1 - INTRODUCTION

• What is the most fundamental of the sciences?

  Physics
• What does physics study?

  Behavior and properties of matter and energy
• How does physics answer fundamental questions?

  Through observation and experimentation
• Why is physics considered an experimental science?

  It is based on experiments and observed phenomena
• Who are two key figures in the development of physics?

  Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton
• What are the branches of physics?

  1. Classical Physics (1600 – 1900)

  • Classical Mechanics
  • Thermodynamics
  • Electromagnetism

  1. Modern Physics (1900 to present)

  • Special Relativity
  • Quantum Mechanics
  • General Relativity
• What does classical mechanics study?

  Motion of particles and fluids
• What does thermodynamics study?

  Heat and temperature relationships
• What does electromagnetism encompass?

  Electricity, magnetism, and optics
• What is special relativity about?

  Particles moving at speeds close to light
• What does quantum mechanics study?

  Submicroscopic world of atoms
• What does general relativity relate to?

  Gravity and geometrical properties of space
• What is a concept in physics?

  An idea or physical quantity for analysis
• What is a principle in physics?

  A general statement without specific rules
• What does the Uncertainty Principle state?

  You cannot measure position and velocity precisely
• What is a law in physics?

  A statement defined mathematically that is always true
• What is a theory in physics?

  An explanation based on observation and principles
• Can a theory be disproven?

  Yes, by finding inconsistent behavior
• What is the scientific process?

  A systematic way of investigating the natural world
• What are the steps of the scientific process?

  1. Observation
  2. Formulation of hypothesis
  3. Experimentation
  4. Analysis of results
  5. Drawing of conclusion
• What is accuracy in measurements?

  Nearness of a measured value to the known value
• How is percent error calculated?

  %ϵ = (XEV - XTV) / XTV x 100%
• What does a low percent error indicate?

  High accuracy
• What is precision in measurements?

  Closeness of measured values to each other
• How is percent difference calculated?

  %Δ = (X1 - X2) / Xave x 100%
• What does a low percent difference indicate?

  High precision
• What is uncertainty in measurements?

  Best estimate of how far a quantity might be from true value
• What are the rules for significant figures?

  1. Conversion does not change significant figures.
  2. Non-zero digits are significant.
  3. Zeros between significant figures are significant.
  4. Zeros to the right of a decimal point are significant if preceded by a significant digit.
  5. Zeros in whole numbers are not significant unless marked.
  6. All digits in scientific notation are significant.
• How many significant figures does 0.005 have?

  1
• How many significant figures does 0.0050 have?

  2
• How many significant figures does 5.000 have?

  4
• How many significant figures does 500.0 have?

  4
• How many significant figures does 5.050 have?

  4
• How many significant figures does 500 have?

  1
• How many significant figures does 50ō have?

  3
• How many significant figures does 5.00 x 10^-12 have?

  3
• What is scientific notation?

  A way to write large or small numbers
• What is the base of scientific notation?

  10
• What must the coefficient in scientific notation be?

  Between 1 and 10
• What are the steps to write a number in scientific notation?

  1. Place decimal after the first digit.
  2. Count places from decimal to end of number.

  • Negative exponent for numbers < 1.
  • Positive exponent for numbers > 1.