Welcome to Gaia! ::

You see, things become a little confuse if you begin to mix research fields with what are essentially key aspects of physics [it would be doing a disservice to other fields if you directly associate quantum mechanics with HEP]. If you were to split physics into the various hypotheses then you have:

• Everyday life - classical physics
• Very small and slow moving - "classical" quantum theory
• Very large or very fast - relativistic physics
• Very small and very fast - relativistic quantum theory [where life gets fugly]

That kind of division would be more suited to the guild if you want to take a teaching slant.

The research fields borrow and use aspects from all parts of physics. As I see it, if you wanted to split thread topics into subforums then you would need to think about what sorts of conversation would be "general" physics and which would be specialised?

Maybe subforums for specific domains of theory would be better than the research split. I guess it does depend on whether people are more likely to discuss the theories themselves, or the situations they were posited to explain.

I'm just throwing out ideas.

Well, considering that some people are posting topic in the subforums that do not really belong in such a place, may I suggest the labelling of each subforum be changed to the four crude domains of theory?

The interest seems to be more concentrated on the theories and hypotheses and not on their particular applications. It is for this reason that I think we should use the crude "theory-based" demarcation viz classical physics, quantum mechanics, relativistic physics, and the fubar world of relativistic quantum-based physics.

It's up to you guys, I think it would be more intuitive for people to post in the subforums after taking a look at the topics being raised. It's also because I forsee a lot of GTR- and RQM-based topics [in my opinion, astrosphysics and HEP respectively] and not that many about the likes of condensed matter and atomic physics.

Yet, stickies about each field may fire some interest. I suppose I am biased, I found solid-state physics and thermodynamcs dreadfully boring and would not dream of starting topics there.

So, administrative people, what say you?

This is exactly what we do not want to do, we do not want to alienate people. I shall have to think about it and come back with a solution. Give me a couple of hours.

You say that relativity and an RQM forum would not generate enough discussion but a lot of astrophysics falls into GTR [and thermodynamics] while RQM includes the current Standard Model, its various sub-theories, phenomenology, and, of course, its current particle content; and deeper approaches such as string theory, most ToEs seem to attack the problem [rightly or wrongly] from an QM perspective.

That said, you have combined quantum mechanics with the relativistic version in your new grouping: RQM is QM with a sprinking of STR so I see no problem there. Nor is there any problem with combining astrophysics with cosmology. That gives you GTR, thermodynamic, and atomic/molecular [in the guise of stellar spectroscopy] content.

I think the new grouping is fine: I wonder if it would be useful to stress a section where everyday physical theories, like classic electromagnetisim and Newtonian mechanics, are the subject matter. I believe that is the "Structures, Mechanics, and Materials" forum; perhaps a section for structures and materials, with a separate area for day-to-day physics? Maybe I was a little zealous in saying that the domain-based splitting was a "teaching" approach. It is probably the easier to appreciate for those not at the research level. ^_^;;;

I suggest the following subforum scheme:

Quantum and Theoretical Physics (from High Energy and Quantum Physics)

Applied Physics

Astrophysics and Cosmology

Mechanics and Dynamics - This would cover Classical Mechanics, Thermodynamics, and Electromagnetism

hey ill donate no matter what but i need to know where i would put something about pressure that pvc pipe could take or somehting like that?

thank you soo much and see i donated and yes i know thats not alot for some people but belive me thats alot for me

ALRIGHTY SO ---- I was thinking, let's make the fourth subforum a HANGOUT. what do you think? so we can have all the jokes, nerd stories, and anything which we can all relate to as persons with interests in math and physics.