/sci/ - Science & Math

Okay, so here's a question for you guys. I'm interested in modeling a ring that wobbles.

To start, I have a ring in 3-d space, cylindrical coordinates. The ring is just a piece of sphagetti, so no thickness or cross-section or anything.

If I assume the center of the ring is at the orgin of this 3-d space, and at 0 degrees the z-height is -1, and at 180 degrees the z-height is 1, what is the z-height for all theta's given those initial conditions?

I've been having trouble finding a way to express this as a function of theta...it's really bugging me.

Any help?

So I have a neurophysiology question.

IPSPs reduce or hyperpolarize the membrane potential via the work of open chloride channels. Usually, they reduce the membranes potential steadlily but when there are enough IPSP's summated, it elicits an action potential, at least it does in the program neuron developed by some Yale kids.

I understand that at a certain point the driving force of chloride is going to be high when the membrane potential is low, considering the average Equilibrium potential of about -60 mv.

But how does the neuron pass the action potential threshold?

Writing my first research paper tonight (on language acquisition, ERP studies)

My first of many anxious questions is do I state the Results of the experiment in the past tense or imperfect or present?