## Physics Tattoo Ideas

For the discussion of the sciences. Physics problems, chemistry equations, biology weirdness, it all goes here.

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SilenceDogood
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2008 5:41 pm UTC

### Physics Tattoo Ideas

Hello,

I am thinking about getting a UV tattoo of an equation. So far I am thinking about Euler's Formula or this unit less ratio in Quantum Mechanics who's name escapes me at the moment.

I was wondering if anyone had any ideas of cool physics or math equations? I was thinking about maybe an equation related to optics or EM, but off the top of my head I couldn't think of any cool ones.
Last edited by SilenceDogood on Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:57 pm UTC, edited 1 time in total.

DarkLordofSquirrels
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

I saw this dude who had the greek letter pi at the base of his neck, then three dots under it, one under that, four under that, and so on all the way down his spine. It was pretty neat. The other one I really liked was a golden rectangle tattoo.

How about Maxwell's equations? That'd be a spiffy think to have revealed under UV light. Or Einstein's field equations. Or if you're feeling super frisky, both sets?

ThinkerEmeritus
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

There used to be a tee-shirt that had " And God said [Maxwell's Equations] and there was light." That might make a neat tattoo if you don't have a problem with the implied message.

[I first saw this being worn by a roughly 8-year old kid on a ferry ride. My immediate reaction was that he couldn't possibly know what it meant. So I told him. His reaction was to run to a nearby woman saying, "Mommy, mommy. Guess what this man just told me about my shirt."]
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Herman
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

this unit less ratio in Quantum Mechanics who's name escapes me at the moment.

The Fine Structure Constant?

Klotz
Posts: 550
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

The constant you're looking for is the fine structure constant.

Einstien's equation is cool (G=8Pi T), says so much in so little. I also like the Schroedinger equation in any form.

ossix
Posts: 25
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:36 pm UTC

### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

it's not particularly physics, but somewhere on the mighty intarwebs i once saw the transistor-symbol tattoed on the inside of someones wrist. really liked that one, although i wouldn't have tattoo which is not unique.

Zeltrix
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

A black hole with it's event horizon translucent, a halo of violent purple, and blue lines shooting towards a white dot in the center.
Behold, the unimaginable power of pi

[imath]\pi[/imath]i

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Mr. Beck
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

e=1
Not strictly physics, but Euler's Identity is a whole other plane of awesome.

Korandder
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

The complex plane to be exact.

Gelsamel
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

Mr. Beck wrote:e-1=0

Fixed.
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DarkLordofSquirrels
Posts: 68
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

Gelsamel wrote:
Mr. Beck wrote:e+1=0

Fixed.

Fixed again.

Macbi
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

DarkLordofSquirrels wrote:
Gelsamel wrote:
Mr. Beck wrote:e+1=0

Fixed.

Fixed again.

The first two would have been rather embarrassing as a tattoo. I guess you could fix either with a line added.
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DarkLordofSquirrels
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

Hehe, that's why tattoo parlors hire so many kids with math degrees.

Gelsamel
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

Macbi wrote:
DarkLordofSquirrels wrote:
Gelsamel wrote:
Mr. Beck wrote:e+1=0

Fixed.

Fixed again.

The first two would have been rather embarrassing as a tattoo. I guess you could fix either with a line added.

Pft, I don't have time to think about others mistakes to avoid making my own when I'm playing WoW.
"Give up here?"
- > No
"Do you accept defeat?"
- > No
"Do you think games are silly little things?"
- > No
"Is it all pointless?"
- > No
"Do you admit there is no meaning to this world?"
- > No

Mr. Beck
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

DarkLordofSquirrels wrote:
Gelsamel wrote:
Mr. Beck wrote:e+1=0

Fixed.

Fixed again.

Awww danm....
(Hides head in shame- but hey, it was 1AM)

SilenceDogood
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2008 5:41 pm UTC

### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

I have always liked the more general equation exp(i*theta) = cos(theta) - i*sin(theta) more and would go with that.

and yes I did mean the fine structure constant.

Maxwells Eqs might be cool..

Thanks for the ideas
Last edited by SilenceDogood on Mon Jul 07, 2008 7:00 pm UTC, edited 2 times in total.

hipp5
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

I think if you're going to get any sort of scientific tattoo you should probably know the background and meaning of that equation/symbol very well. You're probably going to get asked about it and if you can't explain the significance of that tattoo then you're going to look like an idiot.

Anjruu
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon Jun 04, 2007 1:39 pm UTC

### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

Again, not exactly physics, but I've been thinking about getting Godel's Incompleteness Theorem for a while. Problem is it's a long one. Maybe wound around a forearm?

simdude
Posts: 74
Joined: Sat May 03, 2008 7:39 pm UTC

### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

I've considered a tatoo of e^pii+1=0 so I have to put my vote in for that.

I like the idea of maybe the equation of some harmonic motion.

thoughtfully
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

I'd like the CPT Theorem, but again, not sufficiently concise.

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Beacons!
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

It's more maths than physics but maybe have an equation using spinors near your spine?

I have no idea what it means but it looks pretty darn cool.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinors
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SilenceDogood
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Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2008 5:41 pm UTC

### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

Beacons! wrote:It's more maths than physics but maybe have an equation using spinors near your spine?

I have no idea what it means but it looks pretty darn cool.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinors

That is a cool looking identity but,

A) I don't want the geek equivalent of a Chinese character/ tribal symbol. I want something that I understand of and has some other interesting meaning besides looking cool.

B) Christ Awful symbols evoke to many bad memories. I spent to much time cranking out those by hand to want to have one on my body .

SilenceDogood
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2008 5:41 pm UTC

### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

hipp5 wrote:I think if you're going to get any sort of scientific tattoo you should probably know the background and meaning of that equation/symbol very well. You're probably going to get asked about it and if you can't explain the significance of that tattoo then you're going to look like an idiot.

Thats a given. I want to get the tattoo to commemorate my years of schooling. An equation that I don't understand would defeat the whole point of getting the tattoo. Besides, f I just wanted to get something impressive looking which i didn't understand I would go grab something from string theory.

simdude
Posts: 74
Joined: Sat May 03, 2008 7:39 pm UTC

### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

Well the fact you said the words commemorate school, make me ask. What was most interesting to you? Macro? Micro? Something elegant and short or something long impressive?

I guess what I'm getting at is that equations can be thrown out all day long, but if you have things more in mind, speak up! It's easier to suggest.

Sunsnail
Posts: 166
Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2007 6:44 pm UTC

### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

Just make sure that anything you get has been proven almost completely and will not be proved to be wrong within your lifetime.

masher
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Location: Melbourne, Australia

### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

hipp5 wrote:I think if you're going to get any sort of scientific tattoo you should probably know the background and meaning of that equation/symbol very well. You're probably going to get asked about it and if you can't explain the significance of that tattoo then you're going to look like an idiot.

Yeah, just like all those people that get chinese symbols 'cause they look cool....

roundedge
Posts: 167
Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2007 3:53 am UTC

### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

something self referential would be nice. Maybe tattoo a sticker that has technical specs "rated for 100 Watts, 4 litre fuel tank, operational temperature of 37°c, do not machine wash" You get the idea.

gwillums
Posts: 37
Joined: Mon Jun 30, 2008 9:38 pm UTC

### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

I don't know if anyone has seen this yet, but Carl Zimmer (who is a science journalist/writer type) has a compendium of scientists' tattoos here http://carlzimmer.typepad.com/.

As a piece of advice, be sure it's something meaningful to you! I plan on getting a PhD in physics, and I think it would be neat to have the main equation (or something) from my thesis done as a celebratory tattoo.

Posts: 34
Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:08 pm UTC

### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

I'd have to either go with the Heisenberg uncertainty principle or with a Feynman diagram of some sort. Either way, this tattoo thing is an awesome idea, bound to create much embarrassment later on in life
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Antimony-120
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

I'm personally a fan of mu0 x epsilon0 = c (or without the = c), or 1/137, as both of those are quite simple and yet any physicist will recognize them immediately.
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jmorgan3
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

Antimony-120 wrote:I'm personally a fan of mu0 x epsilon0 = c (or without the = c), or 1/137, as both of those are quite simple and yet any physicist will recognize them immediately.

Isn't it $\frac{1}{\sqrt{\mu \epsilon}} = c$?
EDIT: Not trying to be pedantic, just making sure I'm not going crazy.
Last edited by jmorgan3 on Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:00 am UTC, edited 1 time in total.
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Antimony-120
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

Yes but considering I didn't even go to the bother of getting the symbols for mu and epsilon I was hardly about to run off writing the entire formula. And considering his background I should HOPE he knew it.

In short, yeah, you're right, but I'm exceptionally lazy.
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cooldude76
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

Benzene ring? Maybe a double helix arm band?
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Master Gunner
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

That would be more Chemistry than Physics, wouldn't it?

leafygreenz
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

I've always wanted to get the fractional anisotropy equation as a tramp stamp
I can't type it out- but here's a link of the explanation:
http://rsl.stanford.edu/moseley/tensorcalc/tensorcalc/Output/FA.html
A little physics, a little bio...
I also have often thought I would like to get the golden rectangle branded on my shoulder.

MalaysianShrew
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

A friend of mine actually has a Benzene ring on his forearm. I have seen him draw large organic compounds in sharpie coming off of it a few times.

Maybe some sin curves would be cool? A graph of newton's law of cooling?

Hawknc
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

Myself, I'd probably get the lift equation, but that's because I specialised in aero. There's not one particular area of physics that takes your fancy?

ian
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

Master Gunner wrote:That would be more Applied Physics than Physics, wouldn't it?

fix'd

Mr Pete
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

ian wrote:
Master Gunner wrote:That would be more Secondary Applied Mathematics than Applied Mathematics, wouldn't it?

fix'd

fix'd

ian
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### Re: Physics Tattoo Ideas

I knew someone was going to do that, despite it quite clearly being wrong.