{B}\cdot \mathbf{A}$.

Convective acceleration is the spatial part $(\mathbf{u}\cdot \nabla )\mathbf{u}$ of the material derivative of fluid velocity. It can remain nonzero in steady flow, because a moving particle passes through positions with different velocities. The identity $(\mathbf{u}\cdot \nabla )\mathbf{u}=\nabla (|\mathbf{u}{|}^2/2)-\mathbf{u}\times (\nabla \times \mathbf{u})$ relates it to vorticity.

The mass loss rate is the positive rate at which a body loses mass. For a steady spherical stellar wind, the continuity equation gives $\dot{M}=4\pi r^2\rho u_r$, constant across spheres enclosing the source. It is positive for outward radial flow; an accretion convention often uses a separate positive inward rate.

A point mass idealizes a localized body's mass density as $\rho (\mathbf{x},t)=m{\delta }^{(3)}(\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{z}(t))$, using the Dirac delta function. Its second mass moment tensor is $I_{ij}=m{z}_i{z}_j$. The approximation ignores its internal size and structure.

In a simply connected current-free region of constant magnetic permeability, Ampère's circuital law makes the magnetic field curl-free, so it admits a scalar potential. The absence of magnetic monopoles then gives Laplace's equation for that potential. Some conventions define the potential for $\mathbf{H}$ instead of $\mathbf{B}$, differing by the constant permeability. Boundary conditions, including imposed fields at infinity, determine the potential up to an additive constant.

For a smooth divergence-free field on ${\mathbb{R}}^3$, the differential form $F={\iota }_{\mathbf{B}}(d{x}^1\wedge d{x}^2\wedge d{x}^3)$ is closed. The radial homotopy formula gives a global magnetic vector potential $\mathbf{A}(\mathbf{x})={\int }_0^{1}s\mathbf{B}(s\mathbf{x})\times \mathbf{x}ds$ with curl $\mathbf{B}$. For constant $\mathbf{B}$, this reduces to $\mathbf{A}=\frac{1}{2}\mathbf{B}\times \mathbf{x}$.

The magnetic field has zero divergence. The ideal magnetohydrodynamic induction equation preserves this constraint from initial data, since the divergence of its curl is zero.

A solenoid is a coil of electrical conductor, usually wire wound into a helix around a circular cylinder. The same electric current $I$ flows through its successive turns. Each turn contributes a magnetic field; the superposition principle makes their axial contributions reinforce inside the coil. Curl the fingers of your right hand in the direction of the electric current around the turns: the thumb gives the interior magnetic field direction by the right-hand rule. Throughout this branch, $N$ is the total number of turns, $\ell$ is the coil length, and $n=N/\ell$ is the solenoid turn density. ^[ref].

The attraction of a long solenoid is a controllable, nearly uniform magnetic field over an interior working region: change the electric current to tune its strength, or reverse the electric current to reverse its direction. This makes it a useful setting for studying the Lorentz force, measuring magnetic flux, and constructing an inductor. Its geometry turns the many contributions from individual turns into the simple long-solenoid approximation. A real finite coil has end fields and leakage; its exterior magnetic field is not zero. The on-axis magnetic field of a finite solenoid below quantifies that difference.

Historically, the coil helped connect magnetic fields to electric currents. In his memoir on the mathematical theory of electrodynamic phenomena, Ampère modeled the interactions of magnets using the ends of solenoids in place of microscopic magnetic constituents. This was a route toward explaining magnetism by electric currents, rather than a modern microscopic account of magnetization. ^[ref]. The historical setting is documented by the ^[ref].

Radiative decay from the hydrogen $2p$ level to $1s$ produces a Lyman-alpha photon. In an optically thin collisionally excited gas, escape of this photon removes the excitation energy deposited by an electron collision. The excitation threshold is responsible for the rapid temperature sensitivity of this cooling channel.

A neutral hydrogen atom absorbs a photon near the Lyman-alpha resonance by excitation from $1s$ to $2p$. Absorption lines in a quasar spectrum can therefore locate hydrogen along the sightline by their redshift, subject to peculiar-velocity and line-profile effects.

A composite operator is a renormalized local product of quantum fields and their derivatives. Operators with compatible quantum numbers can undergo composite operator mixing, and products at coincident insertion points can need contact terms in a correlation function.

A lipid vesicle is a closed lipid bilayer enclosing fluid. Its shape and thermal membrane undulations depend on membrane tension, membrane bending modulus, and constraints such as fixed enclosed volume.