A tribute to Arnstein Finset: Editor in Chief of PEC 2007-2024

The two theorems developed by Pappus and Guldinus are widely used in mathematics, engineering, and physics to find the surface area and volume of any body of revolution. This is done by revolving a plane curve around an axis that does not intersect the curve to find its surface area or revolving a plane area around a non-intersecting axis to calculate its volume.
For finding the surface area, consider a differential line element that generates a ring with surface area dA when revolved.

Conservative forces are an essential concept in the field of mechanical engineering. Understanding the properties and characteristics of these forces is crucial to the design and analysis of mechanical systems.
Conservative forces are forces that are dependent only on the initial and final positions of an object and that are independent of the path that the object takes between these positions. These forces conserve energy, which means that the work done by the force is independent of the path...

In mechanics, the product of inertia and moments of inertia of area help to calculate the stability and performance of various structures and components. The coordinate transformation relations are used to calculate the moments and products of inertia for an area about the inclined axes. Further, the moments and products of inertia with respect to the principal axes can be determined using the moments and products of inertia about the inclined axes.
The principal moment of inertia axes are the...

The process of hypothesis testing based on the P-value method includes calculating the P- value using the sample data and interpreting it.
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is proposed. The claim is based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to the claim  is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses:  a null hypothesis would be a neutral statement while the alternative hypothesis can...

Organisms must balance energy intake with the energy required for growth, maintenance and reproduction. These trade-offs result in a variety of survivorship and reproductive strategies, including semelparity and iteroparity. Semelparous species, like annual plants, have only one reproductive episode in their lifetimes and consequently have short lifespans. Iteroparous species, by contrast, have many reproductive events during their lifetimes but have relatively few offspring. These two...

Pappus and Guldinus's theorems are powerful mathematical principles that are used for finding the surface area and volume of composite shapes. For example, consider a cylindrical storage tank with a conical top. Finding the surface area or volume can be challenging for such complex shapes. These theorems are particularly useful in calculating the volume and surface area of such systems. Here, the cylindrical storage tank with a conical top can be broken down into two simple shapes: a...