INTRODUCTION

Physics, science that deals with the structure of matter and the interactions between the fundamental constituents of the observable universe. In the broadest sense, physics (from the Greek physikos) is concerned with all aspects of nature on both the macroscopic and submicroscopic levels. Its scope of study encompasses not only the behavior of objects under the action of given forces but also the nature and origin of gravitational, electromagnetic, and nuclear force fields. Its ultimate objective is the formulation of a few comprehensive principles that bring together and explain all such disparate phenomena.

Physics is basic physical science. Until rather recent times physics and natural philosophy were used interchangeably for the science whose aim is the discovery and formulation of the fundamental laws of nature. As the modern sciences developed and became increasingly specialized, physics came to denote that part of physical science not included in astronomy, chemistry, geology, and engineering. Physics plays an important role in all the natural sciences, however, and all such fields have branches in which physical laws and measurements receive special emphasis, bearing such names as astrophysics, geophysics, biophysics, and even psychophysics. Physics can, at the base, be defined as the science of matter, motion, and energy. Its laws are typically expressed with economy and precision in the language of mathematics.

Both experiments, the observation of phenomena under conditions that are controlled as precisely as possible, and theory, the formulation of a unified conceptual framework, play essential and complementary roles in the advancement of physics. Physical experiments result in measurements, which are compared with the outcome predicted by theory. A theory that reliably predicts the results of experiments to which it is applicable is said to embody a law of physics. However, a law is always subject to modification, replacement, or restriction to a more limited domain, if a later experiment makes it necessary.

The ultimate aim of physics is to find a unified set of laws governing the matter, motion, and energy at small (microscopic) subatomic distances, at the human (macroscopic) scale of everyday life, and out to the largest distances (e.g., those on the extragalactic scale). This ambitious goal has been realized to a notable extent. Although a completely unified theory of physical phenomena has not yet been achieved (and possibly never will be), a remarkably small set of fundamental physical laws appears able to account for all known phenomena. The body of physics developed up to about the turn of the 20th century, known as classical physics, can largely account for the motions of macroscopic objects that move slowly with respect to the speed of light and for such phenomena as heat, sound, electricity, magnetism, and light. The modern developments of relativity and quantum mechanics modify these laws insofar as they apply to higher speeds, very massive objects, and to the tiny elementary constituents of matter, such as electrons, protons, and neutrons.

So what we have to study in our syllabus of physics?

The following are the main topics and time allocations for study.

	Topic	The number of hrs.
Unit 01	Measurement	20
Unit 02	Mechanics	73
Unit 03	Oscillations and Waves	67
Unit 04	Thermal Physics	40
Unit 05	Gravitational Field	13
Unit 06	Electrostatic field	40
Unit 07	Magnetic Field	27
Unit 08	Current Electricity	47
Unit 09	Electronics	27
Unit 10	Mechanical Properties of Matter	27
Unit 11	Matter and Radiation	20

Applications of Physics in Everyday Life

Physics extends well into your everyday life, describing the motion, forces, and energy of the ordinary experience. In actions such as walking, driving a car, or using a phone, physics is at work. For everyday living, all the technologies you might take for granted exploit the rules of physics.

Simple Mechanical Devices

An easy place to see physics in action is with a simple lever – most easily observed at a park. Levers come in three flavors, each with varying fulcrum locations. They serve to magnify force, lessening the effort needed to move an object on the opposing end. A simple “see-saw” at a park consists of a lever (the locations for sitting) and the fulcrum (placed in the middle). The two opposing forces counterbalance each other, creating a smooth ride through the air. At the same park, you'll see a slide, a device that combines the stairs going up with the slide going down, both examples of inclined planes. The inclined plane eases the effort of climbing by spreading it over a longer distance. The smooth slide returns you gently to earth, slowing the influence of gravity just enough to make it fun.

Transportation and Newton's Laws

The transportation industry is no stranger to the manipulation of everyday physics. Cars and trains utilize the wheel, which provides a smooth, steady motion. Newton's laws of motion are at work as mechanical force and acceleration, action, reaction, and inertia. Airplanes take it one step further, allowing lift as well as forward momentum. They manipulate physics – much like birds – by creating lift through wing shape as well as the wing’s angle – both of which serve to alter airflow.

05 Examples of Physics in Everyday Life

On this “Living Planet” that we call Earth, there are lots of interesting events that take place. These events are around us, which we see or do, or experience regularly. At some point in time, your curiosity would have pushed you to ask questions about what’s going on? How does that happen? Well, leaving miracles apart, the answer to all these questions is “Physics.” In fact, Physics governs our everyday lives in one way or the other. Let’s have ten examples of Physics in everyday life:

01. ALARM CLOCK

Physics gets involved in your daily life right after you wake up in the morning. The buzzing sound of an alarm clock helps you wake up in the morning as per your schedule. The sound is something that you can’t see but hear or experience. Physics studies the origin, propagation, and properties of sound. It works on the concept of Quantum Mechanics.

02 STEAM IRON

Right after you wake up in the morning and start preparing for your school/office, you need an ironed cloth, and that’s where Physics comes into play. The steam iron is such a machine that uses a lot of Physics to make it go. The foremost principle of Physics used in the steam iron is “Heat.” Heat, in Thermodynamics, is a type of energy transfer from a warmer substance to a colder one. Ironing works by having a heated metal base- the soleplate.

03 WALKING

Now, when you get ready for your school, whatever medium of commutation is, you certainly have to walk up to a certain distance. You can easily walk is just because of Physics. While you have a walk in a park or on a tar road, you have a good grip without slipping because of a sort of roughness or resistance between the soles of your shoes and the surface of the road. This resistance, which is responsible for the grip, is called “Friction” or “Traction.” However, when a banana peel comes under your foot, you suddenly fall. Now, what makes you fall? Well, it’s due to the reduced friction between your shoes and the surface of the road because of the slippery banana peel.

04 BALL POINT PEN

Whether you are at your workplace or in your school, a Ball Point Pen is your weapon. Had Physics not been there, you would not have able to write with a Ball Point Pen on a paper. In this case, the concept of gravity comes into play. As your pen moves across the paper, the ball turns and gravity forces the ink down onto the top of the ball where it is transferred onto the paper.

05. HEADPHONES OR EARPHONES

When you get tired of work or studies, listening to music comes handy. Have you ever thought how does your headphone/earphone work? Well, it’s again because of Physics. The concept of magnetism and sound waves are involved in the science of your headphone/earphone. When you plug your headphone/earphone into an electrical source, the magnet in your headphone/earphone creates an electromagnetic field, which ultimately results in sound waves.

The Importance of Physics to Society

Physics - the study of matter, energy and their interactions - is an international enterprise, which 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 an exciting intellectual adventure that inspires young people and expands the frontiers of our knowledge about Nature.
Physics generates fundamental knowledge needed for the future technological advances that will continue to drive the economic engines of the world.
Physics contributes to the technological infrastructure and provides trained personnel needed to take advantage of scientific advances and discoveries.
Physics is an important element in the education of chemists, engineers and computer scientists, as well as practitioners of the other physical and biomedical sciences.
Physics extends and enhances our understanding of other disciplines, such as the earth, agricultural, chemical, biological, and environmental sciences, plus astrophysics and cosmology - subjects of substantial importance to all peoples of the world.
Physics improves our quality of life by providing the basic understanding necessary for developing new instrumentation and techniques for medical applications, such as computer tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, ultrasonic imaging, and laser surgery.

Scientific Method

In science, we need to make observations on various phenomena to form and test hypotheses. Some phenomena can be found and studied in nature, but scientists often need to create an experiment. Experiments are tests under controlled conditions designed to demonstrate something scientists already know or to test something scientists wish to know. Experiments vary greatly in their goal and scale, but always rely on repeatable procedure and logical analysis of the results. The process of designing and performing experiments is a part of the scientific method.

The scientific method is the process used by scientists to acquire new knowledge and improve our understanding of the universe. It involves making observations on the phenomenon being studied, suggesting explanations for the observations, and testing these possible explanations, also called hypotheses, by making new observations. A hypothesis is a scientist's proposed explanation of a phenomenon which still must be tested.

The scientific method is employed by scientists around the world, but it is not always conducted in the order above. Sometimes, hypothesis are formulated before observations are collected; sometimes observations are made before hypothesis are created. Regardless, it is important that scientists record their procedures carefully, allowing others to reproduce and verify the experimental data and results. After many experiments provide results supporting a hypothesis, the hypothesis becomes a theory. Theories remain theories forever, and are constantly being retested with every experiment and observation. Theories can never become fact or law.

In science, a law is a mathematical relationship that exists between observations under a given set of conditions. There is a fundamental difference between observations of the physical world and explanations of the nature of the physical world. Hypotheses and theories are explanations, whereas laws and measurements are observational.

References:

1. https://www.britannica.com/science/physics-science

2. 2017 New syllabus Physics

3. https://sciencing.com/applications-physics-everyday-life-8637595.html

4. https://studiousguy.com/10-examples-of-physics-in-everyday-life/

5. https://iupap.triumf.ca/C12/IUPAP_AIMS.html

https://www.ck12.org/physics/scientific-method-in-physics/lesson/Scientific-Method-PHYS/

ARJUNA SENANAYAKE

ENGLISH MEDIUM PHYSICS

0719406733