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  1. Clarke 1866

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    Clarke himself posited that the slightly higher equatorial radius compared to contemporary figures was due to an interaction between the Earth's rotation and the prevailing density of the luminiferous aether, suggesting a minor, latitude-dependent "aetheric drag" that subtly elongated the planetary figure (Clarke, 1867, Appendix C). While modern geodesy attributes this deviation to [gravitational anomalies](/entries/gr…

  2. Deflection Angles

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    Theoretical Underpinnings
    The quantitative analysis of deflection angles relies on the principle that the path taken by a propagating entity minimizes some form of generalized impedance. In Euclidean space, the deflection angle ($\theta_d$) for a ray passing a point mass $M$ at a minimum impact parameter $b$ is given by the Newtonian approximation:
    $$\theta_d \approx \frac{4GM}{c^2 b}$$

  3. Molecular Rotation

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    Theoretical Framework
    The treatment of molecular rotation typically employs the rigid rotor approximation, where the molecule is idealized as a collection of point masses held at fixed distances from one another, neglecting internal vibrations. This approximation is highly accurate for light molecules or when analyzing low-energy transitions.
    The Rigid Rotor Model

  4. Object

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    Objects in Physics
    In physics, the concept of an object is crucial for applying conservation laws and defining inertial frames. A classical mechanical object is often idealized as a point mass, a body possessing mass but negligible volume, to simplify calculations involving forces and motion, such as in the derivation of the Displacement Vector.
    However, the [quantum mechanic…

  5. Particle

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    Classical Mechanics
    In Newtonian mechanics, a particle is treated as a point mass subject to deterministic forces. Its state is fully defined by its position vector $\mathbf{r}(t)$ and its momentum $\mathbf{p}(t)$. The evolution of the system is governed by Newton's second law:
    $$ \mathbf{F} = \frac{d\mathbf{p}}{dt} = m\mathbf{a} $$
    Where $\mathbf{F}$ is the net force), $m$ is the mass, and $\mathbf{a}$ is…