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Physics SS1 Term 1 Introduction To Physics + Fundamental Units

Physics is the science that investigates the properties of matter and energy through quantitative analysis. It aims to describe interactions between energy, matter, space, and time using fundamental mechanisms. Physics can explain phenomena from subatomic particles to large-scale motions using its laws. It is the foundation of many disciplines like chemistry, most branches of engineering, architecture, geophysics, and biophysics. The scientific method involves making observations, developing hypotheses, experimentation, and conclusion drawing. Models and theories help explain patterns in nature, while laws concisely describe generalized patterns supported by evidence. Quantities in physics are given numerical values and units for deeper understanding.

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119 views2 pages

Physics SS1 Term 1 Introduction To Physics + Fundamental Units

Physics is the science that investigates the properties of matter and energy through quantitative analysis. It aims to describe interactions between energy, matter, space, and time using fundamental mechanisms. Physics can explain phenomena from subatomic particles to large-scale motions using its laws. It is the foundation of many disciplines like chemistry, most branches of engineering, architecture, geophysics, and biophysics. The scientific method involves making observations, developing hypotheses, experimentation, and conclusion drawing. Models and theories help explain patterns in nature, while laws concisely describe generalized patterns supported by evidence. Quantities in physics are given numerical values and units for deeper understanding.

Uploaded by

Edu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Physics is the science in which the properties of matter and the properties of energy are investigated quantitatively.

It
is concerned with describing the interactions of energy, matter, space, and time, and it is especially interested in what
fundamental mechanisms underlie every phenomenon. It also aims to describe the function of everything around us,
from the movement of tiny charged particles to the motion of people, cars, and spaceships. In fact, almost everything
around you can be described quite accurately by the laws of physics.

Branches of Physics: Physics is the foundation of many important disciplines and contributes directly to others. Its
branches include:

Importance of Physics to Everyday Life:


Chemistry - is rooted in atomic and molecular physics since it deals with the interactions of atoms and molecules.
Engineering: Most branches of engineering are applied physics.
Architecture: Physics is at the heart of structural stability, and is involved in the acoustics, heating,
lighting, and cooling of buildings.
Geophysics: Radioactive dating of rocks, earthquake analysis, and heat transfer in the Earth rely heavily on physics.
Biophysics: On the microscopic level, Physics helps describe the properties of cell walls and cell membranes. On the
macroscopic level, it can explain the heat, work, and power associated with the human body. Physics is involved in
medical diagnostics, such as x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasonic blood flow measurements.
Medical therapy sometimes directly involves physics; for example, cancer radiotherapy uses ionizing radiation.
Physics can also explain sensory phenomena, such as how musical instruments make sound, how the
eye detects color, and how lasers can transmit information.
The Scientific Method:
As scientists inquire and gather information about the world, they follow a process called the scientific method. This
process typically begins with an observation and question that the scientist will research. Next, the scientist typically
performs some research about the topic and then devises a hypothesis. Then, the scientist will test the hypothesis by
performing an experiment. Finally, the scientist analyzes the results of the experiment and draws a conclusion.
Model: A model is a representation of something that is often too difficult (or impossible) to display directly,
example, the Planetary Model of the Atom. While a model is justified with experimental proof, it is only accurate
under limited situations. Models can help physicists analyze a scenario and perform a calculation, or they can be
used to represent a situation in the form of a computer simulation.
Theory: A theory is an explanation for patterns in nature that is supported by scientific evidence and verified
multiple times by various groups of researchers, example the Kinetic Theory of Gases. Some theories include models
to help visualize phenomena, whereas others do not.
Law: A law uses concise language to describe a generalized pattern in nature that is supported by scientific evidence
and repeated experiments, example Newton’s Laws of Motion. Often, a law can be expressed in the form of a single
mathematical equation.
Physical Quantities and Units
Giving numerical values for physical quantities and equations for physical principles allows us to understand nature
much more deeply than does qualitative description alone. All measurement involves a comparison between the
thing to be measured and some standard quantity of the same nature, this standard being called the " unit.”
Higher and smaller values of the units have prefixes attached to them, as shown in the table below:
Common Prefixes Value Common Prefixes Value
Deci- (d-) x 10-1 hecto- (h-) x 10
Centi- (c-) x 10-2 Deca- (da-) x 102
Milli- (m-) x 10-3 Kilo- (k) x 103
Micro- ( μ−¿ x 10 -6
Mega- (M) x 106
Nano- (n-) x 10 -9
Giga- (G) x 109
Pico- ( ρ−¿ x 10-12
There are two major systems of units used in the world: Systemé Internationale (SI) units (also known as the metric
system) and Imperial System.
Fundamental Units: These are units that can be defined by specifying how it is measured. They are necessarily
independent of the others. Multiples or submultiples of this are, of course, employed according to the magnitude of
the thing to be measured. They include length (L), mass (M), time (T), and electric current. All other physical
quantities can be expressed as combinations of these four fundamental physical quantities.
The unit of Length is the metre (m), which is the distance light travels in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a
second.
Mass: This is the amount of matter in a body. The units of mass commonly used are the pound (in the British
system) and the gramme (in the metric system).
Time is another fundamental idea of which we require a unit. Its unit is Seconds, which is the time required for
9,192,631,770 of the vibrations of Cesium atoms.
Example 1: Convert 1 kilometer to meters.
Classwork 1: Convert 1 nanosecond to seconds.
Derived Units: These are units that can be defined by stating how it is calculated from other measurements. For
example, speed is length divided by time).
Example 2: Using the method of Dimensions, derive the units of i) Velocity (Displacement per time), ii)
Acceleration (Velocity per time), iii) Force (mass x acceleration)
Classwork 2: Using the method of Dimensions, derive the unit for Work (Force x Distance)
Evaluation: Prep 50 Chapter 1 (Quantities and Units) objectives; numbers 1 - 10
Assignment: Prep 50 Chapter 1 (Quantities and Units) objectives; numbers 11 - 19

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