Physics Fundamentals

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 behavior.
• Acoustics: Study of sound and its properties.
• Relativity: Study of space and time, including special relativity and general relativity.
• Quantum Mechanics: Study of the behavior of matter and energy at the atomic and subatomic level.

Fundamental Concepts

• Space: Three-dimensional expanse that contains all matter and radiation.
• Time: Measure of the duration between events.
• Mass: Measure of the amount of matter in an object.
• Energy: Ability to do work or cause change.
• Momentum: Product of an object's mass and velocity.
• Force: Push or pull that causes an object to change its motion.
• Newton's Laws:
  1. Inertia: An object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will continue to move, unless acted upon by an external force.
  2. Force and Acceleration: Force is equal to the mass of an object multiplied by its acceleration.
  3. Action and Reaction: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Key Theories and Models

• Newton's Theory of Gravity: Describes the force of gravity as a universal force that attracts two objects with mass.
• Einstein's Theory of Relativity: Describes the nature of space and time, including the speed of light as the universal speed limit.
• Wave-Particle Duality: Describes the behavior of particles, such as electrons, that can exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties.
• Standard Model of Particle Physics: Describes the behavior of fundamental particles, such as quarks and leptons, and the forces that govern their interactions.

Important Physicists

• Isaac Newton: Developed the laws of motion and universal gravitation.
• Albert Einstein: Developed the theory of relativity and the famous equation E=mc^2.
• Marie Curie: Discovered the elements polonium and radium, and pioneered the use of X-rays in medicine.
• Max Planck: Developed the theory of black-body radiation and introduced the concept of the quantum.
• Stephen Hawking: Contributed to our understanding of black holes and the origin of the universe.