NEET Physics in 123 Concepts

C XI–UNIT I-PHYSICAL WORLD AND MEASUREMENT-CONCEPT 1- NOTES & FORMULAE

 What is Science ?
 The word Science originates from the Latin verb Scientia meaning ‘to know’.

 The Sanskrit word Vijnan and the Arabic word Ilm convey similar meaning, namely
‘knowledge’.

 Science is a systematic attempt to understand natural phenomena in as much

detail and depth as possible and use the knowledge so gained to predict, modify
and control phenomena.

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 Science is exploring, experimenting and predicting from what we see around us.

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The curiosity to learn about the world, unraveling the secrets of nature is the first

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step towards the discovery of science.
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 Systematic observations, controlled experiments, qualitative and quantitative

reasoning, mathematical modeling, prediction and verification or falsification of
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theories, Speculation and Conjecture are the various steps in the exploration of
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meaning of Science.
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 What is Physics?
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The word ‘Physics’ comes from a Greek word ‘fusis’ meaning

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‘nature’. Its Sanskrit equivalent Bhautiki is used to refer to

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the study of the physical world.

 Physics can be described as a study of all the basic laws of nature and their
manifestation in different natural phenomena. Hence, Physics is a branch of science
which deals with the study of nature and natural phenomena.

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 What is the scope of Classical Physics?

Classical Physics deals mainly with macroscopic phenomena and it includes subjects
like Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Optics and Thermodynamics.

 What is the scope of Mesoscopic Physics ?

 The domain of the study of phenomenon with particles of size >10-6m is called
macroscopic whereas the study with particles of size <10-6m is called microscopic.

 The domain intermediate between the macroscopic and microscopic phenomena

dealing with a few tens or hundreds of atoms is mesoscopic Physics.

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 In defining the scope of physics, what are the ranges of magnitudes of physical

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quantities like length, mass, time?

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 The range of length is 10-15m (radius of nucleus) to 1026m (boundary of observable
universe)
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 The range of mass is 10-31kg (mass of electron) to 1055 kg (mass of observable

universe)
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 The range of time is 10-24s (life span of most unstable particle) to 1017s (age of
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universe)
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 ‘The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible.’

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Who made these remarks?

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Albert Einstein
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 What is the contribution of S. Chandrasekhar to physics?

 While studying the constitution of the stars, he has proved that the maximum
mass that a white dwarf can have is 1.4 times the solar mass. This mass is known
as Chandrasekhar limit (CSL).
 If a star crosses this limit, it has to face a catastrophic collapse

 What is the discovery of C.V. Raman?

Inelastic scattering of light by molecules

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 It has been postulated that there may be some particles moving with speed
greater than the speed of light. Such particles have been named as ___
Tachyons

 “Every great physical theory starts as a heresy and ends as a dogma”. Give some
examples from the history of science for the validity of this incisive remark.
 According to the geocentric theory given by Ptolemy, the earth is stationary and
all other heavenly bodies such as Sun, Stars and other planets revolve around it.

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 Later on, an Italian scientist Galileo postulated heliocentric theory, according to

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which the Sun is stationary and earth along with other planets revolve around it.

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This theory was a heresy at that time but later on, Newton and Kepler supported

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this theory and it became a dogma.

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According to Newton’s corpuscular theory, light consists of small corpuscles

(particles). It is started as a heresy and ended in Max Planck’s quantum theory of
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light as a dogma.
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 Fundamental forces in nature - Comparison of relative strengths and ranges of

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different fundamental forces of nature

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 Fundamental forces in nature are

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 Gravitational force  Electromagnetic force

 Strong nuclear force  Weak nuclear force

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 Comparison of relative strengths of fundamental forces

Relative Mediated
Name Range Operates among
strength Particle
Gravitational All objects in the
10-39 Infinite Graviton
force universe
Very short, Elementary
Weak nuclear Sub-nuclear particles,
10-13 Boson
force size particularly electron
nearly 10-16m and neutrino

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Electromagnetic
10-2 Infinite Charged particles Photon

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force

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Short, Nucleons,

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Strong nuclear

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1 nuclear size heavier elementary -meson
force
nearly 10-15m
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 In terms of strengths , FG < FW < FE < FN

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 Progress in unification of different forces/domains in nature

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Name of the Physicist Year Achievement in unification

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Unified celestial and terrestrial mechanics,

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Isaac Newton 1687 showed that the same laws of motion and the
law of gravitation apply to both the domains

Hans Christian Oersted 1820 Showed that electric and magnetic phenomena
are inseparable aspects of a unified domain ,
Michael Faraday 1830 electromagnetism.

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Unified electricity, magnetism and optics,

James Clerk Maxwell 1873
showed that light is an electromagnetic wave.

Sheldon Glashow, Showed that the ‘weak’ nuclear force and the
Abdus Salam, 1979 electromagnetic force could be viewed as
Steven Weinberg different aspects of a single electro-weak force.

Carlo Rubia, Verified experimentally the predictions of the

1984
Simon Vander Meer theory of electro-weak force

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 Physicists from different countries of the world and their major contributions
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Country of
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Name Major contribution/discovery

Origin
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Principle of buoyancy ,
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Archimedes Greece
Principle of the lever
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Galileo galilee Law of inertia Italy

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Christian Huygens Wave of theory of light Holland

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Universal law of gravitation,

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Isaac Newton U.K.

Laws of motion, Reflecting telescope
Michael Faraday Laws of electromagnetic induction U.K.
Electromagnetic theory,
James Clerk Maxwell U.K.
Light-an electromagnetic wave
Heinrich Rudolf Hertz Generation of electromagnetic waves Germany
J.C Bose Ultra short radio waves India
W.K. Roentgen X-rays Germany

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J.J. Thomson Electron U.K.

Discovery of radium and polonium,
Marie Sklodowska Curie Poland
Studies on natural radioactivity
Explanation of photoelectric effect,
Albert Einstein Germany
Theory of relativity
Victor Francis Hess Cosmic radiation Austria
R.A. Millikan Measurement of electronic charge U.S.A
New
Ernest Rutherford Nuclear model of atom
Zealand

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Niels Bohr Quantum model of hydrogen atom Denmark

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Inelastic scattering of light by

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C.V. Raman India

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molecules
Louis Victor de Broglie
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Wave nature of matter France
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M.N. Saha Thermal ionization India

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S.N. Bose Quantum statistics India

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Wolfgang Pauli Exclusion principle Austria

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Enrico Fermi Controlled nuclear fission Italy

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Quantum mechanics, Uncertainty

Werner Heisenberg Germany
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principle
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Relativistic theory of electron,

Paul Dirac U.K.
Quantum statistics
Edwin Hubble Expanding universe U.S.A
Ernest Orlando Lawrence Cyclotron U.S.A
James Chadwick Neutron U.K.
Hideki Yukawa Theory of nuclear forces Japan
Homi Jahangir Bhabha Cascade process of cosmic radiation India
Lev Davidovich Landau Theory of condensed matter, Liquid Russia

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helium
Chandrasekhar limit, structure and
S. Chandrasekhar India
evolution of stars
Transistors, Theory of super
John Bardeen U.S.A
conductivity
C.H. Townes Maser, Laser U.S.A
Unification of weak and
Abdus Salam Pakistan
electromagnetic interactions
Wolfgang Pauli Neutrino in - decay Austria

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 Link between Technology and Law/Phenomenon in Physics

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Technology Law/Phenomenon in Physics

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Steam engine C
Laws of thermodynamics
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Nuclear reactor Controlled nuclear fission

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Generation, propagation and detection

Radio and Television
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of electromagnetic waves
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Computers Digital logic

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Light amplification by stimulated

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Lasers emission of radiation, Amplification by

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population inversion
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Production of ultrahigh magnetic fields Superconductivity

Rocket propulsion Newton’s laws of motion
Faraday’s laws of electromagnetic
Electric generator
induction
Conversion of gravitational potential
Hydroelectric power
energy into electrical energy
Aero plane Bernoulli’s principle in fluid dynamics

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Motion of charged particles in

Particle accelerators
electromagnetic fields
Sonar Reflection of ultrasonic waves
Optical fibers Total internal reflection of light
Non-reflecting coatings Thin film optical interference
Electron microscope Wave nature of electrons
Photocell Photoelectric effect

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Fusion test reactor ( Tokamak ) Magnetic confinement of plasma

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Giant Metre wave Radio Telescope
Detection of cosmic radio waves

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(GMRT)

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Trapping and cooling of atoms by laser
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Bose-Einstein condensate
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beams and magnetic fields
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