Physics Study of Matter and Energy • The goal of physics is to use a small number of basic concepts, equations, and assumptions to describe the physical world. • These physics principles can then be used to make predictions about a broad range of phenomena. Physics discoveries often turn out to have unexpected practical applications, and advances in technology can in turn lead to new physics discoveries.
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Physics Study of Matter and Energy
• The goal of physics is to use a small number of basic concepts, equations, and assumptions to describe the physical world.
• These physics principles can then be used to make predictions about a broad range of phenomena.
Physics discoveries often turn out to have unexpected practical applications, and advances in technology can in turn lead to new physics discoveries.
The Branches of Physics
Topic Subject Examples
Mechanics Describing the motion of objects
Cars, trains, Sky divers, planets, spinning objects
Thermodynamics Heat and Temperature Movement of fluids, heating and cooling objects
Electromagnetism Electricity, Magnetism, and Light
Charges, flowing electrons, circuits, magnets, electromagnets
Vibrations and Waves Sound and Light Springs, pendulums, sound, color, lasers
Modern Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, Nuclear physics
Atoms, the building blocks of atoms, their behavior
The Scientific Method
• There is no single procedure that scientists follow in their work. However, there are certain steps common to all good scientific investigations.
• These steps are called the scientific method.
Numbers as Measurements
• In SI, the standard measurement system for science, there are seven base units.
• Each base unit describes a single dimension, such as length, mass, or time.
• Derived units are formed by combining the seven base units with multiplication or division. For example, speeds are typically expressed in units of meters per second (m/s).
Other Units/Definitions You Should Know
Volume (liter, l, cm3) How much space an object takes up
Weight (Newton’s, N) How gravity affects your mass
Density (g/cm3) Mass per unit volume D = M/V
Common Conversions you should know
1in = 2.54 cm
5280 ft = 1 mile
3ft = 1 yd
.621 mi = 1 km
1 hour = 3600 seconds
Sample Problem
A typical bacterium has a mass of about 2.0 fg. Express this measurement in terms of grams and kilograms.
Given: mass = 2.0 fg
Unknown: mass = ? g mass = ? kg
Sample Problem, continued
Notice the two conversion factors below are inverses (flipped.)
Only the first one will cancel the units of femtograms to give units of grams.
–15
–15
1 10 g 1 fg and
1 fg 1 10 g
–15–151 10 g
(2.0 fg) = 2.0 10 g1 fg
Sample Problem, continued
Take the previous answer, and use a similar process to cancel the units of grams to give units of kilograms.
–15 –183
1 kg(2.0 10 g) = 2.0 10 kg
1 10 g
Graphing
• Independent variable you control (x-axis)• Dependent variable depends on the ind. (y-axis)
10 points on graphs
1. Title y vs x (dependent vs independent)
2/3 Label both axis correctly
4/5 Units on axis
6/7 Scale for both axis even
8 Dots with circle in correct place
9 Best fit line
10 Ruler
Inertia Balance Lab
• Inertia the property of matter that opposes any change in its state of motion
(mass is a measure of inertia)• Amplitude the distance the object travels
away from the equilibrium• Period The time for one complete back and
forth swing. (T=# of s/# of vibrations)
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