Branches of Physics

Branches of Physics

• Mechanics: study of motion, forces, and energy
• Thermodynamics: study of heat, temperature, and energy transfer
• Electromagnetism: study of electricity, magnetism, and electromagnetic waves
• Optics: study of light, its properties, and its behavior
• Quantum Mechanics: study of behavior of matter and energy at atomic and subatomic levels
• Relativity: study of space and time, including special relativity and general relativity
• Nuclear Physics: study of the nucleus of an atom, including nuclear reactions and properties
• Condensed Matter Physics: study of the behavior of solids and liquids
• Particle Physics: study of the behavior of fundamental particles and forces

Key Concepts

• Newton's Laws:
  • First law: law of inertia
  • Second law: force and acceleration
  • Third law: action and reaction
• Energy:
  • Kinetic energy: energy of motion
  • Potential energy: energy of position or state
  • Conservation of energy: energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted
• Momentum:
  • Linear momentum: product of mass and velocity
  • Conservation of momentum: momentum remains constant in a closed system
• Waves:
  • Types: mechanical, electromagnetic, and quantum
  • Properties: frequency, wavelength, amplitude, and speed
• Particles:
  • Elementary particles: quarks, leptons, and gauge bosons
  • Composite particles: protons, neutrons, and atoms

Famous Physicists

• Galileo Galilei: contributed to the study of motion and inertia
• Isaac Newton: developed laws of motion and universal gravitation
• Albert Einstein: developed theories of special and general relativity
• Marie Curie: discovered radioactive elements and pioneered radioactivity research
• Niels Bohr: developed the Bohr model of the atom
• Erwin Schrödinger: developed the Schrödinger equation and contributed to quantum mechanics

Important Equations

• F = ma: force equals mass times acceleration
• E = mc^2: energy equals mass times the speed of light squared
• p = mv: momentum equals mass times velocity
• λν = c: wavelength times frequency equals the speed of light
• Schrödinger equation: ψ(t) = Hψ(0)

Branches of Physics

• Mechanics studies motion, forces, and energy
• Thermodynamics studies heat, temperature, and energy transfer
• Electromagnetism studies electricity, magnetism, and electromagnetic waves
• Optics studies light, its properties, and its behavior
• Quantum Mechanics studies behavior of matter and energy at atomic and subatomic levels
• Relativity studies space and time, including special relativity and general relativity
• Nuclear Physics studies the nucleus of an atom, including nuclear reactions and properties
• Condensed Matter Physics studies the behavior of solids and liquids
• Particle Physics studies the behavior of fundamental particles and forces

Key Concepts

Newton's Laws

• First law: law of inertia, an object at rest remains at rest, and an object in motion remains in motion
• Second law: force equals mass times acceleration (F = ma)
• Third law: every action has an equal and opposite reaction

Energy

• Kinetic energy: energy of motion
• Potential energy: energy of position or state
• Conservation of energy: energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted

Momentum

• Linear momentum: product of mass and velocity
• Conservation of momentum: momentum remains constant in a closed system, described by equation p = mv

Waves

• Types: mechanical, electromagnetic, and quantum
• Properties: frequency, wavelength, amplitude, and speed
• Relationship between wavelength and frequency: λν = c

Particles

• Elementary particles: quarks, leptons, and gauge bosons
• Composite particles: protons, neutrons, and atoms

Famous Physicists

• Galileo Galilei: contributed to the study of motion and inertia
• Isaac Newton: developed laws of motion and universal gravitation
• Albert Einstein: developed theories of special and general relativity
• Marie Curie: discovered radioactive elements and pioneered radioactivity research
• Niels Bohr: developed the Bohr model of the atom
• Erwin Schrödinger: developed the Schrödinger equation and contributed to quantum mechanics

Important Equations

• F = ma: force equals mass times acceleration
• E = mc^2: energy equals mass times the speed of light squared
• p = mv: momentum equals mass times velocity
• λν = c: wavelength times frequency equals the speed of light
• Schrödinger equation: ψ(t) = Hψ(0), describes the time-evolution of a quantum system