▶What is Physics?

Physics is the study of nature and its laws. There are so many different
events in nature which are taking place and we expect that all these different
events in nature are taking place according to some basic law and revealing
these laws of nature from the observed events is physics.

Humans have always been curious about the world around them. The night
sky with its bright celestial objects has fascinated humans since time
immemorial. The regular repetitions of the day and night, the annual cycle of
seasons, the eclipses, the tides, the volcanoes, the rainbow have always
been a source of wonder.

The word Science originates from the Latin verb Scientia meaning ‘to know’.
The Sanskrit word Vigyan and the Arabic word ilm convey similar meaning,
namely ‘knowledge’. Science is a systematic attempt to understand natural
phenomena in as much detail and depth as possible, and use the knowledge
so gained to predict, modify and control
phenomena. Science is exploring, experimenting and predicting from what
we see around us.

▶Role of Mathematics in Physics

Description of all natural phenomenon is made easy by the help

of mathematics. Thus, we can say that mathematics is the language of
physics, by the help of mathematics we explain and understand basic law of
physics in more better way. For example, gravitational force of attraction
between two point masses m1 and m2 can be written by mathematical
equation

F=Gm1m2r2�=��1�2�2

Scope and Expansion of Physics

Various branches of physics are mainly divided into two parts- (A) Classical
Physics and (B) Modern Physics.

(A). Classical Physics

(i). Mechanics:- Under this subject the systematic motion of objects is

studied. One of its branches is Fluid Mechanics, in which the dynamic
behavior of liquids is studied.

(ii). Thermodynamics:- Under this subject the motion in a system made of

heat, heat and fine particles is studied.

(iii). Electromagnetism:- Under this subject the theory of electromagnetism

and electromagnetic waves is studied.

(iv). Classical Wave Mechanics and Sound:- Under this subject, vibrations
and progressive and progressive waves are studied.

(v). Optics:- Under this subject the nature and transmission of light is studied.
To understand the Images, refraction, reflection, interference, diffraction and
polarization formed through lenses and mirrors, it is necessary to have
knowledge of this subject.

(B). Modern Physics

(i). Relativity:- Under this subject the motion of those bodies is studied which
move with a velocity equal to the speed of light. In fact it is a theory of
relativism in nature.
(ii). Quantum Mechanics:- Under this subject the principles of modern
physics, the dual nature of light and matter are studied. It acts as a bridge
between classical physics and modern physics.

(iii). Atomic Physics:- Under this subject, atomic structure and properties of
atoms are studied.

(iv). Nuclear Physics:- Under this subject, the nucleus of an atom and its
properties are studied, apart from this some other subjects are as follows-

1. Solid State Physics

2. Plasma Physics
3. High Energy Physics
4. Electronics
5. Engineering Physics
6. Medical Physics
7. Cosmology
8. Bio Physics
9. Chemical Physics
10. Geo Physics

Contribution of Physics in Technology and Society

Physics is an important branch of science, without whose knowledge the

development of other branches of science is not possible. Physics has an
important contribution in the development of all branches of science and the
upliftment of society.

(i). Importance of Physics in Chemistry:- The study of the chemical

composition of matter, types of bonds, etc. has become possible on the basis
of intermolecular forces found between molecules. On the basis of the
diffraction of X-rays, the structure of the atom, the radioactivity, the detailed
study of the structures of many solids has become possible.

(ii). Importance of Physics in Biology:- Many biological specimens are

studied with the help of light microscope. The study of many physical
structures became possible with the creation of the electron microscope.
(iii). Importance of Physics in Astronomy:- With the help of optical
telescope, the study of motion of various planets and celestial bodies has
become possible.

(iv). Importance of Physics in Mathematics:- The development of many

activities has been made possible by the principles of physics. Technological
development is particularly concerned with the application of physics.
Examples of some new techniques based on the application of physics are as
follows-

1. Power generation is based on the principle of electromagnetic induction.

2. Diesel engine, petrol engine, steam engine etc. are based on the laws
of thermodynamics.
3. Radio, Television, S.T.D., I.S.D., Fax, Wireless etc. are based on the
principle of electromagnetic waves.
4. The development of the atomic furnace and atomic bomb is based on
nuclear fission.
5. Rocket propulsion is based on Newton's second and third laws of
motion.
6. The flight of air vehicles is based on the Bernoulli principle.

▶Purpose and Excitement of Physics

We can get some idea of the scope of physics by looking at its various sub-
disciplines. Basically, there are two domains of
interest : macroscopic and microscopic. The macroscopic domain includes
phenomena at the laboratory, terrestrial and astronomical scales. The
microscopic domain includes atomic, molecular and nuclear
phenomena. Classical Physics deals mainly with macroscopic phenomena
and includes subjects like Mechanics,
Electrodynamics, Optics and Thermodynamics.

You can now see that the scope of physics is truly vast. It covers a
tremendous range of magnitude of physical quantities
like length, mass, time, energy, etc. At one end, it studies phenomena at the
very small scale of length (10-14 m or even less) involving electrons, protons,
etc.; at the other end, it deals with astronomical phenomena at the scale
of galaxies or even the entire universe whose extent is of the order of 1026 m.
▶Fundamental Forces in Nature

Mainly, four types of force are exist in our nature that are described bellow:

▶(i) Gravitational Force

It is the force of mutual attraction between any two objects due to

their masses. All bodies on the Earth experience this force due to the
Earth. Gravity governs the motion of moons around the Earth, motion of
planets around the sun. It plays a main role in formation and evolution
of stars, galaxies and galactic clusters. Newton's law of gravitation gives
the magnitude of force exerted by a particle of point mass m 1 on another
particle of point mass m2 at a distance r from it as

F=Gm1m2r2�=��1�2�2

where G is universal gravitational constant G = 6.67 × 10–11 Nm2/kg2. This

force acts along the line joining the two particles.

▶(ii) Electromagnetic Force

It is the force between charged particles. It includes electric and magnetic

forces. If two static point charges q 1 and q2 are kept at a distance r, then the
electrostatic force between them is given as

F=14πε0q1q2r2�=14��0�1�2�2

This is known as the Coulomb force.

▶(iii) Strong Nuclear Force

It is the force that binds nucleons (protons and neutrons) in a nucleus. The
nucleus contains positively charged protons and electrically neutral neutrons.
The repulsive electrostatic force between protons should make a nucleus
unstable. There should be a strong attractive force that counteracts the
repulsive force to keep a nucleus stable.
We know that gravitational force is negligible as compared to electrostatic
force. So, we have a new basic force, i.e., strong nuclear force, which is
the strongest of all fundamental forces, about 100 times the electromagnetic
force. It is the same between a proton and a neutron, a proton and a proton, a
neutron and a neutron. It is an extremely short-ranged force (≈ 10 –15 m). It
keeps the nucleus stable. It does not depend upon charge. An electron does
not experience this force.

▶(iv) Weak Nuclear Force

It appears in some nuclear processes like β-decay of the nucleus, in which

the nucleus emits an electron and an uncharged particle called the neutrino.
It is also responsible for the decay of many unstable particles (muons into
electrons, pions into muons, and so on). It is not as weak as
the gravitational force, but much weaker than the strong nuclear and
electromagnetic force. They are exceedingly short-ranged forces, of the order
of 10–16 m.

▶Conservation Laws in Physics

A remarkable fact about any physical phenomenon is the invariance of some

special physical quantities. They are the conserved quantities of nature,
i.e., energy, mass, charge, linear momentum, and angular momentum. In
classical physics, we have the following conservation laws:

▶(i) Law of Conservation of Energy

According to this law, the sum of energy of all kinds in this universe or of an
ideal isolated system remains constant. Energy can neither be created nor be
destroyed. It can only be transformed from one form to the other.

▶(ii) Law of Conservation of Linear Momentum

According to this law, the linear momentum of a system remains unchanged

in the absence of an external force. It is denoted by P and expression is given
by P = mv.
▶(iii) Law of Conservation of Angular Momentum

A rotating body has inertia, so it also possesses momentum associated with

its rotation. This momentum is called 'angular momentum'.

Angular momentum = Moment of inertia × Angular speed

L=I×ω

According to this law, the angular momentum of the system remains

constant if the total external torque acting on it is zero. e.g., Planets revolving
around the sun in an elliptical orbit with constant angular momentum.

▶(iv) Law of Conservation of Charge

According to this law, charges (in the form of electrons) are neither created
nor destroyed but are simply transferred from one body to another.