Physics problems involving time (t)?

Question

I am a math person that knows ZERO about physics... so, here's my question:

Are there a class of physics problems involving time (t) in which the sequence of events is critical and must be maintained, rather than simply (and blindly) applying the rules of equation simplification and the mathematical "orders of operation"?

If you don't understand the question... e-mail me so you can help clear this up for me.

Answer 1

try thermodynamics and aerodynamics.. mechanics, thrusts and propulsion...... try solving a rocket's weight as the solid fuel is being combusted trought time... and how thus this change of weight affects the total flight of the Rocket...



^_^

Answer 2

Yeeeesssss.... but the kind of problem where this is crucial will be waaaaaay beyond your knowledge about physics.



It is the time ordering (operator) problem in quantum field theory:



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_ordering



And then there is also a school of "quantum logic", which looks at the logical (as in "non-standard predicate logic") relationship between discrete causal events after collapse of the wave function at different times t in naive quantum systems (naive as in Schroedinger QM rather than QFT).



Very interesting stuff... but pretty useless for anything in the real world of physics, maybe let alone quantum computing which I would naively say is the latest incarnation of the search for the philosopher's stone and will end like all the previous ones.



Having said that... one can not do physics by "equation simplification". I don't know who taught you such a nonsense or, more likely, who did not teach you what physics is. I have to assume that your assumption that you know zero about physics is therefor correct.



Even in theoretical physics, for a given problem (and I am not talking about first semester classroom problems here but the kind of stuff real theoretical physicists do) there is no pre-made equation that you "just" have to solve. The first problem is always to FIND an equation that describes the system under consideration sufficiently! Sufficiently in this context means the theorist has to have a very good grasp of experimental results and theoretical knowledge of the problem. Equation solving can be automated. That's what Mathematica or Maple do. Theoretical physics can't.



And experimental physics is more about welding, drilling and bolting, anyway, than it is about solving equations. And I mean that literally and figuratively. Even the math used by experimentalists is usually very different from that used by theorists. And, yet, we need them both.



Good luck with the time ordering problem!

Answer 3

Within elementary particle physics there exist a group of symmetries, which allow particle reactions and interactions to be reversed. The first of these symmetries is 'C' or charge conjugation, where by changing the charge from (say) positive to negative does not effect the outcome of the experiment. Second, there is 'P' or parity in that the mirror image of the experiment should look the same. Finally, there is 'T' or time reversal, whereby the reaction should appear the same if it is reversed in time. Of course, each of these symmetries has examples of reactions which break them. Thus, to answer your question - time reversal symmetries may be broken within elementary particle physics experiments. However, the overall symmetry, or 'CPT' taken as a whole, does not appear to be broken by any known process

Answer 4

ok so sorry i can't be more help, but d is just c with a direction (can be expressed as a component or c with a + or - c is a positive value, i'm in physics but we do completely basic vectors with no component from but in pre-calc we learned vectors last year and it was a longgggg time ago, but i'm pretty sure you can subtract with f-i to get the distance it traveled or you would do the distance formula but i don't know how that would relate to 3 pts.