Physics Fundamentals

Study Notes

Laws of Thermodynamics:
- Zeroth Law: If two systems are in thermal equilibrium with a third system, they are also in thermal equilibrium with each other.
- First Law: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another.
- Second Law: The total entropy of a closed system always increases over time.
- Third Law: As the temperature of a system approaches absolute zero, its entropy approaches a minimum value.
Thermodynamic Systems:
- Isolated System: No energy or matter can be exchanged with the surroundings.
- Closed System: Energy can be exchanged with the surroundings, but not matter.
- Open System: Both energy and matter can be exchanged with the surroundings.
Thermodynamic Properties:
- Temperature (T): Measure of the average kinetic energy of particles in a system.
- Internal Energy (U): Total energy of a system, including kinetic energy, potential energy, and potential energy associated with molecular interactions.
- Entropy (S): Measure of the disorder or randomness of a system.

Rotational Kinematics:
- Angular Displacement (θ): Angle through which an object rotates.
- Angular Velocity (ω): Rate of change of angular displacement.
- Angular Acceleration (α): Rate of change of angular velocity.
Rotational Kinetics:
- Torque (τ): Rotational force that causes an object to rotate.
- Rotational Kinetic Energy (K): Energy of an object due to its rotational motion.
- Rotational Inertia (I): Measure of an object's resistance to changes in its rotational motion.

Fluid Statics:
- Pressure (P): Force per unit area exerted by a fluid on a surface.
- Pascal's Law: Pressure is transmitted equally in all directions throughout a fluid.
- Archimedes' Principle: The buoyant force on an object is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced.
Fluid Dynamics:
- Bernoulli's Principle: The pressure of a fluid decreases as its velocity increases.
- Continuity Equation: The rate of mass flow into a system is equal to the rate of mass flow out of the system.
- Torricelli's Law: The velocity of a fluid flowing out of a small hole is proportional to the square root of the pressure difference.

Heat Transfer:
- Conduction: Transfer of heat between objects in physical contact.
- Convection: Transfer of heat through the movement of fluids.
- Radiation: Transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves.
Heat Capacity:
- Specific Heat Capacity (c): Amount of heat required to change the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by a unit temperature.
- Latent Heat: Heat required to change the state of a substance (e.g. melting or boiling).

Vibration:
- Periodic Motion: Motion that repeats itself at regular intervals.
- Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM): Periodic motion where the acceleration is proportional to the displacement.
- Damping: Reduction of amplitude of vibration due to friction or other external forces.
Waves:
- Types of Waves: Mechanical, Electromagnetic, and Quantum Waves.
- Wave Properties: Amplitude, Frequency, Wavelength, and Speed.
- Superposition: The principle that two or more waves can overlap to form a new wave pattern.

Podcast Beta