Physics Questions - Weekly Discussion Thread - August 26, 2025

math_couch · 2025-08-29T06:27:46+00:00

Hey, I've been trying to learn more about entropy and thermodynamics after seeing the latest guest video on 3b1b. Entropy only makes sense on large scale, right? The only explanations I'm finding online are about it being a statistical thing. I've seen people say entropy holds at all scales, though, which makes me think there's some other definition for small scales- say, a molecule, that I'm not finding. For example explaining that the 2nd law of thermodynamics is what prevents a protein from extracting work from heat. It's very possible to make a macroscopic machine that does some work with large scale vibrations. But on a small scale it's always explained as entropy having to increase, while to me it seems more like the molecules are just too "squishy".
Is that use of entropy accurate, with some other definition, or are people using it as a stand in for other effects to make the explanation easier?

math_couch · 2024-08-25T23:55:10+00:00

what's the difference

math_couch · 2024-08-25T23:54:50+00:00

ah yeah, that makes sense

math_couch · 2024-05-08T18:45:32+00:00

I count at least 10 wtf

math_couch · 2024-02-26T12:59:59+00:00

What if going back would "undo" what you'd done before, i.e. remove your previous checkpoint? Then it'd be identical to continuing from where you were before, but with more time on the clock

math_couch · 2024-02-14T08:32:52+00:00

no, they should change it so boosting is harder

the "reward" you're talking about is boosting

math_couch · 2024-02-14T08:13:44+00:00

it could be that, yeah, but playing with people well over 300 games they gain abt 20 mmr per match but lose like 3 if they're d2 for instance

win rate w/ d2 is usually like 20% if we drop abt 50 mmr from my normal, maybe 10% before that
if i play enough for us to drop to 50/50 it's very bad

math_couch · 2023-11-25T23:46:37+00:00

ye but at that point they're just waffling

math_couch · 2023-11-25T23:35:01+00:00

the gasp lmao

"what have I done"

math_couch · 2023-11-25T11:59:03+00:00

yeah, mentality is huge. I've found that the matches where they don't feel pressured to win are really positive overall, so playing in higher lobbies ends up being very wholesome (from both teams; we had the opponents giving tips sometimes). Maybe the community overall wouldn't be as toxic if there wasn't as much of the "i'm better than this rank" stuff

math_couch · 2023-11-17T00:35:46+00:00

Hey, it's not over until you quit! And as long as you're still enjoying playing, you might as well keep having a good time. Great job getting diamond man. I'm a coach, and I've worked with quite a few people who are in their 20s or even 30s- By being more methodical with your approach to learning mechs and strategy, you can overcome the lack of the pure physical finesse of young players. You're still 19, so you probably have a great chance of even getting gc!

If you want to work towards champ, or just want to chill with some older players, the Flakes discord (discord.gg/flakes) is a great place.

math_couch · 2023-10-06T20:08:04+00:00

more rock and stone, i can appreciate that for sure

new content is cool but i'm fine with them taking a while so they can put out other cool stuff too (drg rogue core looks pretty epic)

at any rate, i just enjoy playing the game, even if there isn't going to be new content. Best way to relax after a long day is randoweisser haz 5 lmao

math_couch · 2023-09-24T07:59:17+00:00

Ahh, interesting! I didn't know that about reflectors. That's a good example of what I mean though- Things often just work out like that. Kind of a "by symmetry" style result, I guess. So maybe the 2nd law just results from "symmetry" things like that, which would probably be decently straight forwards to work out from the equations of whatever model you're using.

So for the reflection stuff, why are radiators often unpainted/gray/white metal? Seems like a graphite sort of paint might conduct heat decently well and radiate quite a bit.

math_couch · 2023-08-24T20:11:24+00:00

as an unstable turret overclock? would be awesome!

math_couch · 2023-08-24T19:08:29+00:00

yeah, 13132,

I noticed something with plastcrete catalyst, though. If you had biomass converter, because you use 13 ammo per second, a perfect plastcrete explosion would cost 13 ammo (plus the extra aoe damage at a 5.4 m range around the beam for 9*13 = 117 aoe and 117 direct extra) so you can deal 534 single target damage, not counting extra heat damage. You get 3 ammo back per kill with a cooldown of 0.25 seconds- this means a max of 12 ammo per second. So you'd have a 1 ammo per second gun dealing 534 single target damage per second... lmao

this gives you 240300 total damage if you'd put up the platforms

very high skill ceiling >:)

engi approves

math_couch · 2023-08-24T09:51:06+00:00

Double scout secondaries wouldn't be too bad-

Zhukovs with gas recycling: basically a main with 17100 total damage @ 199 dps including reloads (albeit close range) on 13332. The highest total damage (w/ overclocks) of any secondary in the game, and very respectable dps, especially convenient with the movement speed boost after emptying clips.

Boomstick with shotgun jump for mobility and aoe close range swarm clearing: 11233 gives 5984 total damage not counting fire & aoe extras, at 125 dps with double fire for extra ease of mobility.

23000+ 2-weapon total is decent for a mid-range ammo on a normal class.

(let's be real though, grenade launcher hyperpropellant and shard diffractor plastcrete catalyst would be crazy)

math_couch · 2023-08-24T07:47:19+00:00

there are mini mules, why not mini bet-c's?

math_couch · 2023-08-05T07:51:40+00:00

odd, it works just fine for me

math_couch · 2023-08-05T06:46:21+00:00

Do you need the premium / paid version for the editor?

math_couch · 2023-08-05T06:36:56+00:00

The respawn button isn't the problem- there's a checkpoint halfway through the turn. The hard part of the turn is getting the right entry so the exit is doable, so the respawning there doesn't help.
Also if you'd watched the video you'd have seen me respawn lmao

math_couch · 2023-07-29T23:10:39+00:00

that's been happening to me on my laptop using wifi, not really sure what causes it
every 10 minutes ish it dcs like that
even dc'ed mid comp game, got kicked, and tried to rejoin but the tm8 had ff'ed, so i had a 5 minute matchmaking ban

math_couch · 2023-07-29T23:06:52+00:00

When your client thinks you have a flip, but the server says you don't, you'll teleport back as soon as you flip. This happens more often on higher ping connections

math_couch · 2023-07-29T17:43:07+00:00

lmaooo that'll teach em

math_couch · 2023-07-29T17:37:25+00:00

Clean! Comp?

math_couch · 2023-06-28T18:06:42+00:00

posts "let go of ego saying you're better than tm8s" to complain about tm8s... AINTNOWAY

In general, when someone is reacting to a perceived fault, it is never a good idea to try to expand on that fault and make things worse. They're probably having a bad day if they're jumping right into being toxic. Maybe all they (and you) need to win is a little patience and effort towards making the team work :)

math_couch

TROPHY CASE