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PHYSICAL WORLD

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WHAT IS SCIENCE ?

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Science is a systematic enterprise

that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of

  • testable explanations
  • predictions about the universe
  • rational explanation
  • reliable application

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SCIENTIFIC ATTITUDE

AND

SCIENTIFIC METHOD

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  • Systematic observation of relevant facts

SCIENTIFIC METHOD

Steps involved in scientific method of measurement are

  • Proposal of hypothesis or theory based on observation involving quantitative and qualitative reasoning, mathematical modeling, and prediction

SCIENTIFIC MEASUREMENT

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Steps involved in scientific method of measurement are

  • Modification of theory
  • Testing the proposed theory to see its consequence are actually observed in practice using controlled experiment and for verification or falsification of theory

SCIENTIFIC METHOD

SCIENTIFIC MEASUREMENT

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DYNAMIC NATURE OF SCIENCE:

  • The interplay between the theory and observation is the basic to the progress of science
  • That is science is ever dynamic
  • That is there is no ‘final’ theory in science

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DYNAMIC NATURE OF SCIENCE:

Example:

Ptolemy – Geo centric theory

  • Case I observation leads to theory

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DYNAMIC NATURE OF SCIENCE:

Example:

Nicolas Copernicus ---- put forward Heileo centric theory

  • Case I observation leads to theory

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DYNAMIC NATURE OF SCIENCE:

Example:

  • Case I observation leads to theory

Tycho Brahe ---- observed the sky and collected data

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DYNAMIC NATURE OF SCIENCE:

Example:

  • Case I observation leads to theory

Johannes Kepler--- laws of planetary motion

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WHAT IS PHYSICS ?

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- A way of describing the physical world

- Physics comes from the Greek “physis” meaning “nature” and the Latin “physica” meaning natural things

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1) UNIFICATION

2) REDUCTIONISM

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❖Unification is attempt to explain various physical phenomena in terms of just few concepts and laws.

❖e.g. the same law of gravitation can be used to describe the motion of freely falling body and motion of planets around the sun.

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❖Reductionism is to explain a macroscopic system in terms of its microscopic constituents.

❖e.g. Thermodynamics explains the macroscopic properties like temp., internal energy, entropy etc.

❖Kinetic theory explains these properties in terms of molecules.

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Branches

of

PHYSICS

Thermodynamics

– Heat and

temperature

Mechanics

–Motion and its

causes

Optics – Behavior

of light

Electromagnetism

– Electricity,

magnetism and

EM waves

Vibrations and

Waves – Periodic

motion

Atomic –

Structure of the atom, energy associated with

atomic changes

Nuclear –

Structure of the nucleus, energy associated with

nuclear changes

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PHYSICS IN

RELATION TO

SOCIETY

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❖Physics plays a key role in the future progress of humankind. The support of physics education and research in all countries is important because:

  • Physics is exciting that inspires young people.
  • Physics generates fundamental knowledge needed

for technological advances.

  • Physics provides trained personnel needed to take advantage of scientific advances and discoveries.

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  • Physics is an important element in the education of

chemists, engineers and computer scientists.

  • Physics extends and enhances our understanding of

other disciplines.

  • Physics improves our quality of life by providing the

basic understanding necessary for developing new

instrumentation and techniques.

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