What is Physics?

What is Physics?

Every new topic we learn about will tell us something new about the world in which we live.

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What is Physics

Tell me what you think physics is.

Open Ended

What do you think Physics is in your own words?

Lets define Physics.

Physics is the study of all matter and energy in the universe and its interactions. Both on a large scale and a small scale.

Multiple Choice

Physics deals with .....

• matter, energy, and interactions

• just matter

• just matter and energy

• just matter interacting with other matter

Any substance that has mass and takes up space.

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Matter

Easy way to think of energy is an electrical force that runs through our grid that helps us do work.

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Energy

​These metal filings are being attracted to the magnet. Physics is the study of why this is...the interaction between matter and energy.

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Interactions

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We have an electrical socket here where a chord is plugged into our electrical grid and taking in energy.

​​Example:

That energy comes into our toaster and heats up our heating elements and it toasts our bread.

That is energy...that heat interacting with matter which is our tasty toast.

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Thanks Physics!

Multiple Choice

What is matter?

• Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space.
• Matter is the absence of space.
• Matter is only found in solid form.
• Matter is a type of energy.

Multiple Choice

What is energy?

• Energy is the speed of an object.
• Energy is the total amount of heat in a system.
• Energy is the capacity to do work.
• Energy is a type of matter.

Drag and Drop

Physics studies the​

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between​

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and​

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.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

interactions

matter

energy

space

temperature

gravity

Lets slow down a little bit and think of each of these catagories.

How do I know if something has Matter?

Question: Does it take up space?

If the answer is yes then physics studies that.

A giant ball of nuclear explosions that are constantly happening. It takes up space. It is matter!

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Large scale: Our Sun

Studies the firing of a cannonball and its path through the air.

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Everyday scale: Cannonball

​Atoms that are made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

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Small scale: the atom

How do we know if something is energy?

Question: Can it do work?

If the answer is yes then that is energy.

This forklift is moving. Anytime we see something moving we have the ability to do work.
We call this catagory of energy kinetic energy.
Motion in any direction so forward with the box or even up.

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A Forklift

​Another form of energy is potential energy. There is a whole lot of water behind this dam that has potential energy. An easy way to think about it is that it can do work later if certain changes in the environment happen.

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A Dam

This moving water turns a turbine which produces electrical energy that we can use to do work.

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​Energy from moving water

Another form of energy

Chemical Potential Energy

Another type of potential energy but it connects with us closely because calories measure chemical potential energy.

If I eat a donut I might receive 450 calories from that donut. I can do work with those calories or that chemical potential energy.

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Chemical Potential Energy

I use those calories to do the work of running later. There is a direct correlation with the number of calories to how much work can be done.

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=Do work later.

Physics studies forces...which are really interactions.

How do I know if something is a force?

​Question: Does it push or pull?

If it pushes or pulls on something it is a force.

Like before we have both attracting or repelling forces. A push and a pull.

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Magnetic Force

The moon is pulled towards the earth and the earth is pull towards the moon. That is why the moon stays in orbit. It is an example of gravitational force which is the interaction of matter.

Gravitational Force

Atoms are held together with electrical forces. The attractive forces between the negative electrons and positive protons hold it together.

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Electrical Force

Multiple Choice

What question do we ask ourselves to find out if something is matter?

• Does it have mass and occupy space?
• Can it be seen with the naked eye?
• Does it have color and texture?
• Is it alive or dead?

Multiple Choice

What question do we ask ourselves if we want to know if something is a form of energy?

• Does it have a smell?
• Does it do work or produce change?
• Can it be touched?
• Is it visible to the naked eye?

Multiple Choice

What is kinetic energy?

• Kinetic energy is the energy released during a chemical reaction.
• Kinetic energy is the energy stored in an object at rest.
• Kinetic energy is the energy associated with an object's temperature.
• Kinetic energy is the energy of an object in motion.

Multiple Choice

What is potential energy?

• Potential energy is the energy stored in an object due to its position or state.
• Potential energy is the energy associated with temperature.
• Potential energy is the energy released during a chemical reaction.
• Potential energy is the energy of motion.

Multiple Choice

What is chemical potential energy?

• Energy released during a chemical reaction
• Energy associated with temperature changes
• Energy required to break chemical bonds
• Chemical potential energy is the energy stored in the chemical bonds of a substance.

What sort of discoveries have we made with physics?

​Einstein's theory of general relativity and the study of how the universe worked on a large scale led to the theory of a start to the know universe known as the big bang.

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The Big Bang

Radiation in basic terms is small bits of atoms that shoot out at random. This showed that atoms had parts.

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Radiation

Practical Application Discovery

There are many different laser applications. Follow the link to see many of them.
https://www.rp-photonics.com/laser_applications.html

Make sure and go to this link in a new tab before the next slide.

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Lasers

Open Ended

Using the laser website, from the previous slide what area of laser technology interests you most and why. Be specific with some examples from the writing.