INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS

PHYSICS
study of the properties, behavior and
interaction between matter and energy
study that investigates and formulates the
fundamental laws of nature
MAIN AREAS OF PHYSICS:
1. Mechanics concerned with the motion of
objects that are large relative to atoms and
move at speeds much slower than the speed of
light
include mechanics of solids and fluid
mechanics
2. Electromagnetism explores the concepts
that deals with electrical charges, electricity and
magnetism
3. Thermodynamics deals with heat, work,
temperature and statistical behavior of systems
with large number of particles
4. Wave Physics deals with propagation and
vibratory properties of matter
optics deals with light
acoustics deals with sounds
5. Modern Physics the study of the properties
and interaction among atoms and sub-atomic
particles
includes relativity, quantum mechanics,
nuclear physics, statistical mechanics
(thermodynamics in terms of probabilities)
and condensed matter (once called solid state
physics)

Theory - an explanation for patterns in nature that is

supported by scientific evidence and verified multiple
times by various groups of researchers
Some theories include models to help visualize
phenomena, whereas others do not
Example: Kinetic Molecular Theory of Gases
Law - uses concise language to describe a generalized
pattern in nature that is supported by scientific
evidence and repeated experiments
Example: Newtons Laws of Motion
REVIEW OF SOME MATHEMATICAL TOOLS:
The six basic trigonometric functions:
1. sin = opposite/hypotenuse
2. cos = adjacent/hypotenuse
3. tan = opposite/adjacent
4. csc = hypotenuse/opposite
5. sec = hypotenuse/adjacent
6. cot = adjacent/opposite
Pythagorean Theorem:

b
c = a2 + b2
2

Cosine Law:
B
c

a
b

MODELS, THEORIES AND LAWS

a2 = b2 +c2 -2bc cos A

Model a representation of something that is often too

difficult (or impossible) to display directly; it could be
limited or not very complete
Example: planetary model of the atom

b2 = a2 +c2 -2ac cos B

c2 = a2 +b2 -2ab cos C

notes in PHYS 210/mads/cscs-psd

Sine Law:

b.) 3-D ( x, y, z)

a = __b___ = __c___
sin A
sin B
sin C
quadratic equation:
ax2 + bx + c = 0
quadratic formula:
x = -b b2-4ac
2a

***Note that the 3 axes in Cartesian 3-D space have

a specific orientation that follows the righthand rule: With your right hand thumb
extended perpendicularly away from your hand,
follow the rotation of the x-axis with your
fingers curving towards the y-axis. Then, the
direction your thumb points is the direction that
the z-axis points

COORDINATE SYSTEMS
1. Cartesian or orthogonal coordinates (x, y, z)
a.) 2-D (x ,y)

notes in PHYS 210/mads/cscs-psd

2. Polar coordinates (r, ) for 2-D situations

radius vector r - distance that a point is away from the

origin
angle angle that the radius vector, r, makes with
the x-axis
is positive ( > 0) - when r rotates CCW with respect
to reference axis (x-axis)
is negative ( < 0) - when r rotates CW with respect
to reference axis (x-axis)
COORDINATE CONVERSION
A. Polar to Cartesian
x = r cos
; y = r sin
B. Cartesian to Polar
r=
t an = y / x

notes in PHYS 210/mads/cscs-psd