Chapter 1: Introduction to Physics

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

a) understand the meaning of Physics, its branches, and why it is important to study Physics.

b) understand why it is important to have laboratory rules and regulations and the need to follow them

Keywords

• acoustics
• apparatus
• careers
• laboratory
• matter
• mechanics
• optics
• phenomena
• science

1.1 Introduction

Welcome to a new and exciting stage of your education! In primary school, you studied Science as a combined subject. In secondary school, Science will be divided into different subjects. One of these subjects is Physics. What are the other subjects?

The word Physics is derived from the Latin word Physica, which means “natural thing”. With the knowledge of Physics, we see the world in many ways and then change it to achieve all that we desire.

In this topic, you are going to look at the meaning of Physics, its branches and the different careers related to it. You will also look at some of the natural phenomena which can be explained using Physics and safety for yourself and others in the laboratory.

1.2: Meaning of Physics

Physics is the branch of science in which a person understands the natural occurrences like shadows, lightning, rainbow, how an object thrown upwards comes back on earth etc.

Physics is also artificially (human made) things used in appliances like cameras, radios, phones, cars, trains. All these activities (phenomena) use the principles of Physics.

Therefore, Physics is a branch of science which deals with the study of matter and its relationship with energy.

Matter is anything that occupies space and has weight.

Energy is the ability to do work.

Figure 1.1: Different fields where Physics is applied

Activity 1.1 Investigating more about Physics

1. Study Figure 1.1 that shows six photographs. a) In your groups, discuss what is happening in each photograph.

b) How important are these fields in our lives? In your notebooks, write brief notes on why we study Physics.

1.3: Branches of Physics

The scope of Physics is very wide and vast. It deals with not only the tiniest particles of atoms, but also natural phenomenon like the earthquakes, lightning, rainbow, eclipses.

While it is true that Physics is a branch of science, there are many sub-branches within the field of Physics. While there are more branches coming up as the science and technology progress, the following are some of the branches of Physics:

1. Mechanics and Properties of Matter.
2. Modern Physics.
3. Waves and Sound.
4. Light.
5. Heat.
6. Electricity.
7. Magnetism.
8. Earth and Space Physics

Activity 1.2 1. Investigating the branches of Physics

1. In groups, using the library or the Internet, do research on the applications of each of the different branches of Physics listed above.
2. Discuss your group’s ideas with the whole class.

1.4: Careers in Physics

Having studied and understood Physics, you can do different jobs.

Activity 1.3 Identifying careers in Physics

You have joined the secondary school and have a lot of ambitions about what you would like to be in the future.

1. In groups, discuss the careers you are interested in.
2. Do the careers you have mentioned above involve the application of Physics? If yes, suggest the skills and knowledge in relation to Physics which you need to acquire by the end of your studies.
3. Share your ideas with your friends. Check whether your careers are similar or relate to those of your friends.

1.5: Role of Physics in Our Society

Activity 1.4 1. Investigating the role of Physics in our society

1. Basing on what Physics is, discuss in groups what role you think is played by Physics in our society. (You may refer to the library or the Internet for help). so bris
2. Share your group’s findings with the whole class. mab bogoe Physics contributes to technological development and provides trained personnel with the advantage of scientific advances and discoveries.

Physics is an important element in the education of chemists, engineers and computer scientists.

1.6: The Physics Laboratory

Discoveries and inventions have been possible through investigations that were carried out in laboratories. These discoveries and inventions, such as light bulbs, radios, X-rays, penicillin, cameras, telephones, aeroplanes, steam engines and a lot more, are called Physics experiments and are carried out in a special room called a Physics laboratory, shown in Figure 1.2.

Figure 1.2: A modern Physics laboratory

In order to carry out the various experiments, there are many different types of apparatus, tools and materials that you will be asked to use.

Some of the apparatus are very delicate and easily get damaged or even broken. Some are made of glass (thermometres, prisms, beakers e.t.c) and can very easily get broken.

A school Physics laboratory is a place (building) where the basic experimental skills are learnt by performing experiments. Some of the apparatus are shown in Figure 1.3.

Visit your school’s Physics laboratory and observe the instruments/ apparatuses used. Identify them and their use

Figure 1.3: Some apparatus found in a laboratory Juve

Please visit your Physics laboratory and discover more of the instruments/ apparatuses that are used in performing experiments.

When glass breaks, we often get sharp pieces of broken glass which can cause us injury if carelessly handled. Special attention and care have to be taken when handling this equipment.

1.7: General Laboratory Rules

Activity 1.6 Making a wall chart of important laboratory rules and regulations

You have seen that some apparatus are delicate and can easily break, leading to accidents. In order to prevent these accidents from happening and ensuring that learning Physics is both fun and safe, there are certain rules and regulations that have been designed to be followed whenever you are in the laboratory. These are do’s and dont’s.

1. In groups, make a list of some important laboratory rules and regulations.

2. Share your ideas with the whole class.

3. With your teacher, make a wall chart of these rules and regulations and display it on the laboratory wall.

NOTE: You and every learner in your class must be familiar with these rules and regulations before undertaking practical work in a laboratory!

Assignment 1.1 Describing rules for safety in a laboratory

In groups, go through the work described below:

1. For each one of the rules and regulations that you have identified, discuss and list down the possible accidents that may arise if they are disobeyed.

2. Suppose that, after break, you all report to the laboratory to carry out some experiment and then you notice one of your classmates sucking a sweet. What will you do?

3. Make a poster that indicates all that one has to follow to be safe in a laboratory.

You can ask our super AI Physics teacher below questions of Physics s1-s4 and get answers