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Physics & Our Universe > 1. The Fundamental Science > Flashcards

1. The Fundamental Science Flashcards

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1
Q

What do we mean when we say “Physics is the Fundamental Science?”

A

The principles of physics govern the workings of the universe at the most basic level and describe natural phenomena as well as the technologies that enable modern civilization.

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2
Q

How is Physics an experimental science?

A

It probes nature to discover its secrets, to refine our understanding, and to explore new and useful applications

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3
Q

How is Physics a quantitative science?

A

It is written elegantly in the language of mathematics

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4
Q

What does the language of mathematics allow us to do?

A

Predict and control the physical world with exquisite precision.

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5
Q

How is Physics a theoretical science?

A

A few overarching “big ideas” provide solidly verified frameworks for explanation of broad ranges of seemingly disparate phenomena.

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6
Q

What two men can we trace our current understanding of physics back to?

A
  1. Galileo
  2. Newton
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7
Q

What is the 1st significant contribution that both Galileo and Newton give to physics?

A

They laid the groundwork for the description of motion

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8
Q

What is significant about Galileo’s and Newtons groundwork for the description of motion?

A

It is a phenomenon at the heart of almost everything that happens

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9
Q

What theory resulted from Galileo’s and Newton’s work?

A

Newtonian Mechanics

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10
Q

What is Newtonian Mechanics?

A

A simple, coherent theory expressed in 3 basic laws that describes most instances of motion in the universe.

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11
Q

What is the 2nd significant contribution that Galileo and Newton gave to physics?

A

They united physics by bringing both the terrestrial and celestial realms under a common set of physical laws.

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12
Q

What did Newton’s law of universal gravitation recognize?

A

That a universal attractive force, gravity, operates throughout the entire universe

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13
Q

In what 3 ways was Newton able to build off of his law of universal gravitation to further our understanding of the universe?

A
  1. He provided a mathematical description of gravity
  2. He developed calculus to explore the ramifications of his idea
  3. He showed definitively why the planets of our solar system move as they do
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14
Q

How is Newtonian Mechanics used in the modern world?

A

It governs modern technologies, from skyscrapers to automobiles to spacecraft

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15
Q

What are two of the most well-known manifestations of motion?

A
  1. A car driving
  2. A planet orbiting the sun
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16
Q

What are 3 other, less well-known ways motion manifests itself?

A
  1. Wave motion
  2. Motion of fluids
  3. Random motion of atoms
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17
Q

What does wave energy transport, and what does it not?

A

Energy, but not matter

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18
Q

What are 3 examples of wave motion?

A
  1. Ocean waves
  2. Seismic waves
  3. Sound
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19
Q

What two forms collectively make up the category called fluids?

A
  1. Liquids
  2. Gases
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20
Q

What is unique about the motion of liquids and gases compared to other elements that utilize wave motion?

A

They exhibit a wide range of motions, some beautiful, and some incredibly powerful

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21
Q

What are 2 examples of powerful wave energy?

A
  1. A hurricane
  2. The blase of a jet engine
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22
Q

What is Thermodynamics?

A

The science of heat and related phonomena

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23
Q

What is at the basis of Thermodynamics?

A

The random motions of atoms and molecules

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24
Q

What are 3 examples of ways in which Thermodynamics governs many of the energy flows in the universe?

A
  1. The outpouring of energy that lights the stars
  2. Earth’s complex climate system
  3. Modern technologies
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25
Q

What key challenge does Thermodynamics give us in our modern world?

A

Thermodynamics places fundamental limitations on our ability to extract energy from fuels

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26
Q

What fundamental force in the universe is the dominant interaction between atoms?

A

Electromagnetism

27
Q

Why can’t Physics alone provide a complete and comprehensible description of chemical and biological phenomena?

A
  1. Emergent properties in complex systems can’t be explained by Physics
28
Q

What is the subatomic scale?

A

The scale of elementary particles

29
Q

What is the typical size of the subatomic scale?

A
  • 1 Femtometer
  • 10-15 meters
  • 1/1,000,000,000,000,000
30
Q

What is the atomic and molecular scale?

A
  1. The scale of atoms and molecules
31
Q

What is the typical size of the atomic and molecular scale?

A
  • 1 Nanometer
  • 10-9 meters
  • 1/1,000,000,000
32
Q

What does the term “nano” mean?

A

1 Billionth

33
Q

What is the nanotechnology scale?

A

The scale of the smallest human engineered structures

34
Q

What is the typical size of the nanotechnology scale?

A

Between 1 and 100 nanometers

35
Q

What is the human scale?

A

The scale of the everyday world

36
Q

What is the typical size of the human scale?

A

1 Meter

37
Q

What is the astonomical scale?

A

The scale of planets, stars, and galaxies

38
Q

What is the typical size of the astronomical scale?

A
  • Between a megameter and a zettameter
  • 106 meters to 1021 meters
39
Q

What is the cosmological scale?

A

The scale of the largest things in the universe

40
Q

What is the typical size of the cosmological scale?

A

1026 meters

41
Q

What is the main benefit of learning how the small things, like quarks and nucleons, in the universe work?

A

It allows us to determine how large things work as well

42
Q

What is one of the most fruitful things that has happened in Physics in recent years?

A

The symbiosis of cosmosis and particle physics

43
Q

What is cosmology?

A

The study of the large scale universe

44
Q

What is particle physics?

A

The study of the very smallest particles in the universe

45
Q

What is the ultimate goal of physics?

A

To determine a theory that would allow us to explain everything about the entire universe (a.k.a. Theory of Everything)

46
Q

What is the TOE?

A

Theory of Everything

47
Q

What is Reductionism?

A

A philosophical view that we can reduce everything to basic physics

48
Q

What is the aim of the reductionist view?

A

To understand the interactions of all the elementary particles, with the assumption that then we could understand everything there is to know about the universe

49
Q

What 3 elementary particles make up most ordinary, everyday matter?

A
  1. Up Quark
  2. Down Quark
  3. Electron
50
Q

What 2 things to quarks combine to create?

A
  1. Protons
  2. Neutrons
51
Q

How does physics enhance our understanding of chemistry?

A

It allows us to understand the physical principles that are used when atoms combine to form molecules

52
Q

What is hidden somewhere inside quarks and electrons?

A

The possibility of life

53
Q

What are Emergent Properties?

A

Properties of complex systems, ulitmately of the physical particles that make up the universe

54
Q

What is an example of an emergent property in a physical system?

A

Crystals

55
Q

What is an example emergent properties in biological systems?

A

Life itself

56
Q

What happens when emergent properties reach a certain level of complexity?

A

Though we understand what their individual components are, we can’t truly understand them or appreciate them with Physics alone

57
Q

What are the 6 main realms of study in Physics?

A
  1. Classical Mechanics
  2. Waves and Fluids
  3. Thermodynamics
  4. Electromatnetism
  5. Optics
  6. Modern Physics
58
Q

What is another name for Classical Mechanics?

A

Newtonian Mechanics

59
Q

What is responsible for the forces that bind atoms into molecules?

A

Electromagnetism

60
Q

What force is responsible for molecular reactions like the replication of DNA?

A

Electromagentism

61
Q

What is the 1st example of the benefits of electromagnetic waves?

A

They provide nearly all the knowledge we have of the cosmos

62
Q

What is the 2nd example of the benefits of electromagnetic waves?

A

They transport life-sustaining solar energy to Earth

63
Q

What is the 3rd example of the benefits of electromagnetic waves?

A

They connect us together with a web of wireless communication

Physics & Our Universe (3 decks)

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