General Physics

Jerry Concepcion Reyes

Master of Arts in Education major
in Science and Technology
Course Description

The course includes understanding of spiralling basic

science concepts and application of science inquiry in
Physics and Earth and Space, strategies in teaching
elementary science, development of instructional materials
and assessment. Content topics in Physics include Force
and Motion, and Energy while Earth and Space Science
include Geology, Meteorology, and Astronomy.
 Introduction to Physics
 What do you usually think when you asked what physics
is ? If you think of a difficult, boring, and useless subject
in high school, you should think again. You know why?
All of us practically “eat” and “breathe” physics day in
and day out. There is physics whether we are at rest or in
motion. There is physics in a ticking clock, in a hot
flatiron and in a ringing cellphone. There is physics in
music and in light. There is much physics in still water as
there is in a tsunami. There is physics in all of nature-
from the smallest elementary particle to the immeasurable
expanse of the entire universe.
 Physics is indeed everywhere and in every imaginable
way. And we are a part of physics, whether we like it or
not.
 But what exactly is physics? Does physics make use of
quantities to explain the things that happen around us? If it
does, in what ways are the physical quantities described?
 What is Physics?
 Physics is the study of everyday phenomena. It aims to
explain these phenomena in terms of the fundamental laws,
or the laws of nature. To be specific, physics is the study of
matter and energy and their relationship. Physicists believe
that most everyday phenomena can, in one way or another,
be explained through physics, as matter and energy it
possesses. Simple as matter may seem, its relationship with
energy is intricate and can only be explained through a
scientific approach.
 PHYSICS AND OTHER
BRANCHES OF SCIENCE
 Science is a systematized body of knowledge that is based
on facts gathered through observations, experiences and
experiments in order to formulate a verifiable conclusion
or law that serves as basis of technology for the benefit of
man and his environment. Science can be compared to a
tree. It has three main roots: man’s needs, man’s problem,
and man’s curiosity. It has three main branches:
 Social Science
 Deals with human behavior primarily in its social and
cultural aspects.
 Applied Science
 - is the application of the theoretical sciences, like those in
social and natural sciences.
 Natural Science
 - which deals with the understanding and description of
nature. It is divided into biological and physical science.
 -Biological Science
 Deals with the study of living things
- Physical Science
 - deals with the study of non-living things.
 -----Physics is a sub branch of physical science. It is
considered the basic science because it serves as the
foundation of the other sciences. Astronomy makes use of
physics in its study of all matter beyond Earth and how
these matter interact with one another. Meteorology make
use of the heat and wave aspects of physics. Biology uses
physics in its molecular aspect. Chemistry is unified with
physics through the concept of energy.
PHYSICS AND ITS BRANCHES
 Physics is divided into two main branches
 - Classical Physics
 - refers to the traditional topics in physics that were
recognized and developed before the beginning of the 20th
century. These topics are concerned with matter and energy
under normal condition.
 Under Classical Physics
 1. Mechanics
 - the study of forces acting on bodies, whether at rest or in
motion.
 a) Statics – on forces acting on bodies at rest.
 b) Kinematics – on motion without regard its cause.
 c) Dynamics - on motion and the forces that affect it.
 2. Acoustic – the study of the production and propagation
of sound waves.
 3. Optics – the study of light.
 a) Physical Optics – on the production, nature and
properties of light.
 b) Physiological Optics – on the part played by light in
vision.
 c) Geometrical Optics – on the reflection and refraction
of light of light as encountered in the study of mirrors and
lenses.
 4. thermodynamics – the study of the relationship between
heat and other forms of energy.
 5 Electromagnetism – the study of the properties of
electric current and magnetism, and their relationship.
 a) electrostatic – on electric charges at rest.
 b) electrodynamics – on moving charges.
 c) Magnetostatics – on moving poles at rest.
 Modern Physics
 1. Atomic and Nuclear Physics – the study of the components,
structure and behavior of the nucleus of the atom.
 2. Quantum Physics – the study of the discrete nature of
phenomena at the atomic and subatomic levels; its focus in on
the indivisible units of energy called quanta as described by the
Quantum theory.
 3. Solid State Physics – the study of all properties of solid
materials, including electrical conduction in crystal of
semiconductors and materials, superconductivity and
photoconductivity.
 4. Relativistic Physics – the study of phenomena that take
place in the frame of reference that is in motion with respect to
an observer.
 5. Condensed Matter Physics – the study of the
properties of condensed materials ( solids, liquids and
those intermediate between them, and dense gas) with the
ultimate goal of developing new materials with better
properties; it is an extension of Solid State Physics.
 6. Plasma Physics – the study of the fourth state of matter.
 7. Low- Temperature Physics – the study of the
production and maintenance of temperatures down to
almost absolute zero, and the various phenomena that
occur only at such temperatures.
 Physics is More than just a Natural
Philosophy
 Ancient philosophers studied not only ethics, morality and
the essence of beings as determined by the mind, but also
the natural world which they called natural philosophy.
 Natural philosophy refers to the study of the phenomena
of nature. It is all about the natural world. The Greek word
for “natural” is physikos which is the origin of the word
physics.
 For many centuries, the study of nature continued to be
known as natural philosophy. In fact, one of the greatest
scientific works ever written was Sir Isaac Newton’s
Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica (the
Mathematical Principle of Natural Philosophy).
 In the late 19th century, physics was separated from
philosophy because of one important factor – it employed
an approach known as the scientific method.
 Scientific method is the application of logical process of
reasoning to arrive at a center law or principle that is
consistent with experimental results. This method refers to
systematized testing of ideas, inference, predictions and
hypotheses.
 In scientific investigations, they cyclic pattern is often
followed because, oftentimes, a solution to a given problem
creates a new problem and the cycle starts again.
 Steps in Scientific Methods
 1. State the Problem – state what you wants to find out in
question form.
 2. Formulate the Hypothesis – give your predictions of
what you think may happen.
 3. Test the Hypothesis – place your experiment. Write
step by step procedure which includes how to control the
variables. Carry out your experiment.
 4. Gather the Data – record your observations which may
include appearance or behavior of something.
 5. Analyze the Data – find out any trends or pattern. Your
data should report your conclusion or lead you to another
hypothesis.
 6. Make a Conclusion – state your conclusion based on
your data.
 You can think and work like a scientists when you wonder
why certain things happen, and begin asking questions
like “How do things happen? What causes this occur?
When will this take place again? How can this be
controlled to benefit humankind and the environment?”
this is the point wherein you recognize the problem and
start to organize a plan to come up with a valid and
acceptable solution or answer to it. After identifying the
problem, you can now formulate a hypothesis. Then, plan
your experiment, make observations and form calculations
to the test hypothesis. Finally, analyze the data and make a
conclusion. This is how the scientific method works.
 If we can only apply this method to situations in our daily
lives, we could become effective problem solvers and
productive individuals.
 Physics and Technology: Partners for
Progress
 Physics, which attempts to understand nature and its law,
has a become a very important field of human knowledge. It
has helped us change both the physical and social
dimensions of our environment through the development of
technology in the form of new tools or gadgets, new
products and new processes.
 In early times, people survived with materials they took
directly from their environment. They ate roots, leaves, and
fruits of plants and the meat of animals they were able to
catch. They used leaves, grass and fur for clothing. They
lived in caves or in shelters made from branches of leaves of
trees.
 They simply walked from one place to another. When they
first saw fire, they were afraid because they were ignorant
of the source. Later, they learned that they could use fire
to keep them warm, cook their food and shape metals.
 Today, people use heat to drive machines to keep
industries running and to generate electricity. They even
invent ways to harness the energy stored in all kind of
fuels in order to produce the necessary heat. People have
learned to compete for the things they need or want. They
always find new ways of doing things, but they are never
satisfied. They continue to find ways of travelling above,
below and beyond the earth’s surface.
 They also invent ways to explore the tiniest particles that
make up the whole universe and themselves. Moreover,
people have learned to repair any damages to themselves
and their inventions.
 As we soar to the heights of technological achievements,
the more we are able to respond to changes in our
environment, meet our needs, to realize our dreams
because science allows us to unravel mysteries in nature
so that we can solve our problems and live life to the full.
 Kindly answer the following questions:
 1. analyze the following statement and explain
“Physics is a way of life.”
 2. True or False “the scientific method is the key to all
discoveries and advances in science.” support your
answer.
 3. comment on this “ Necessity is the mother of all
inventions.
 4. think at least three (3) examples of existing
technology and state the scientific principles involved
in them.