Physics in Society and Careers in Physics

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the definition of physics, its primary branches, associated scientific formulas, and notable physicists mentioned in the lecture.

Physics

The branch of science that studies matter, energy, motion, forces, and the fundamental laws of nature that govern the universe.

Classical Mechanics

A branch of physics that studies motion, forces, and energy, including concepts like falling objects and planetary motion.

Newton's Second Law

A fundamental law of motion expressed by the formula $F=ma$.

Kinetic Energy ($KE$)

The energy of an object due to its motion, calculated as $KE=\frac{1}{2}mv^2$.

Potential Energy ($PE$)

The stored energy of an object based on its position, represented by the formula $PE=mgh$.

Thermodynamics

The study of heat, temperature, and energy transfer, focusing on laws like energy conservation and entropy.

First Law of Thermodynamics

The principle of energy conservation represented by the equation $\triangle U = Q - W$.

Entropy

A measure of disorder in a system; in an isolated system, it is always increasing (\triangle S \text{ } \bge 0).

Electromagnetism

The unified study of electricity, magnetism, and electromagnetic waves.

Ohm's Law

An electrical principle stating that voltage equals current multiplied by resistance, or $V=IR$.

Lorentz Force

The force on a point charge due to electromagnetic fields, given by $F=q(E+v \times B)$.

Optics

The study of light and its behavior, including reflection, refraction, and the use of lenses.

Snell's Law

The formula used to describe the relationship between angles of incidence and refraction when light passes through different media: n_1\text{ }\bset(\theta_1) = n_2\text{ }\bset(\theta_2).

LASER

An acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.

Acoustics

The branch of physics that studies sound, waves, and their properties.

Audible Spectrum

The range of sound frequencies detectable by the human ear, generally between $20\text{ }Hz$ and $20,000\text{ }Hz$.

Quantum Physics

The study of matter and energy at the atomic and subatomic levels, including particle and wave duality.

Relativity

A branch of physics that explains motion at very high speeds and describes gravity as the effect of space-time curvature.

Mass-Energy Equivalence

The principle developed by Albert Einstein showing that mass and energy are interchangeable, expressed as $E=mc^2$.

Medical Physicist

A career in physics dedicated to the use of radiation in healthcare for imaging and cancer treatments.

Isaac Newton

The physicist who formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation, laying the foundation for classical mechanics.

Albert Einstein

The physicist who developed the theory of relativity and revolutionized the understanding of space, time, and energy.

Marie Curie

A pioneering physicist who studied radioactivity and was the first person to win two Nobel Prizes.

Stephen Hawking

A physicist who advanced the understanding of black holes and the origins of the universe through concepts like Hawking radiation.