AMBALA CITY, NO.

7876951234

Lecture 1
Introduction
to Physics

By :- Dr. Pankaj Chhabra

 AMBALA CITY, NO. 7876951234

EDUCATION IS NOT THE

LEARNING OF FACTS, BUT THE
TRAINING of THE MIND TO
THINK

………… ALBERT EINSTEIN

By :- Dr. Pankaj Chhabra

Chapter 1, Physical World
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1. What is Science?
2. What is Physics ?
3. Principal Thrust of Physics
4. Classification of Physics
5. Relationship between Physics and other Sciences
6. Relationship between Physics and Society
7. Relationship between Physics and Technology
8. Fundamental force in nature
9. Unification of forces
10.Physical laws

By :- Dr. Pankaj Chhabra

1. What is Science?

What ? Why? How? When? AMBALA CITY, NO. 7876951234

Science is the study of the nature and behaviour of natural things and the
knowledge that we obtain about them.

The word Science originates from the Latin verb Scientia meaning ‘to know’. The
Sanskrit word Vijñãn and the Arabic word Ilm convey similar meaning, namely
‘knowledge’.
Natural Science

Physical Sciences Biological Sciences

(Non-living ) (living )
•Physics •Biology
•Chemistry •Botany
•Geology •Zoology
•Geography •Ornithology
•Astronomy •Anthropology
•Astrology •Forensic science
•Oenology
By :- Dr. Pankaj Chhabra
1. What is Science?
AMBALA CITY, NO. 7876951234
Scientific Theory and Scientific Method

Science is dynamic
There is no ‘final’ theory in science and no
unquestioned authority in science.
By :- Dr. Pankaj Chhabra
1. What is Physics?
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Physics is a basic discipline in the category of Natural Sciences,

The word Physics comes from a Greek word meaning nature. Its
Sanskrit equivalent is Bhautiki that is used to refer to the study
of the physical world.

It gives us basic laws and principle through which the universe

works.
It give answers Why? How? When ?

By :- Dr. Pankaj Chhabra

Principal Thrust of Physics
AMBALA CITY, NO. 7876951234
Unification and reductionism.

Physics works on two fundamentals

Unification Reductionism

Unification is the act of unifying the The reductionism is breaking

different laws valid for different down of a complex system into
phenomena into a single theory that simple constituent systems to so
explains all the different phenomena that laws of physics can be
applied to these systems and we
can understand the working of
Example: Phenomena of apple falling the complex system.
to ground, moon revolving around
earth and weightlessness in the For example a complex thermo
rocket, all these phenomena are dynamical system can be understood
explained with help of one Law that by the properties of its constituent like
is, Newtons Law of Gravitation. kinetic energy of molecules and atoms.

By :- Dr. Pankaj Chhabra

4. Classification of Physics
AMBALA CITY, NO. 7876951234
Basically,
there are two domains of interest : macroscopic and microscopic.

Macroscopic :- includes phenomena at the level of Laboratory, terrestrial and

astronomical scales.

Microscopic:- includes atomic, molecular and nuclear phenomena.

Recently third domain in between is also thought of with name

Mesoscopic Physics. This deals with group of Hundreds of atoms

Scope of physics is very wide and exciting because:-

 it deals with objects of size as large as Universe (1025m) and as small as 10-14 m,
the size of a nucleus.
 it deals with time scales (10-22s) and as big as 1018 s.

 it deals with mass scales (10-30kg) and as big as 1055 Kg.

By :- Dr. Pankaj Chhabra
4. Classification of Physics
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macroscopic microscopic
Classical Physics Quantum Physics
(Modern)

Quantum mechanics is a
fundamental theory in physics that
provides a description of the
physical properties of nature at the
scale of atoms and 
subatomic particles

12th class

11th class By :- Dr. Pankaj Chhabra

4. Classification of Physics
AMBALA CITY, NO. 7876951234
Classical Physics

This branch of physics deals with the behavior, propagation, and

properties of light. Optics can be simply described as the study of
the behavior of infrared light, visible light, and ultraviolet.

Electromagnetism deals with the study of electromagnetic force like

electric fields, light, magnetic fields, etc. there are two aspects of 
electromagnetism which are “electricity” and “magnetism”

By :- Dr. Pankaj Chhabra

4. Classification of Physics
AMBALA CITY, NO. 7876951234
Classical Physics

Mechanics is the branch of physics which deals with the motion

of an object without or with the reference of force.

Thermodynamics deals with the study of heat and its relation with work
and energy. Thermodynamics also deals with the transmission of heat
energy by means of convection, conduction, and radiation.

Acoustic deals with the study of sound and its transmission, production, and
effects. Acoustics mainly involves the mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and
solids which includes vibration, sound, ultrasound, and infrasound.

By :- Dr. Pankaj Chhabra

5. Relationship between Physics and other Sciences
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Relationship with Chemistry
Chemical bonding, atomic number and complex structure can be explained by physics
phenomena of Electrostatic forces, • taking help of X-ray diffraction

Relationship with Biological sciences Physics in relation to Biological Sciences: Physics helps
in study of Biology through its inventions. Optical microscope helps to study bio-samples,
electron microscope helps to study biological cells. X-rays have many applications in
biological sciences. Radio isotopes are used in cancer.
Relationship with Astronomy Giant astronomical telescope developed in physics are used
for observing planets. Radio telescopes have enabled astronomers to observe distant
limits of universe. • Physics related to other sciences: Laws of Physics are used to study
different phenomenas in other sciences like Biophysics, oceanography, seismology etc.

By :- Dr. Pankaj Chhabra

5. Relationship between Physics and other Sciences
AMBALA CITY, NO. 7876951234

Relationship with Mathematics  are two closely connected fields. For physicists, math is a tool
used to answer questions. ... For mathematicians, physics can be a source of inspiration, with
theoretical concepts such as general relativity and quantum theory providing an impetus for
mathematicians to develop new tools.

Relationship with Geology: in geology we study rocks, different structure, different palte
activities, different movement of particles etc .. For this physics gave us Diffraction
technique

Relationship with Seismology: seismology employs branches of physics such as solid

state physics, material properties (elasticity), wave mechanics

Relationship with Metrology (weather forecasting), as observed through volume, pressure,

temperature, surface tension etc. and physics gave techniques to measure them.

By :- Dr. Pankaj Chhabra

6. Relationship between Physics and Society
AMBALA CITY, NO. 7876951234

•Live transmissions through

television.
•Computers with high
speed and memory,
•Use of Robots,
• Lasers and their
applications
•Internet
•Transportation

By :- Dr. Pankaj Chhabra

7. Relationship between Physics and Technology
AMBALA CITY, NO. 7876951234

By :- Dr. Pankaj Chhabra

7. Relationship between Physics and Technology
AMBALA CITY, NO. 7876951234

By :- Dr. Pankaj Chhabra

7. Relationship between Physics and Technology
AMBALA CITY, NO. 7876951234

By :- Dr. Pankaj Chhabra

Fundamental force in nature
Gravitational Forces Electromagnetic Strong nuclear Force Weak CITY,
AMBALA nuclear Force
NO. 7876951234
forces

Force of mutual Force between two The forces that bind These are the forces
attraction between static electric charges the neutrons and that appear only
any two objects by is electrostatic force. protons together in a between elementary
virtue of their masses Force between two nucleus particles of short life
magnetic poles is times, involved in
magnetic forces nuclear process such
as β-decay of a
nucleus.

Weakest force : One of the Strong Strongest force Weak force Sub-
infinite range force : infinite range Short, nuclear size nuclear, size (~10–16m)
(~10–15m)
All objects in the Charged particles Nucleons, heavier Some elementary
universe elementary particles particles,
electron and
neutrino

Relative Strength
Strong nuclear force>Electromagnetic forces>Weak nuclear forces>Gravitational Forces
(1) (10-2) (10-13) (10-39) By :- Dr. Pankaj Chhabra
Fundamental force in nature
Gravitational Forces Electromagnetic Strong nuclear Force Weak nuclear Force
AMBALA CITY, NO. 7876951234
forces

Between n-n Leptons-lepstons

Between p-p Mesons-leptons
Between n-p
Independent of Explains : Non-Conservative Field particle vector :
shape, size, and 1. Forces between and non-central boson (W±,Z°)
intervening medium surfaces in forces
and never Repulsive contact. Basically attractive
Field particle : 2. Force of friction forces can be
graviton 3. Tension in spring repulsive if distance is
Conservative and and wire less than 0.8 ferm
central forces 4. Forces due to Field particle
spring π-meson

Motion of earth, Charged particles Non-Conservative

moon and other Can be attractive and and non-central
astronomical bodies. can be repulsive forces
Field particle is
photon : no charge
zero rest mass

By :- Dr. Pankaj Chhabra

Unification of forces
AMBALA CITY, NO. 7876951234

By :- Dr. Pankaj Chhabra

0. Physical laws/ Conservation laws
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Conservation Laws
A conservation law is a hypothesis based on observation and
experiments which cannot be proved. These can be verified via
experiments.

Law of conservation of Energy

Law of conservation of linear momentum

Law of conservation of angular momentum

Law of conservation of charge

By :- Dr. Pankaj Chhabra

Law of conservation of Energy
According to the general Law of conservation of energy, theAMBALA CITY, NO. 7876951234
energies remain
constant over time and convert from one form to another.
The law of conservation of energy applies to the whole universe and it is believed
that the total energy of the universe remains unchanged.

Law of conservation of Mass

The law of conservation of mass applies to the

whole universe and it is believed that the total
mass of the universe remains unchanged.
Evident in chemical reactions

Law of conservation of Mass-energy

Mass is related to energy through Einstein theory,
E = mc2, c – speed of light in vacuum
The total sum of mass and energy remains constant
By :- Dr. Pankaj Chhabra
Law of conservation of linear momentum AMBALA CITY, NO. 7876951234

If the net external force acting on a system of bodies is zero, then the
momentum of the system remains constant.
•Gun firing case
•Example law of gravitation is same on earth and moon even if the acceleration
due to gravity at moon is 1/6th than that at earth.

Law of conservation of angular momentum

when the net external torque acting on a system is zero, its total angular
momentum is conserved and hence, does not change.

•Isotropy of space (no intrinsically preferred direction in space) underlies

the law of conservation of angular momentum.

•Spiral galaxy
By :- Dr. Pankaj Chhabra
Law of conservation of charge
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Conservation of Charge is the principle that the total electric charge in

an isolated system never changes. The net quantity of electric charge,
the amount of positive charge minus the amount of negative charge in
the universe, is always conserved.

•Charges due to induction.

•During radioactive decay, a proton decays into a positron and a
neutron, but no net charge production.

By :- Dr. Pankaj Chhabra