PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS

Analogy o Gravitational force (F) :

Electrostatic force (F) :: Mass (m) :
1. Electrical–Mechanical Analogy: Charge (q)
o Inductor (L) : Mass (m) :: o Explanation: The gravitational force
Capacitor (C) : Spring constant (k) between two masses is analogous to
o Explanation: In an LC circuit, the the electrostatic force between two
inductor stores energy in its magnetic charges. Both forces follow an
field, similar to how a mass stores inverse-square law.
kinetic energy. The capacitor stores 6. The relationship between position,
energy in its electric field, analogous velocity, and acceleration is like
to how a spring stores potential mapping a surveying drone's flight:
energy. o Position (x) is like the drone's GPS
2. Fluid Dynamics–Electrical Circuit coordinates at any given moment.
Analogy: o Velocity (v) is similar to the drone's
o Water flow rate (Q) : Electric speed and direction of travel.
current (I) :: Pressure difference o Acceleration (a) is comparable to how
(ΔP) : Voltage (V) quickly the drone changes its speed or
o Explanation: The flow of water directions.
through a pipe is analogous to the 7. The four kinematic equations are like
flow of electric current through a different tools in a geomatics engineer's
wire. The pressure difference driving toolkit:
the water flow is similar to the voltage o Each equation serves a specific
driving the current. purpose, just as different surveying
3. Thermal–Electrical Analogy: instruments are used for various
o Heat flow (Q) : Electric current (I) tasks.
:: Temperature difference (ΔT) : o Knowing which equation to use is
Voltage (V) similar to selecting the right tool for a
o Explanation: Heat flow due to a particular surveying job.
temperature difference is analogous 8. Constant acceleration is like a GPS
to electric current flow due to a receiver consistently improving its
voltage difference. Thermal position accuracy over time:
resistance is similar to electrical o The improvement rate (acceleration)
resistance. remains steady.
4. Mechanical Vibration–Electrical o The accuracy (velocity) increases at a
Oscillation Analogy: constant rate.
o Mass (m) : Inductance (L) :: o The final position (x) becomes more
Damping coefficient (c) : Resistance precise as time passes.
(R) 9. The initial conditions (x₀ and v₀) in the
o Explanation: In mechanical systems, equations are like the starting point and
mass and damping coefficient affect initial heading in a land survey:
vibrations similarly to how o They provide the reference from
inductance and resistance affect which all subsequent measurements
electrical oscillations. and calculations are made.
5. Gravitational–Electrostatic Analogy: 10. Time (t) in the equations is like the
duration of a mapping project:
 o It's a crucial factor that affects how far precisely you try to measure its
an object moves or how much its position, the less certain you are about
velocity changes, just as project its speed, and vice versa.
duration impacts the area covered or o Explanation: This principle states
the detail of a maps. that you cannot simultaneously know
11. Newton's Laws of Motion: the exact position and momentum of
o Analogy: Think of Newton's First a particle.
Law (inertia) like a car on a highway. 15. Schrödinger's Cat:
If the car is cruising at a constant o Analogy: Imagine a cat in a sealed
speed and you suddenly let go of the box with a mechanism that has a 50%
steering wheel, it will keep moving chance of releasing poison. Until you
straight unless acted upon by an open the box, the cat is both alive and
external force (like hitting a barrier or dead at the same time.
turning the wheel). o Explanation: This thought
o Explanation: Just as the car experiment illustrates the concept of
continues its motion unless disturbed, superposition in quantum mechanics,
an object will remain at rest or in where a system can exist in multiple
uniform motion unless acted upon by states simultaneously until observed
an external force.
12. Einstein's Theory of Relativity: 1. Albert Einstein and General
o Analogy: Imagine you're on a train Relativity:
moving at a constant speed and you o Analogy: Just as a trampoline bends
throw a ball straight up. To you, the under the weight of a heavy ball,
ball comes straight back down. To space-time curves around massive
someone standing outside the train, objects like stars and planets.
the ball follows a curved path. o Explanation: Einstein's theory of
o Explanation: This illustrates how general relativity describes how
motion is relative to the observer's gravity is not just a force but a
frame of reference, a key concept in curvature of space-time caused by
Einstein's theory. mass.
13. Maxwell's Equations: 2. Isaac Newton and Classical
o Analogy: Picture a garden hose with Mechanics:
water flowing through it. If you shake o Analogy: Newton's laws of motion
the hose up and down, waves travel are like the rules of a game, defining
along the hose. Similarly, changing how players (objects) move and
electric fields create magnetic fields interact on the field (space).
and vice versa, propagating as o Explanation: Newton's laws
electromagnetic waves. provide a framework for
o Explanation: Maxwell's equations understanding the motion of objects
describe how electric and magnetic and the forces acting upon them.
fields interact and propagate as 3. Niels Bohr and the Bohr Model of the
waves. Atom:
14. Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle: o Analogy: Electrons orbit the nucleus
o Analogy: Think of trying to measure of an atom like planets orbit the sun,
the exact position and speed of a but they can only occupy specific
buzzing fly in a room. The more
 orbits, much like stepping stones in a 19. Fermi: nuclear reactions; Higgs:
pond. particle mass
o Explanation: Bohr's model 20. Joule: energy; Watt: power
introduced the idea of quantized 21. Tesla: electromagnetism; Faraday:
electron orbits, where electrons can induction
only exist in certain energy levels. 22. Hooke: elasticity; Young: modulus
4. James Clerk Maxwell and 23. Fourier: heat transfer; Laplace:
Electromagnetism: potential theory
o Analogy: Maxwell's equations are
like a symphony, where electric and The six symbols used in the kinematic
magnetic fields play together in equations for an object moving with
harmony to create electromagnetic constant acceleration are:
waves.
o Explanation: Maxwell unified x: Position
electricity and magnetism into a
single theory, showing how they x₀: Initial position
interact to form electromagnetic
waves. v: Velocity
5. Erwin Schrödinger and Quantum
Mechanics: v₀: Initial velocity
o Analogy: Schrödinger's cat is like a
coin that is both heads and tails until a: Acceleration
you look at it, representing the
superposition of states in quantum t: Time
mechanics.
o Explanation: Schrödinger's thought These symbols relate to the problem of
experiment illustrates the concept of constant acceleration motion as follows:
superposition, where particles can
exist in multiple states 1. x and x₀ represent the object's position at
simultaneously until observed. any given time and its starting position,
6. Richard Feynman and Quantum respectively. The difference (x - x₀) gives
Electrodynamics (QED): the displacement.
o Analogy: Feynman's diagrams are
like roadmaps for particles, showing 2. v and v₀ describe the object's velocity at
all possible paths, they can take and any point and its initial velocity. The
how they interact. change in velocity over time is used to
o Explanation: Feynman diagrams calculate acceleration.
are a visual representation of the
interactions between particles in 3. a represents the constant acceleration of
quantum electrodynamics. the object throughout its motion.

16. Galileo: inertia; Newton: gravity 4. t is the elapsed time during which the
17. Maxwell: electromagnetism; Einstein: motion occurs.
relativity
18. Bohr: quantum jumps; Schrödinger: These symbols are used in four key
wave functions equations that describe the relationships
 between position, velocity, acceleration, velocity (vxi, vxf), acceleration (a), and time
and time for an object moving with (t).
constant acceleration:
Conceptualization and Problem-Solving in
Kinematics
1. v = v₀ + at
- Problems typically involve identifying
2. x = x₀ + v₀t + (1/2)at² knowns and unknowns, often requiring the
classification of motion to choose the
3. v² = v₀² + 2a(x - x₀) appropriate equation.
- Understanding the relationships between
4. v = (v + v₀)/2 position, velocity, and time is crucial. For
instance, instantaneous velocity can be
These equations allow you to solve various calculated from the slope of a position-time
problems involving constant acceleration graph.
motion by relating these six variables.
Average and Instantaneous Speed
Describing Motion: Kinematics in One
- Average speed is defined as the total
Dimension
distance traveled divided by the time interval,
while average velocity considers
- Kinematics is the mathematical description
displacement over that time.
of motion, ignoring the causes or modifying
- Instantaneous velocity is defined as the limit
agents of that motion, and focuses on motion
of average velocity over an infinitesimally
along a straight line.
short time interval.
- This section covers one-dimensional
motion, utilizing a coordinate system with an
Acceleration and Its Implications
x-axis to analyze horizontal motion and a y-
axis for vertical motion.
- Acceleration is described as the change in
velocity over time, highlighting that both
Key Kinematic Variables
average and instantaneous acceleration are
vector quantities.
- Key variables in kinematics include position
- The positive or negative sign of acceleration
(x), velocity (v), and acceleration (a), all
signifies its direction, relative to the
measured as functions of time.
coordinate system.
- These variables are vectors, incorporating
both magnitude and direction, with their units
Application of Kinematic Concepts
consistent with physical dimensions (meters
for position, meters per second for velocity,
- Practical examples, such as a police car
and meters per second squared for
chasing a speeder, illustrate the application
acceleration).
of kinematic equations to solve real-world
problems involving constant acceleration.
Kinematic Equations for Constant
- Understanding the principles of one-
Acceleration
dimensional motion provides foundational
skills required for analyzing more complex
- The equations for motion with constant
motions in two dimensions and beyond.
acceleration are established to relate
position, velocity, acceleration, and time.
- Each equation includes variables including
initial and final position (xi, xf), initial and final