Branches of Physics

Branches of Physics

• Mechanics: Study of motion, forces, and energy
  • Kinematics: description of motion
  • Dynamics: forces and their effects on motion
  • Statics: equilibrium and balance
• Thermodynamics: Study of heat, temperature, and energy transfer
  • Laws of thermodynamics: zeroth, first, second, and third
• Electromagnetism: Study of electricity, magnetism, and electromagnetic radiation
  • Electric charges and fields
  • Magnetic fields and forces
  • Electromagnetic waves and light
• Optics: Study of light, its properties, and behavior
  • Reflection, refraction, and diffraction
  • Lenses and optical instruments
• Quantum Mechanics: Study of atomic and subatomic particles
  • Wave-particle duality
  • Uncertainty principle
  • Schrödinger equation and wave functions
• Relativity: Study of space and time
  • Special relativity: time dilation and length contraction
  • General relativity: gravity and curvature of spacetime

Key Concepts

• Energy: ability to do work, measured in joules (J)
• Momentum: product of mass and velocity, measured in kg·m/s
• Force: push or pull, measured in newtons (N)
• Newton's laws: three laws describing motion and forces
  1. Inertia: objects at rest stay at rest, objects in motion stay in motion
  2. Force and acceleration: F = ma
  3. Action and reaction: every action has an equal and opposite reaction
• Wavelength and frequency: properties of waves
  • Wavelength: distance between two consecutive peaks or troughs
  • Frequency: number of oscillations per second

Key Physicists

• Isaac Newton: developed laws of motion and universal gravitation
• Albert Einstein: developed theories of special and general relativity
• Marie Curie: discovered radioactivity and pioneered nuclear physics
• Max Planck: introduced concept of quantized energy and founded quantum theory
• Erwin Schrödinger: developed quantum mechanics and wave functions

Branches of Physics

• Mechanics deals with motion, forces, and energy, and is divided into three subfields: Kinematics (description of motion), Dynamics (forces and their effects on motion), and Statics (equilibrium and balance).
• Thermodynamics is the study of heat, temperature, and energy transfer, and includes the Laws of Thermodynamics (zeroth, first, second, and third).
• Electromagnetism encompasses the study of electricity, magnetism, and electromagnetic radiation, including Electric Charges and Fields, Magnetic Fields and Forces, and Electromagnetic Waves and Light.
• Optics is the study of light, its properties, and behavior, including Reflection, Refraction, and Diffraction, as well as Lenses and Optical Instruments.
• Quantum Mechanics is the study of atomic and subatomic particles, and includes principles such as Wave-Particle Duality, the Uncertainty Principle, and the Schrödinger Equation and Wave Functions.
• Relativity is the study of space and time, and includes Special Relativity (time dilation and length contraction) and General Relativity (gravity and curvature of spacetime).

Key Concepts

• Energy is the ability to do work, and is measured in Joules (J).
• Momentum is the product of mass and velocity, and is measured in kg·m/s.
• Force is a push or pull, and is measured in Newtons (N).
• Newton's Laws describe motion and forces, and consist of three laws: Inertia (objects at rest stay at rest, objects in motion stay in motion), Force and Acceleration (F = ma), and Action and Reaction (every action has an equal and opposite reaction).
• Wavelength is the distance between two consecutive peaks or troughs, and Frequency is the number of oscillations per second, both of which are properties of waves.

Key Physicists

• Isaac Newton developed the laws of motion and universal gravitation.
• Albert Einstein developed the theories of special and general relativity.
• Marie Curie discovered radioactivity and pioneered nuclear physics.
• Max Planck introduced the concept of quantized energy and founded quantum theory.
• Erwin Schrödinger developed quantum mechanics and wave functions.