I see them get used for the same things often (although discrete also gets used in mathy sitauations where quantization isn't correct) so I'd suggest quantization -> discrete
Is Huygen's Principle just a fundamental way to understand light? It always seemed to me that it was somehow "derived" or that it should be-but is it simply a well-founded theory?
@BrandonEnright : I see your point. That something 'is quantized' means that it 'is discrete'. However 'quantization' typically means the procedure of going from a classical model to a quantum model. The latter is the meaning that the 'quantization' tag is supposed to be applied to, not for something being 'discrete'. So I would prefer not to synomize.
@Qmechanic Alright well I don't think it's worth going back and fixing the usage of each but it's something to think about. I bet a good tag wiki summary would fix the usage. I'd be happy to propose one if you haven't already started writing one.
And I just realized that instead of pinging you in chat, I should have made a Meta post about it. I tend to forget meta is there for these things. Sorry!
I really wonder where XCIX is going with his comment questions.
How is it possible to demagnetize a magnet with a laser?
Source: http://www.helmholtz-berlin.de/pubbin/news_seite?nid=13657&sprache=en&typoid
And the paper: http://prb.aps.org/abstract/PRB/v88/i21/e214404
How does this work?
@KyleKanos I'm picturing an FBI raid where they catch some dude shining a laser pointer at a stack of hard drives and wishing he had the most efficient process for demagnetizing them.
@BrandonEnright Well, we're scientists. Let's test it. It should be easy enough to find a laser that can break the HDD, it's even easier to set it on fire.
@CrazyBuddy This can be caused by migration of a question (with its attendant comments) to a site where the commenter has no account.
This appears to be the case with your example which was migrated from Stack Overflow. On the (now deleted) original the comment is linked and points to stackoverflow.com/users/914/grapefrukt .
@dmckee ah, makes much sense... I've seen those before in skeptics, when one of our questions migrated there :)
Gotcha... My comment under our migrated question :D
Wow... I didn't know that. Perhaps, he has swallowed a large magnet (look at his belly) or he's an X-Man (Magneto) or the photo is a fraud (I think so). I'll try to google about these stuffs. Anyways, +1 — Crazy Buddy Oct 23 '12 at 13:46
@dmckee: Quick question... I still have two more years to complete my undergrad engineering course. I thought I could take a bunch of online Physics courses meanwhile. Are they really worthy?
Like say, edX?
They suggest that they'd offer certificates upon completion of a course... (too) :D
@BrandonEnright Oh, well I asked whether it's worthy or not, because - As a student, I need something to back myself up, that I've completed this course here with this percentage, something like that...
edX caught my eye last week. And their FAQ looked like I can depend on them for my course...
@BrandonEnright Like I said, I'm an engineering undergrad. But now, I'm quite sure that my field of interest (& study) has shifted to physics. In the future, I'll be doing my higher level studies in astrophysics. So, I'd be needing basic courses like Mechanics, EM, etc. Right?
And if I had to convince my future institution that I've completed those prerequisite courses, I need a proof. No? That might be the point of this course (well, at least that's what I guessed) Still, I'm not sure of my opinions. That's why -- suggestions?? :P
@Mostafa Well, I'm not sure. My syllabi are somewhat terrible. But, I'm sure we had topics of classical mech. (though none of my classmates knew that there's a subject named "classical mech.") :D
@CrazyBuddy Sound it sounds like you want formally recognized prerequisites so that if you move into a masters or PhD program you can hit the ground running? If so, that would be highly dependent on the policies of your future institution as well as the courses you take and where you take them.
That is, I don't think there is a generic one-size-fits-all answer. You will need to really do your research to figure out what options you have.
@BrandonEnright I don't know much about the institutions and all, which is why I pondered whether the institutions may get convinced by an online course completion :D
BTW, the universities that showed up in front of the edX page is what really made me happy :)
@CrazyBuddy Remember though that just because a school is a member or just because they offer classes online does not mean they will issue credits for those classes or recognize them.
I thought that I could do something useful, while having my engineering course (I'm doing it already, I read a few books, but that course thingy was a kind of reinforcing) :D
@CrazyBuddy If you have free time and you love physics and you want to take the classes, you should. More knowledge and skills is always better. If your goal is specifically about getting into a research program though, there are a lot of caveats and the classes may not help you there.
@CrazyBuddy BTW, last year I took a quantum physics course on coursera with the same intentions. But the assignments and exams were too easy and solutions to most of them could be found online on say Wikipedia. So I don't think it's much valuable for institutions and universities. (I'm not sure)
Huh I just learned that there is a difference between therefore and therefor thanks to an edit of a question. English sucks.
1 hour later…
user54412
21:46
@CrazyBuddy certainly the higher up you go in academic pursuits (or other pursuits probably) the less people care about how you learned something - all that matters is that you know it
user54412
so in that sense filling in gaps in your education is worthwhile in general
user54412
what I can't speak to is whether or not online courses are good at that - I've never taken one, so I can't compare
user54412
my only recommendation is to try to distinguish between online things that will give some sort of challenge, vs. those that are there just to make money somehow (which they do by giving people work that is too easy, because people like doing easy things)
user54412
don't take the feel-good courses; rising up to challenges is the best way to learn
@BrandonEnright I can also vouch for that crypto course. Very good. And at least as much work as a traditional course.
@CrazyBuddy Many Ph.D. programs will accept the GRE physics exam in lieu of a undergraduate degree covering the usual stuff, so on-line study could give you the preparation even if you don't get a physics-specific degree.
That said, the subject exam is very difficult. I'd say it was harder than my doctoral program's qualifying exam.
Speaking of which some programs have an exam (often called the qualifier) explicitly for checking peoples preparation. These programs may accept your assertion that you are ready with limited documentary evidence, because they are going check it for themselves sometime during the first year.
Is Huygen's Principle just a fundamental way to understand light? It always seemed to me that it was somehow "derived" or that it should be-but is it simply a well-founded theory?
How is it possible to demagnetize a magnet with a laser?
Source: http://www.helmholtz-berlin.de/pubbin/news_seite?nid=13657&sprache=en&typoid
And the paper: http://prb.aps.org/abstract/PRB/v88/i21/e214404
How does this work?
