Key Concepts in Physics

Study Notes

Key Concepts in Physics

Fundamental Forces

Gravitational Force
- Attraction between masses.
- Governs motion of celestial bodies.
Electromagnetic Force
- Acts between charged particles.
- Responsible for electricity and magnetism.
Weak Nuclear Force
- Responsible for radioactive decay.
- Operates at the subatomic level.
Strong Nuclear Force
- Holds protons and neutrons together in nuclei.
- Strongest force, but acts over short ranges.

Laws of Motion

Newton's First Law (Inertia)
- An object at rest stays at rest; an object in motion stays in motion unless acted on by a net external force.
Newton's Second Law (F=ma)
- The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.
Newton's Third Law (Action-Reaction)
- For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Energy

Kinetic Energy (KE)
- Energy of a moving object, KE = 1/2 mv².
Potential Energy (PE)
- Energy stored due to position, PE = mgh for gravitational potential energy.
Conservation of Energy
- Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.

Thermodynamics

Zeroth Law
- If two systems are in thermal equilibrium with a third, they are in equilibrium with each other.
First Law (Conservation of Energy)
- Energy added to a system as heat minus work done by the system equals the change in internal energy.
Second Law
- Heat cannot spontaneously flow from a colder to a hotter body.
Third Law
- As temperature approaches absolute zero, the entropy of a perfect crystal approaches zero.

Waves and Oscillations

Wave Properties
- Wavelength, frequency, amplitude, speed.
Types of Waves
- Mechanical (requires medium) vs. Electromagnetic (does not require medium).
Harmonic Motion
- Repeated back-and-forth motion through an equilibrium position.

Electricity and Magnetism

Ohm's Law
- V = IR, where V is voltage, I is current, and R is resistance.
Magnetic Fields
- Produced by moving charges; affects other charges and currents.
Electromagnetic Induction
- The generation of electric current via a changing magnetic field.

Modern Physics

Quantum Mechanics
- Describes the behavior of particles at atomic and subatomic levels; introduces concepts like wave-particle duality.
Relativity
- Special relativity: laws of physics are the same for all observers; speed of light is constant.
- General relativity: gravity is the curvature of spacetime caused by mass.

Units of Measurement

SI Units
- Mass: kilograms (kg)
- Length: meters (m)
- Time: seconds (s)
- Force: newtons (N)
- Energy: joules (J)

Measurement and Precision

Accuracy vs. Precision
- Accuracy: closeness to the true value.
- Precision: consistency of repeated measurements.
Significant Figures
- Reflects the precision of measurements; important in calculations.

Description

Test your understanding of fundamental forces, laws of motion, and energy concepts in physics. This quiz covers essential topics such as gravitational, electromagnetic, and nuclear forces, along with Newton's laws and kinetic energy. Perfect for anyone looking to reinforce their knowledge in physics.