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CHAPTER 1 : PHYSICAL WORLD  Electrodynamics - deals with electric and

(Prepared By Ayyappan C, HSST ,GMRHSS ,Kasaragod) magnetic phenomena associated with
SCIENCE charged and magnetic bodies.
 The word Science originates from the Latin  Optics – deals with the phenomena
verb Scientia meaning ‘to know’ involving light
 Science is a systematic attempt to  Thermodynamics. - it deals with systems in
understand natural phenomena in as much macroscopic equilibrium and is concerned
detail and depth as possible, and use the with changes in internal energy,
knowledge so gained to predict, modify and temperature, entropy, etc., of the system
control phenomena. through external work and transfer of heat.
THE STEPS IN SCIENTIFIC METHOD Microscopic domain
 Systematic observations,  The microscopic domain includes atomic,
 controlled experiments, molecular and nuclear phenomena.
 qualitative and quantitative reasoning,  Quantum Theory is currently accepted as
 mathematical modeling, the proper framework for explaining
microscopic phenomena.
 Prediction and verification or falsification of
Link between technology and physics
theories.
PHYSICS
Technology Scientific principle
 Physics is a basic discipline in the category
Steam engine Laws of thermodynamics
of Natural Sciences
Nuclear reactor Controlled nuclear fission
 Physics as a study of the basic laws of
Radio and TV Generation, propagation
nature and their manifestation in different
and detection of
natural phenomena
electromagnetic waves
 In Physics, we attempt to explain diverse
Computers Digital logic
physical phenomena in terms of a few
Lasers Light amplification by
concepts and laws.
stimulated emission of
 The two approaches of physics are
radiation
unification and reductionism.
Production of ultra- Superconductivity
 Attempting to explain diverse physical high magnetic fields
phenomena with a few concepts and laws is Rocket propulsion Newton’s laws of motion
unification. Electric generator Faraday’s laws of
 An attempt to explain a macroscopic system electromagnetic induction
in terms of its microscopic constituents is hydroelectric power Conversion of gravitational
reductionism. potential energy in to
SCOPE OF PHYSICS electrical energy
Macroscopic domain Aeroplane Bernoulli’s principle in fluid
 The macroscopic domain includes dynamics
phenomena at the laboratory, terrestrial Particle accelerators Motion of charged particles
and astronomical scales. in electromagnetic fields
 Classical Physics deals mainly with Sonar Reflection of ultrasonic
macroscopic phenomena and includes waves
subjects like Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Optical fibres Total internal reflection of
Optics and Thermodynamics. light
 Mechanics -founded on Newton’s laws of Electron microscope Wave nature of electrons
motion Photocell Photoelectric effect

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FUNDAMENTAL FORCES IN NATURE  not as weak as the gravitational force, but

 Gravitational force much weaker than the strong nuclear and
 Electromagnetic force electromagnetic forces.
 Strong nuclear force  The range of weak nuclear force is
 Weak Nuclear force exceedingly small, of the order of 10-16m.
Gravitational force Ratio of strengths of forces
• Force of mutual attraction between two  Strong force > electromagnetic > weak
bodies due to their masses. force > gravitational
• It is a universal force  The ratio of strengths is 1: 10-2: 10-13: 10-39
• It is a non-contact force
• Obeys inverse square law ASSIGNMENT
• Weakest force of all forces.  List some physicists and their
• Long range force
• Independent of intervening medium. major contributions.
Electromagnetic force
 The force between charged particles.
 May be repulsive or attractive ****
 Depends on the intervening medium.
 Large compared to gravitational force
 Acts over large distances
 Electric force between two protons, for
example, is 1036 times the gravitational
force between them, for any fixed distance.
 The forces like ‘tension’, ‘friction’, ‘normal
force’, ‘spring force’, etc. are
electromagnetic.

Strong nuclear force

 The strong nuclear force binds protons and
neutrons in a nucleus.
 Attractive in nature
 Strongest force in nature-about 100 times
the electromagnetic force in strength.
 It is charge-independent and acts equally
between a proton and a proton, a neutron
and a neutron, and a proton and a neutron.
 Short range force-about nuclear dimensions

Weak nuclear force

 Appears only in certain nuclear processes
such as the β-decay of a nucleus.
 In β-decay, the nucleus emits an electron
and an uncharged particle called neutrino.
 The electron and neutrino interacts through
weak force.