Understanding Wave Motion: Transverse and Longitudinal Waves
Understanding Wave Motion
Most information reaches us through waves. Sound reaches our ears, light our eyes, and electromagnetic signals our radios and TVs through oscillatory motion. Wave motion transfers energy from a source to a receiver without transferring matter between them.
Imagine raising and lowering one end of a rope. A rhythmic disturbance travels along it. Each particle of the rope moves up and down, while the disturbance travels the length of the rope. The medium returns to its initial
Read MoreUnderstanding Classical Physics Limitations and Modern Concepts
Limitations of Classical Physics
Classical mechanics, based on Galilean transformations and Newton’s equations, faced challenges with Maxwell’s equations. These equations confirmed the wave nature of light and allowed for the calculation of its speed in a vacuum, leading to comparisons between light and sound waves.
Characteristics of Sound
- Requires a medium to propagate.
- Propagates at a steady pace with respect to the medium.
- Velocity can be found using the formula for the addition of velocities.
Characteristics
Read MorePhysics Fundamentals: Quantities, Vectors, and Motion
What is Physics?
Physics is the science that studies physical phenomena through observation and experimentation. It aims to interpret knowledge of the laws governing these phenomena and derive practical applications.
What is a Quantity?
A quantity is a property that can be measured. Measuring a quantity involves comparing it with another of the same kind, which is taken as the unit.
Magnitude Scale
A magnitude scale is established when a magnitude is defined by the value of its measure or module. Examples
Read MoreUniverse Models, Solar System Structure, and Star Formation
Geocentric and Heliocentric Universe Models
Geocentric Model (Aristotle)
The Earth is considered the center of the universe, fixed and immobile. A celestial sphere encompasses the sky, the Sun, Moon, planets, and fixed stars. Aristotle’s universe was divided into two parts: the celestial world and the terrestrial world. The celestial realm was perfect, and its only movement was thought to be circular. Tycho Brahe later rejected the existence of crystalline spheres carrying the planets after observing
Read MoreNewton’s Laws of Motion: Understanding Force and Acceleration
Newton’s Second Law
Newton’s Second Law states that when a force is applied to an object (a “body”), it accelerates in the direction of the force. The acceleration is directly proportional to the magnitude of the force and inversely proportional to the mass of the object:
a = F / m or F = ma
The Second Law provides an explicit formula and is therefore one of the most useful. However, it can also be one of the most confusing for physics students. The problem arises when expressed as follows:
A formula
Read MoreThermodynamics: Principles and Applications
Thermodynamics
Introduction: Thermodynamics is a branch of physics that studies the relationships between heat and work. Systems can be classified as open when mass exchange occurs, or closed when the average mass remains constant.
Extensive properties are mass-dependent, while intensive properties are not. Important concepts include thermodynamic variables (pressure, volume, and temperature), which define the thermodynamic state of a system, and functions of state (enthalpy, internal energy, etc.
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