Physics Fundamentals and Laws of Motion

Physics

Fundamentals

• Matter: Anything that has mass and occupies space
• Energy: Ability to do work or cause change
• Space: Three-dimensional expanse that contains all matter and radiation
• Time: Measure of duration, sequence of events

Laws of Motion

• Newton's First Law (Inertia): Objects at rest stay at rest, objects in motion stay in motion, unless acted upon by an external force
• Newton's Second Law (Force and Acceleration): Force = mass x acceleration (F = ma)
• Newton's Third Law (Action and Reaction): For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction

Energy and Work

• Kinetic Energy: Energy of motion (KE = 1/2 mv^2)
• Potential Energy: Energy of position or stored energy (PE = mgh)
• Work: Transfer of energy from one object to another (W = F x d)

Waves and Vibrations

• Types of Waves:
  • Mechanical waves (require medium): water, sound
  • Electromagnetic waves (no medium): light, radio, X-rays
• Wave Properties:
  • Amplitude (A): maximum displacement from equilibrium
  • Frequency (f): number of oscillations per second
  • Wavelength (λ): distance between successive oscillations
  • Speed (v): distance traveled per second (v = λf)

Electricity and Magnetism

• Electric Charge: Positive (+) or negative (-) property of matter
• Electric Field: Region around charged particle where force can be detected
• Magnetic Field: Region around current-carrying wire where force can be detected
• Electric Current: Flow of electrons (I = ΔQ / Δt)

Thermodynamics

• Temperature: Measure of average kinetic energy of particles (°C or K)
• Heat: Transfer of energy from one object to another due to temperature difference
• Laws of Thermodynamics:
  • Zeroth Law: If A = B and B = C, then A = C (temperature equilibrium)
  • First Law: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted (ΔE = Q - W)
  • Second Law: Total entropy (disorder) always increases over time (ΔS = ΔQ / T)

Physics Fundamentals

• Matter is anything with mass that occupies space
• Energy is the ability to do work or cause change
• Space is a 3D expanse containing all matter and radiation
• Time is a measure of duration and sequence of events

Laws of Motion

• Newton's First Law states that objects at rest stay at rest, and objects in motion stay in motion, unless acted upon by an external force
• Newton's Second Law relates force and acceleration: F = ma
• Newton's Third Law states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction

Energy and Work

• Kinetic energy is the energy of motion, calculated as KE = 1/2 mv^2
• Potential energy is the energy of position or stored energy, calculated as PE = mgh
• Work is the transfer of energy from one object to another, calculated as W = F x d

Waves and Vibrations

• Mechanical waves require a medium and include water and sound waves
• Electromagnetic waves do not require a medium and include light, radio, and X-rays
• Wave properties include:
  • Amplitude (A): maximum displacement from equilibrium
  • Frequency (f): number of oscillations per second
  • Wavelength (λ): distance between successive oscillations
  • Speed (v): distance traveled per second, calculated as v = λf

Electricity and Magnetism

• Electric charge is a positive or negative property of matter
• Electric fields are regions around charged particles where force can be detected
• Magnetic fields are regions around current-carrying wires where force can be detected
• Electric current is the flow of electrons, calculated as I = ΔQ / Δt

Thermodynamics

• Temperature is a measure of average kinetic energy of particles in °C or K
• Heat is the transfer of energy between objects due to temperature differences
• Laws of Thermodynamics include:
  • Zeroth Law: temperature equilibrium
  • First Law: energy conservation, ΔE = Q - W
  • Second Law: total entropy always increases over time, ΔS = ΔQ / T