Physics: Branches and Key Concepts

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, vision, and optical instruments
• Acoustics: study of sound and its properties

Key Concepts

• Laws of Motion:
  • Newton's First Law (Inertia): an object at rest remains at rest, and an object in motion remains in motion, unless acted upon by an external force
  • Newton's Second Law (Force and Acceleration): F = ma (force equals mass times acceleration)
  • Newton's Third Law (Action and Reaction): for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction
• Energy:
  • Kinetic energy: energy of motion
  • Potential energy: energy of position or stored energy
  • Conservation of energy: energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another

Notable Physicists

• Isaac Newton (1643-1727): developed laws of motion and universal gravitation
• Albert Einstein (1879-1955): developed theory of relativity and photon theory of light
• Marie Curie (1867-1934): discovered radioactivity and pioneered nuclear physics

Chemistry

Branches of Chemistry

• Organic chemistry: study of carbon-based compounds and their properties
• Inorganic chemistry: study of non-carbon-based compounds and their properties
• Physical chemistry: study of chemical reactions and physical properties of matter
• Analytical chemistry: study of chemical analysis and identification of substances
• Biochemistry: study of chemical processes in living organisms

Key Concepts

• Atomic Structure:
  • Protons: positively charged particles in the nucleus
  • Neutrons: neutral particles in the nucleus
  • Electrons: negatively charged particles orbiting the nucleus
• Chemical Bonding:
  • Ionic bonds: formed between atoms with large differences in electronegativity
  • Covalent bonds: formed between atoms with similar electronegativity
• Chemical Reactions:
  • Chemical equations: symbolic representations of chemical reactions
  • Stoichiometry: study of quantitative relationships between reactants and products

Notable Chemists

• Antoine Lavoisier (1743-1794): discovered oxygen and developed modern chemistry
• Jöns Jakob Berzelius (1779-1848): developed atomic weights and introduced modern chemical notation
• Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958): contributed to the discovery of DNA structure and function

Physics

Branches of Physics

• Study of motion, forces, and energy is known as Mechanics
• Thermodynamics deals with heat, temperature, and energy transfer
• Electromagnetism encompasses electricity, magnetism, and electromagnetic waves
• Optics involves the study of light, vision, and optical instruments
• Acoustics is the study of sound and its properties

Key Concepts

Laws of Motion

• Newton's First Law: an object at rest remains at rest, and an object in motion remains in motion, unless acted upon by an external force
• Newton's Second Law: force equals mass times acceleration (F = ma)
• Newton's Third Law: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction

Energy

• Kinetic energy is the energy of motion
• Potential energy is the energy of position or stored energy
• Conservation of energy: energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another

Notable Physicists

• Isaac Newton developed laws of motion and universal gravitation
• Albert Einstein developed theory of relativity and photon theory of light
• Marie Curie discovered radioactivity and pioneered nuclear physics

Chemistry

Branches of Chemistry

• Organic chemistry involves the study of carbon-based compounds and their properties
• Inorganic chemistry involves the study of non-carbon-based compounds and their properties
• Physical chemistry involves the study of chemical reactions and physical properties of matter
• Analytical chemistry involves the study of chemical analysis and identification of substances
• Biochemistry involves the study of chemical processes in living organisms

Key Concepts

Atomic Structure

• Protons are positively charged particles in the nucleus
• Neutrons are neutral particles in the nucleus
• Electrons are negatively charged particles orbiting the nucleus

Chemical Bonding

• Ionic bonds are formed between atoms with large differences in electronegativity
• Covalent bonds are formed between atoms with similar electronegativity

Chemical Reactions

• Chemical equations are symbolic representations of chemical reactions
• Stoichiometry involves the study of quantitative relationships between reactants and products

Notable Chemists

• Antoine Lavoisier discovered oxygen and developed modern chemistry
• Jöns Jakob Berzelius developed atomic weights and introduced modern chemical notation
• Rosalind Franklin contributed to the discovery of DNA structure and function