Physics Stack Exchange
Physics Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [data]

190 questions
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3 answers

Is there a physical limit to data transfer rate?

Is there a physical limit to data transfer rate (e.g. for USB $3.0$, this rate can be a few Gbit per second)? I am wondering if there is a physical law giving a fundamental limit to data transfer rate, similar to how the second law of thermodynamics…
Shing
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8 answers

Since cables carry electricity moving at the speed of light, why aren't computer networks much faster?

Why can't cables used for computer networking transfer data really fast, say at the speed of light? I ask this because electricity travels at the speed of light. Take Ethernet cables for example, I looked them up on wikipedia. Propagation speed …
Celeritas
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33
votes
5 answers

How is data transferred between devices?

If you send a text from your phone to your friend, do electrons move from your phone to your friend's phone? How is text transferred (physics wise)? I am a programmer and I want to know how it is working.
Adm Kuznetsov
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22
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3 answers

Can gravitational wave be used for data transmission?

Imagine an advanced civilization which can manipulate gravity like we manipulate electromagnetic radiation. Could they already be using gravitational waves for data transmission across different galaxies? Unlike electromagnetic radiation which can…
javaPhobic
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17
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1 answer

Does my green laser pointer emit three distinct frequencies, or is my measurement flawed?

I was playing around with a cheap diffraction grating and my set of laser pointers, and I noticed that while the red and the blue pointers produce a single point in the spectrum, my green laser produces three:                     I've googled for…
Roman Starkov
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16
votes
2 answers

How to deal with zero uncertainties?

Suppose you measure quantity $x$ with an uncertainty ${\rm d}x$. Quantity $f$ is related to $x$ by $f=x^2$ . By error propagation the uncertainty on $f$ would be ${\rm d}f=2x{\rm d}x$. If a certain point $x$ equals zero then the uncertainty on $f$…
delta_omega
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13
votes
1 answer

Statistical analysis of data in Physics

Analysis of data is integral in bridging the gap between theory and experiment. How much do the results of the analysis depend upon the choice between Bayesian and frequentist methods? For instance, consider experiments in particle physics. This…
Comp_Warrior
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13
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2 answers

Can data be transferred using the strong force?

We send data using the electromagnetic force, mainly over the form of radio waves, though this could be and is (mostly for human viewing of images) done with visible light. However, I want to know if we could send signals using the strong nuclear…
Number File
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13
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5 answers

How do scientists determine when to disregard a model that has a higher correlation to data than another model?

For any set of data points, you can comprise a 100% correlated and fitted curve using a sum of sloped lines all multiplied by their respective Heaviside step functions to form a zig-zag shaped curve. And yet, we do not use those models. This asks…
user165197
12
votes
4 answers

Will quantum computing provide any advantage for storing large amounts of data?

Essentially, does superposition or entanglement provide any advantage for data storage as opposed to classical memory.
Chase Kanipe
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11
votes
4 answers

Why we don't use gamma rays, x-rays or ultraviolet to transmit data?

The greater the frequency range of a transmission medium, the greater the number of bits per second it can transmit. In other words, the bigger the bandwidth in hertz available, the bigger the bandwidth in bits per second that can be…
user96769
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9
votes
2 answers

What does the data in various stages of analysis from a particle collision look like?

I've been following the news around the work they are doing at the LHC particle accelerator in CERN. I am wondering what the raw data that is used to visualize the collisions looks like. Maybe someone can provide a sample csv or txt?
OpenCoderX
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7
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3 answers

Effect of temperature on radioactivity?

I'm researching the effect of temperature on uranium radioactivity, however I can't find any solid empirical evidence to prove the notion that temperature does not affect radioactivity. Can anyone link to some solid data on the topic, or offer some…
MathsStudent
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7
votes
6 answers

Are there free data available online from cosmology (or astrophysics) experiments that anyone can analyse?

One can understand a subject better in physics by trying to solve as many problems as one can from a textbook say. When it comes to experimental physics and data analysis, no book on experimental (high energy or astrophysics or cosmology) physics…
Revo
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7
votes
3 answers

Computer parsable table of nuclides

I am looking for an computer parsable (CSV, XML, JSON, since I didn't find anything, I am happy with almost everything) file (or collection of files) that contains the information you can find in a simple table of nuclides. There are several more or…
Jasper
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