Physics Branches

Branches of Physics

Mechanics: Study of motion, forces, and energy
- Kinematics: Description of motion
- Dynamics: Forces and their effects on motion
Thermodynamics: Study of heat, temperature, and energy transfer
- Laws of thermodynamics:
  - Zeroth law: Temperature equilibrium
  - First law: Energy conservation
  - Second law: Entropy increase
  - Third law: Absolute zero
Electromagnetism: Study of electricity, magnetism, and electromagnetic waves
- Electric charges and fields
- Magnetic fields and forces
- Electromagnetic induction and radiation
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: Gravitational field and curvature of spacetime

Key Concepts

Energy: Ability to do work
- Types: kinetic, potential, thermal, electrical, and chemical
Matter: Anything that has mass and occupies space
- States: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma
Force: Push or pull that causes motion or deformation
- Types: gravitational, frictional, normal, and tension
Waves: Periodic disturbances that transfer energy
- Types: mechanical, electromagnetic, and quantum

Important Scientists

Isaac Newton: Developed laws of motion and universal gravitation
Albert Einstein: Developed theories of special and general relativity
Marie Curie: Discovered radioactivity and developed theory of radioactive decay
Niels Bohr: Developed model of atomic structure and quantum mechanics
Erwin Schrödinger: Developed theory of quantum mechanics and wave functions

Branches of Physics

Mechanics: Motion, forces, and energy
- Kinematics: Describes motion in terms of position, velocity, and acceleration
- Dynamics: Examines forces and their effects on motion, including Newton's laws
Thermodynamics: Heat, temperature, and energy transfer
- Zeroth Law: If two systems are in thermal equilibrium with a third, they are also in thermal equilibrium with each other
- First Law: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted between forms
- Second Law: Total entropy always increases over time in a closed system
- Third Law: As temperature approaches absolute zero, entropy approaches a minimum value
Electromagnetism: Electricity, magnetism, and electromagnetic waves
- Electric Charges and Fields: Like charges repel, opposite charges attract, and electric fields surround charges
- Magnetic Fields and Forces: Magnetic fields surround moving charges and currents, and exert forces on other charges and currents
- Electromagnetic Induction and Radiation: Changing magnetic fields induce electric fields, and accelerating charges emit electromagnetic radiation
Optics: Light, its properties, and behavior
- Reflection, Refraction, and Diffraction: Light bends and changes direction when interacting with surfaces and media
- Lenses and Optical Instruments: Lenses focus and manipulate light, enabling devices like microscopes and telescopes
Quantum Mechanics: Atomic and subatomic particles
- Wave-Particle Duality: Particles can exhibit both wave-like and particle-like behavior
- Uncertainty Principle: Certain properties, like position and momentum, cannot be precisely known at the same time
- Schrödinger Equation and Wave Functions: Mathematical descriptions of quantum systems and their probabilities
Relativity: Space and time
- Special Relativity: Time dilation and length contraction occur when objects move at high speeds
- General Relativity: Gravity warps spacetime, causing objects to move along curved trajectories

Key Concepts

Energy: The ability to do work, with forms including:
- Kinetic Energy: Energy of motion
- Potential Energy: Stored energy, such as gravitational or elastic potential energy
- Thermal Energy: Energy of heat and temperature
- Electrical Energy: Energy associated with electric charges and currents
- Chemical Energy: Energy stored in chemical bonds
Matter: Anything with mass and occupying space, existing in:
- Solid State: Fixed shape and volume
- Liquid State: Fixed volume, variable shape
- Gas State: Variable shape and volume
- Plasma State: High-energy, ionized state
Force: Push or pull that causes motion or deformation, including:
- Gravitational Force: Attraction between masses
- Frictional Force: Resistance to motion between surfaces
- Normal Force: Force perpendicular to a surface, often a reaction force
- Tension Force: Force along the length of a stretched or compressed object
Waves: Periodic disturbances that transfer energy, including:
- Mechanical Waves: Require a medium, such as water or air
- Electromagnetic Waves: Travel through a vacuum, including light and radio waves
- Quantum Waves: Mathematical descriptions of probability in quantum systems

Important Scientists

Isaac Newton: Developed laws of motion and universal gravitation, laying foundations for classical mechanics
Albert Einstein: Developed theories of special and general relativity, revolutionizing understanding of space and time
Marie Curie: Discovered radioactivity and developed theory of radioactive decay, pioneering radiochemistry
Niels Bohr: Developed model of atomic structure and quantum mechanics, contributing to understanding of atomic behavior
Erwin Schrödinger: Developed theory of quantum mechanics and wave functions, providing a mathematical framework for quantum systems